PART PROCESSING

• US 20160200050A1
• Filed: 11/20/2015
• Published: 07/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Incodema3D, LLC
• Original Assignee: Icodema3d LLC
• Inventors: Volk, Scott, Pinnisi, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,189,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 31/006 for grinding the interior surfaces of hollow workpieces
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 31/112 using magnetically consolidated grinding powder, moved relatively to the workpiece under the influence of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/12 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/386 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 67/00 Shaping techniques not covered by groups B29C39/00 - B29C65/00, B29C70/00 or B29C73/00
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/00 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/02 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4097 characterised by using design data to control NC machines, e.g. CAD/CAM G05B19/4093 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4099 Surface or curve machining, making 3D objects, e.g. desktop manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35134 3-D cad-cam
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49007 Making, forming 3-D object, model, surface
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49008 Making 3-D object with model in computer memory
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/02 Arm motion controller
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/30 End effector

Abstract

A three dimensional (3D) definition of a build piece, from which a build plan has been derived, is received. The computer system generates, based on the 3D definition, a processing plan that includes a plurality of robotic instructions to successively orient a build piece created by an additive manufacturing process into successive orientations. The computer system outputs the processing plan for use by a robotic controller.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a computer system, a three dimensional (3D) definition of a build piece from which a build plan has been derived;

generating, by the computer system, based on the 3D definition, a processing plan that comprises a plurality of robotic instructions to successively orient a build piece created by an additive manufacturing process into successive orientations; and

outputting, by the computer system, the processing plan for use by a robotic controller.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

inputting, by a robotic controller, the processing plan; and

causing, by the robotic controller, a robotic manipulator to execute the processing plan.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing plan further comprises instructions to vibrate the build piece.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the 3D definition comprises a cavity with a plurality of sections;

and

wherein each successive orientation corresponds to a section.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the 3D definition comprises a cavity with a plurality of sections;

and

wherein each successive orientation allows at least one medium to move in a section.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating robotic instructions to load at least one medium into a cavity of the build piece.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the successive orientation defines the same angle between a surface of the build piece and the horizontal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the robotic instructions to successively orient a build piece into successive orientations specify a plurality of durations, each successive orientation having a corresponding duration.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein each duration is calculated based on a length of a corresponding section defined by the 3D definition.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a robotic control system, a processing plan that comprises a plurality of robotic instructions to successively orient a build piece created by an additive manufacturing process into successive orientations, wherein the processing plan is generated based on a 3D definition of the build piece;

causing, by the robotic control system, a communicably coupled robot to successively orient the build piece into successive orientations.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the processing plan further comprises instructions to vibrate the build piece.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the 3D definition comprises a cavity with a plurality of sections;

and

wherein each successive orientation corresponds to a section.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the 3D definition comprises a cavity with a plurality of sections;

and

wherein each successive orientation allows at least one medium to move in a section.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the processing plan further comprises a plurality of robotic instructions to load at least one medium into a cavity of the build piece.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein each of the successive orientation defines the same angle between a surface of the build piece and the horizontal.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the robotic instructions to successively orient a build piece into successive orientations specify a plurality of durations, each successive orientation having a corresponding duration.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein each duration is calculated based on a length of a corresponding section defined by the 3D definition.

18. A method, comprising:

orienting, by a robot, a build piece into successive orientations, wherein;

the build piece is created by an additive manufacturing process according to a build plan;

the build plan is created based on a (3D) definition of the build piece

the successive orientations are defined based on the (3D) definition of the build piece.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising vibrating the build piece.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the build piece comprises a cavity with a plurality of sections;

and

wherein each successive orientation corresponds to a section.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the build piece comprises a cavity with a plurality of sections;

and

wherein each successive orientation allows at least one medium to move in a section.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising loading at least one medium into a cavity of the build piece.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the successive orientation defines the same angle between a surface of the build piece and the horizontal.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein to orient, by the robot, the build piece into successive orientations, robot orients the build piece into successive orientations, and for each successive orientation, pauses at each successive orientation for corresponding durations.

25. A non-transitory computer storage device encoded with computer program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a computer device to perform operations, comprising:

receiving, by a computer system, a three dimensional (3D) definition of a build piece from which a build plan has been derived;

generating, by the computer system, based on the 3D definition, a processing plan that comprises a plurality of robotic instructions to successively orient a build piece created by an additive manufacturing process into successive orientations; and

outputting, by the computer system, the processing plan for use by a robotic controller.

26. The computer storage device of claim 25, wherein the operations further comprise:

inputting, by a robotic controller, the processing plan; and

causing, by the robotic controller, a robotic manipulator to execute the processing plan.

27. The computer storage device of claim 25, wherein the processing plan further comprises instructions to vibrate the build piece.

28. The computer storage device of claim 25, wherein the 3D definition comprises a cavity with a plurality of sections;

and

wherein each successive orientation corresponds to a section.

29. The computer storage device of claim 25, wherein the 3D definition comprises a cavity with a plurality of sections;

and

wherein each successive orientation allows at least one medium to move in a section.

30. The computer storage device of claim 25, wherein the operations further comprise generating robotic instructions to load at least one medium into a cavity of the build piece.

31. The computer storage device of claim 25, wherein each of the successive orientation defines the same angle between a surface of the build piece and the horizontal.

32. The computer storage device of claim 25, wherein the robotic instructions to successively orient a build piece into successive orientations specify a plurality of durations, each successive orientation having a corresponding duration.

33. The computer storage device of claim 32, wherein each duration is calculated based on a length of a corresponding section defined by the 3D definition.

34. A method, comprising:

loading at least one medium into a cavity of a build piece, the build piece being created by an additive manufacturing process; and

moving the medium in the cavity by orienting the build piece into successive orientations.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the cavity has a plurality of sections;

and

wherein each successive orientation corresponds to a section.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising vibrating the build piece.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the build piece comprises a cavity with a plurality of sections;

and

wherein each successive orientation corresponds to a section.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the build piece comprises a cavity with a plurality of sections;

and

wherein each successive orientation allows at least one medium to move in a section.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein each of the successive orientation defines the same angle between a surface of the build piece and the horizontal.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein to the medium in the cavity by orienting the build piece into successive orientations, the build piece is moved into successive orientations paused at each successive orientation or corresponding durations.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein the medium comprising an abrasive surface.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein the cavity has a cavity surface;

and moving the medium in the cavity polishes the cavity surface.

43. The method of claim 34, wherein the build piece has a support structure in the cavity;

and

wherein moving the magnetic medium in the cavity removes the support structure from the build piece.

44. The method of claim 34, wherein the additive manufacturing process results in a build material in the cavity;

and

wherein moving the medium in the cavity removes a build material from the cavity.

45. An article of manufacture obtained by the method of claim 34.