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United States Patent m

Bynum

US005088047A

Patent Number: 5,088,047 [45] Date of Patent: Feb. 11,1992

[54] AUTOMATED MANUFACTURING SYSTEM USING THIN SECTIONS

[76] Inventor: David K. Bynum, 1460 Rue de Trust, Erie, Colo. 80516

[21] Appl. No.: 421,840

[22] Filed: Oct. 16, 1989

[51] Int. CI.5 G06F 15/46; B27N 3/00

[52] US. CI 364/474J4; 156/58;

156/62.2; 156/272.8; 156/379.8; 264/22;

264/24; 364/468; 425/174.4

[58] Field of Search 364/474.24, 468, 473;

264/22, 308, 24, 40.1, 241, 255; 425/174, 174.4; 156/58, 59, 62.2, 272.2, 272.4, 272.6, 272.8, 273.1, 273.3, 273.5, 275.5, 275.7, 378, 379.6, 379.8, 64; 427/43.1, 54.1; 430/269, 270, 945

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

3,687,661 8/1972 Sato 430/42

3,988,520 10/1976 Riddle 428/15

4,041,476 8/1977 Swainson 365/119

4,078,229 3/1978 Swainson 365/119

4,238,840 12/1980 Swainson 365/119

4,288,861 9/1981 Swainson 365/127

4,430,718 2/1984 Hendren 364/475

4,510,223 4/1985 Kuchnle et al 430/44

4,575,330 3/1986 Hull 425/174.4

4,598,376 7/1986 Burton et al 364/470

4,641,270 2/1987 Lalloz et al 364/476

4,654,282 3/1987 Ng et al 430/54

4,665,492 5/1987 Masters 364/468

4,752,352 6/1988 Feygin 156/630

4,801,477 1/1989 Fudim 264/22 X

4,915,757 4/1990 Rando 364/474.08 X

4,938,816 2/1990 Beaman et al 264/22 X

4,961,154 10/1990 Pomerantz et al 264/22 X

5,002,854 3/1991 Fan et al 264/22 X

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

45-16614 9/1970 Japan .
2197502 A 5/1988 United Kingdom .

Primary Examiner—Joseph Ruggiero

[57] ABSTRACT

A method for automatically manufacturing objects directly from computer aided design, whereby the computer programming electronically sections the designed object into many thin planar sections which are physically reproduced as laminae formed from sheet materials or powders by one of the embodiments of the invention. The thin planar laminae thus formed are bonded to form a sandwich creating the object as designed.

14 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets

[graphic]

OBJECT OF MANUFACTURE IS
DESIGNED ON A COMPUTER
AIDED DESIGN SYSTEM

COMPUTER PROGRAM PERFORMS
THE OPERATION OF ELECTRONICALLY
SECTIONING THE DESIGNED
OBJECT

12

LAMINAE ARE FORMED
CORRESPONDING TO THE
COMPUTER GENERATED SECTIONS
THESE LAMINAE ARE THEN
SEQUENTIALLY BONDED TO
FORM THE OBJECT

t

14

cs

ft

n a'

t/3

cr n

o 4*

FIG. I

O
00
00

o

-4

[graphic]

U.S. Patent Feb. 11,1992 sheet 3 of 4 5,088,047

[graphic]
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