Methods and apparatus for actuated fabricator
First Claim
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1. A method comprising, in combination:
- (a) actuating linear motion of at least one tape out of a plurality of tapes;
(b) melting fusible material; and
(c) guiding the tapes, as the tapes undergo the linear motion, into a configuration in which edges of neighboring tapes are adjacent to each other during a time in which the fusible material cools and hardens to join neighboring tapes at the edges;
wherein(i) the tapes, when joined by the fusible material, comprise walls of a hollow structure, and(iii) the method further comprises shortening or dismantling the hollow structure by(A) melting fusible material adjacent to the edges, and(B) moving the edges apart from each other.
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Abstract
In exemplary implementations of this invention, an actuated fabricator deposits structural elements (e.g., tensile structural elements) in a 3D pattern over large displacements. The fabricator is supported by at least three elongated support members. It includes onboard actuators that translate the fabricator relative to the ends of the support members. The fabricator is configured, by actuating different translations along different support members, to translate itself throughout a 3D volume. In some implementations, each of the actuators use fusible material to fuse metal tapes together, edge-to-edge, to form a hollow structure that can be shortened or lengthened.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising, in combination:
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(a) actuating linear motion of at least one tape out of a plurality of tapes; (b) melting fusible material; and (c) guiding the tapes, as the tapes undergo the linear motion, into a configuration in which edges of neighboring tapes are adjacent to each other during a time in which the fusible material cools and hardens to join neighboring tapes at the edges; wherein (i) the tapes, when joined by the fusible material, comprise walls of a hollow structure, and (iii) the method further comprises shortening or dismantling the hollow structure by (A) melting fusible material adjacent to the edges, and (B) moving the edges apart from each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising, in combination:
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(a) actuating linear motion of at least one tape out of a plurality of tapes; (b) melting fusible material; and (c) guiding the tapes, as the tapes undergo the linear motion, into a configuration in which edges of neighboring tapes are adjacent to each other during a time in which the fusible material cools and hardens to join neighboring tapes at the edges; wherein (i) the tapes, when joined by the fusible material, comprise walls of a hollow structure, and (ii) the melting is caused by heat from one or more thermoelectric heat pumps. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification