초록

A method produces an object using thermal-forming by positioning a die representative of the object in a chamber; positioning a sheet of material over the die; pressurizing the chamber; and delivering a beam of energy over the sheet and the die to form the object.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of producing an object using thermal forming, comprising: positioning a die representative of the object in a chamber; positioning a sheet of material over the die; pressurizing the chamber; and scanning a beam of energy over the sheet and the die to form the obje

What is claimed is: 1. A method of producing an object using thermal forming, comprising: positioning a die representative of the object in a chamber; positioning a sheet of material over the die; pressurizing the chamber; and scanning a beam of energy over the sheet and the die to form the object. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing the die on a moveable support. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing a seal between the sheet and the chamber. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising circulating cool pressurized air after the object is formed. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising aligning the die and the sheet. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing feedback data to a control system using a camera. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering a custom thermal pattern to optimize the forming of the object. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a mirror to direct the beam onto the sheet and the die. 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a digital representation of a target path; generating a mathematically smoothed version of the target path; supplying the smoothed target path to generate a secondary target path; and generating a streamlined tool-path to fabricate the object. 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising reading relief data for the object and merging the relief data with generic data to control the path of the beam. 11. A system for producing an object using thermal forming, comprising: a chamber confirmed to receive a die representative of the object and a sheet of material over the die; a pump coupled to the chamber to raise pressure in the chamber; and a source of energy configured to scan a beam of energy over the sheet and the die to form the object. 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a moveable support to suspend the die. 13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a seal positioned between the sheet and the chamber. 14. The system of claim 11, further comprising one or more port valves to circulate air after the object is formed. 15. The system of claim 11, wherein each die further comprises one or more markers to facilitate aligning the die and the sheet. 16. The system of claim 11, further comprising a camera positioned in the chamber to provide feedback data. 17. The system of claim 11, further comprising computer-readable code to generate a custom thermal pattern to optimize the forming of the object. 18. The system of claim 11, further comprising a mirror to direct the beam onto the sheet and the die. 19. The system of claim 11, further comprising computer readable code to: receive a digital representation of a target path; generate a mathematically smoothed version of the target path; apply the smoothed target path to generate a secondary target path; and generate a streamlined tool-path to fabricate the object. 20. The system of claim 11, further comprising computer readable code to read relief data for the object and merge the relief data with generic data to control the path of the beam.