Method of machining a thin-walled structure
First Claim
1. A method of manipulating a thin-walled structure, comprising:
- providing a thin-walled structure in a first unconstrained configuration;
constraining the thin-walled structure to a first constrained configuration in which a first feature of the thin-walled structure is spatially located relative to a second feature of the thin-walled structure in a predetermined manner, wherein an open volume of the thin-walled structure is constrained to maintain a predetermined open volume shape; and
machining the thin-walled structure to a second constrained configuration in which the first feature of the thin-walled structure remains spatially located relative to the second feature of the thin-walled structure in the predetermined manner; and
wherein constraining the thin-walled structure to the first constrained configuration comprises providing a constrainer into the open volume of the thin-walled structure, the constrainer comprising at least partially solidified cetyl alcohol; and
wherein the constrainer further comprises at least one of a magnetic material and a ferrous material, and the constraining comprises selectively applying a magnetic force to the constrainer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of manipulating a thin-walled structure includes providing a thin-walled structure in a first unconstrained configuration, constraining the thin-walled structure to a first constrained configuration in which a first feature of the thin-walled structure is spatially located relative to the a second feature of the thin-walled structure in a predetermined manner, wherein an open volume of the thin-walled structure is constrained to maintain a predetermined open volume shape, and machining the thin-walled structure to a second constrained configuration in which the first feature of the thin-walled structure remains spatially located relative to the second feature of the thin-walled structure in the predetermined manner.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of manipulating a thin-walled structure, comprising:
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providing a thin-walled structure in a first unconstrained configuration; constraining the thin-walled structure to a first constrained configuration in which a first feature of the thin-walled structure is spatially located relative to a second feature of the thin-walled structure in a predetermined manner, wherein an open volume of the thin-walled structure is constrained to maintain a predetermined open volume shape; and machining the thin-walled structure to a second constrained configuration in which the first feature of the thin-walled structure remains spatially located relative to the second feature of the thin-walled structure in the predetermined manner; and wherein constraining the thin-walled structure to the first constrained configuration comprises providing a constrainer into the open volume of the thin-walled structure, the constrainer comprising at least partially solidified cetyl alcohol; and wherein the constrainer further comprises at least one of a magnetic material and a ferrous material, and the constraining comprises selectively applying a magnetic force to the constrainer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of machining, comprising:
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providing a thin-walled structure in a first unconstrained configuration; constraining the thin-walled structure to a first constrained configuration that is different from the first unconstrained configuration, thereby providing a first spatial registration between a first feature of the thin-walled structure and a second feature of the thin-walled structure, and thereby providing a first spatial registration between the thin-walled structure and a datum of a tool as a function of the first spatial registration between the first feature and the second feature, wherein constraining the thin-walled structure to the first constrained configuration comprises providing a constrainer into an open volume of the thin-walled structure and selectively applying a magnetic force to the constrainer, the constrainer comprising at least partially solidified cetyl alcohol and at least one of a magnetic material and a ferrous material; and operating the tool to machine the thin-walled structure to a second constrained configuration while maintaining the first spatial registration between the first feature and the second feature. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of manipulating a structure, comprising:
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providing a thin-walled structure in a first unconstrained configuration, the thin-walled structure comprising a plurality of open volumes accessible from outside of the thin-walled structure; and constraining the thin-walled structure to a first constrained configuration by inserting a constrainer into at least one of the plurality of open volumes in a first state and changing the constrainer from the first state to a second state, wherein the constrainer comprises at least partially solidified cetyl alcohol and at least one of a magnetic material and a ferrous material. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification