DEVICES, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS INVOLVING CASTINGS

• US 20080073600A1
• Filed: 11/21/2006
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX
• Original Assignee: Iain Fraser, James E. Atkinson, Michael Appleby
• Inventors: Fraser, Iain, Atkinson, James E., Appleby, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,411,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/505.1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/302 Assembling a large number of mould elements to constitute one cavity
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/3842 Manufacturing moulds, e.g. shaping the mould surface by machining
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/42 characterised by the shape of the moulding surface, e.g. ribs or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/021 by casting in several steps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/34 for undercut articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 69/001 a shaping technique combined with cutting, e.g. in parts or slices combined with rearranging and joining the cut parts for reinforced material B29C70/545; B29C49/4278, B29C51/268 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2083/00 Use of polymers having silicon, with or without sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon only, in the main chain, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 1/02 using diaphragms, collimators
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 1/025 using multiple collimators, e.g. Bucky screens; other devices for eliminating undesired or dispersed radiation

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprise a device comprising a cast collimator derived from a metallic foil stack lamination mold, said collimator defining a feature adapted to contain a plurality of radiation detection elements. In certain embodiments, the collimator can define a feature adapted to contain a plurality of radiation detection elements, such as scintillators. Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprise a device comprising a cast component derived from a metallic foil stack lamination mold. In various exemplary embodiments, the cast components can be a mechanical, electrical, electronic, optical, fluidic, biomedical, and/or biotechnological component. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. This abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A device comprising a cast component, said cast component comprising a plurality of component surfaces, a component surface from said plurality of component surfaces comprising a plurality of 3-dimensional micro-features that substantially spatially invertedly replicate a mold surface formed by a plurality of layers of a metallic foil stack lamination parent mold, said plurality of 3-dimensional micro-features comprising at least one protruding undercut, said component having an aspect ratio of greater than 25:

1, said plurality of component surfaces defining a periphery of a layer-less volume.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines a feature having a dimension of less than 4 centimeters.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines a feature having a dimension of less than 3 centimeters.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines a feature having a dimension of less than 2 centimeters.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines a feature having a dimension of less than 1 centimeters.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines a feature having a dimension of less than 500 microns.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines a feature having a dimension of less than 250 microns.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines a feature having a dimension of less than 200 microns.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines a feature having a dimension of less than 150 microns.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines a feature having a dimension of less than 100 microns.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines a feature having a dimension of less than 50 microns.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines a feature having a dimension of less than 25 microns.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines a feature having a dimension of less than 20 microns.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines a feature having a dimension of less than 15 microns.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines a feature having a dimension of between approximately 4 centimeters and approximately 30 centimeters.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines a feature having a dimension of greater than 4 centimeters.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said component comprises a ceramic.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein said component comprises a metal polymer composite.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein said component comprises a polymer.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein said component comprises a metal ceramic composite.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one component surface from said plurality of component surfaces is non-planar.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one component surface from said plurality of component surfaces is an interior surface.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one component surface from said plurality of component surfaces has a predetermined surface finish.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein a first component surface from said plurality of component surfaces has a predetermined first surface finish and a second component surface from said plurality of component surfaces has a predetermined second surface finish, said predetermined second surface finish differing from the predetermined first surface finish.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one component surface from said plurality of component surfaces is isotropic.

26. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one component surface from said plurality of component surfaces is anisotropic.

27. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines an interior channel.

28. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines a cavity.

29. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines an aspect ratio of greater than 25:

1.

30. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines an aspect ratio of greater than 30:

1.

31. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines an aspect ratio of greater than 40:

1.

32. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines an aspect ratio of greater than 50:

1.

33. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines an aspect ratio of greater than 75:

1.

34. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines an aspect ratio of greater than 100:

1.

35. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines an aspect ratio of greater than 150:

1.

36. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines an aspect ratio of greater than 200:

1.

37. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines an aspect ratio of greater than 250:

1.

38. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines an aspect ratio of greater than 300:

1.

39. The device of claim 1, wherein said component defines an aspect ratio of greater than 400:

1.

40. The device of claim 1, wherein said component is comprised by a microvalve.

41. The device of claim 1, wherein said component is comprised by a micropump.

42. The device of claim 1, wherein said component is comprised by a filter.

43. The device of claim 1, wherein said component is comprised by a heater.

44. The device of claim 1, wherein said component is comprised by a heat exchanger.

45. The device of claim 1, wherein said component is comprised by a mass exchanger.

46. The device of claim 1, wherein said component is comprised by a surface reactor.

47. The device of claim 1, wherein said component is comprised by a turbine.

48. The device of claim 1, wherein said component is comprised by an ion beam device.

49. The device of claim 1, wherein said component is comprised by a nozzle.

50. The device of claim 1, wherein said component is comprised by an actuator.

51. The device of claim 1, wherein said component is comprised by an attenuator.

52. The device of claim 1, wherein said component is comprised by a mirror.

53. The device of claim 1, wherein said component is comprised by a grating light valve.

54. The device of claim 1, wherein said component is comprised by a fuse.

55. The device of claim 1, wherein said component is comprised by an acoustical signal detector.