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A reconfigurable system having at least one detachable component and at least one detachable head assembly. The reconfigurable system may be a numerically controlled (NC) machine for manufacturing processes, such as milling or automatic fiber placement (AFP). The reconfigurable system may further co

A reconfigurable system having at least one detachable component and at least one detachable head assembly. The reconfigurable system may be a numerically controlled (NC) machine for manufacturing processes, such as milling or automatic fiber placement (AFP). The reconfigurable system may further comprise a gantry structure comprised of movably attached beams on which detachable components may be movably attached. The detachable components may include a concave component and a convex component. At least one detachable head assembly may be movably attached to at least one of the detachable components. The detachable components and head assemblies may be at least one of physically, electrically, and pneumatically connected to a connecting assembly attached to the gantry structure.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A modular material placement system for dispensing and compacting portions of a material onto a surface, the modular material placement system comprising: a first beam;a second beam supported by the first beam and movable along a first axis, and also movable along a second axis relative to the fi

1. A modular material placement system for dispensing and compacting portions of a material onto a surface, the modular material placement system comprising: a first beam;a second beam supported by the first beam and movable along a first axis, and also movable along a second axis relative to the first beam;a connecting assembly attachable to the second beam, movable along a third axis which is different from the first and second axes, and having a clamping arrangement forming a first connection point at one end of the connecting assembly;a first component having an end that is selectively clampable by the clamping arrangement at the first connection point of the connecting assembly, wherein the first component is movable relative to the connecting assembly when the one end of the first component is clamped by the clamping arrangement;a second component having an end that is selectively clampable by the clamping arrangement, as an alternative to the first component, at the first connection point of the connecting assembly, wherein the second component is movable relative to the connecting assembly when the second component is clamped by the clamping arrangement; anda material placement head assembly having an end that is selectively clampable by the clamping arrangement, as an alternative to the first and second components, at the first connection point of the connecting assembly, and wherein the material placement head assembly is configured to be movably attached to the first component for relative movement of the material placement head assembly relative to the first component when the one end of the first component is clamped by the clamping arrangement, and wherein the material placement head assembly is configured to be movably attached to the second component for relative movement of the material placement head assembly relative to the second component when the one end of the second component is clamped by the clamping arrangement, wherein the material placement head assembly is movable relative to the first and second beam when attached to the connecting assembly. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first component, second component, and material placement head assembly are pivotable relative to the connecting assembly. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second components is concave in shape relative to the surface onto which the material placement head assembly dispenses and compacts material. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second components is convex in shape relative to the surface onto which the material placement head assembly dispenses and compacts material. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the material placement head assembly is pivotable relative to each of the first and second components, when the material placement head assembly is attached to the first and second components, respectively. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein an additional material placement head assembly is movably attached to the first component. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the connecting assembly further comprises an actuator. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the actuator is operable to cause a pivoting movement. 9. The system of claim 7, wherein the clamping arrangement simultaneously forms one or more of a physical, electrical, communications, and pneumatic connection between the connecting assembly and the one of the first component, the second component, and the material placement head assembly whose end is clamped by the clamping arrangement. 10. The system of claim 7, wherein the actuator is operable to move, relative to the connecting assembly, the one of the material placement head assembly, the first component, and the second component whose end is clamped by the clamping arrangement. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein an additional material placement head assembly is movably attached to the second component. 12. A reconfigurable system for performing a manufacturing operation on a surface, the system comprising: a gantry structure, including a first base beam,a second base beam parallel to the first base beam,a first upwardly extending beam attached to the first base beam and movable parallel to a first axis,a second upwardly extending beam attached to the second base beam and movable parallel to the first axis, anda horizontal beam extending from the first upwardly extending beam to the second upwardly extending beam and movable along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and parallel to the upwardly extending beams;a connecting assembly having a first end and a second end, wherein the connecting assembly is movable along and relative to the horizontal beam, and wherein the connecting assembly has a clamping arrangement at the first end;a concave component in the form of an elongated curved beam that is concavely curved with respect to the surface when the surface is in a position to have the manufacturing operation performed thereon by the reconfigurable system, a convex side of the curved beam having a member that is selectively clampable by the clamping arrangement at the first end of the connecting assembly, wherein the concave component is movable relative to the connecting assembly when the member of the convex side of the concave component is clamped by the clamping arrangement;a convex component in the form of an elongated curved beam that is convexly curved with respect to the surface when the surface is in the position to have the manufacturing operation performed thereon by the reconfigurable system, a concave side of the curved beam having a member that is selectively clampable by the clamping arrangement, as an alternative to the concave component, at the first end of the connecting assembly, wherein the convex component is movable relative to the connecting assembly when the member of the concave side of the convex component is clamped by the clamping arrangement; anda head assembly for performing a manufacturing operation on the surface, the head assembly having an end that is selectively clampable by the clamping arrangement, as an alternative to the concave and convex components, and wherein the head assembly is configured to be movably attached to the concave component when the member of the convex side of the concave component is clamped by the clamping arrangement, and wherein the head assembly is configured to be movably attached to the convex component when the member of the concave side of the convex component is clamped by the clamping arrangement. 13. The reconfigurable system of claim 12, wherein the head assembly is chosen from the group consisting of a material placement head, a cutter spindle, and a probe. 14. The reconfigurable system of claim 12, wherein the one of the concave component, convex component, and head assembly that is being clamped by the clamping arrangement is attached physically, electrically, and pneumatically to the connecting assembly. 15. The reconfigurable system of claim 12, wherein the head assembly, the concave component, and the convex component are movable slidably, rotatably, and pivotally when attached to the connecting assembly. 16. A material placement system for dispensing and compacting material onto a surface, the material placement system comprising: a gantry structure, further comprising: a first base beam,a second base beam parallel to the first base beam,a first upwardly extending beam extending upwardly from and attached to the first base beam and movable along a first axis,a second upwardly extending beam extending upwardly from and attached to the second base beam and movable along a second axis parallel to the first axis, anda horizontal beam extending from the first upwardly extending beam to the second upwardly extending beam and movable along a third axis parallel to the upwardly extending beams;a connecting assembly having a clamp at one end, wherein the connecting assembly is movable along and relative-to the horizontal beam;a concave component in the form of an elongated curved beam that is concavely curved with respect to the surface onto which the material placement system dispenses and compacts material, a convex side of the curved beam having a member that is selectively clampable by the clamp of the connecting assembly, wherein the concave component is movable relative to the connecting assembly when the member of the convex side of the concave component is clamped by the clamp;a convex component in the form of an elongated curved beam that is convexly curved with respect to the surface onto which the material placement system dispenses and compacts material, a concave side of the curved beam having a member that is selectively clampable by the clamp of the connecting assembly, as an alternative to the concave component, wherein the convex component is movable relative to the connecting assembly when the member of the concave side of the convex component is clamped by the clamp; anda material placement head for dispensing and compacting material onto the surface, wherein the material placement head has an end that is selectively clampable by the clamp, as an alternative to the concave and convex components, and wherein the material placement head is configured to be movably attached to the concave component when the member of the convex side of the concave component is clamped by the clamp, and wherein the material placement head is configured to be movably attached to the convex component when the member of the concave side of the convex component is clamped by the clamp. 17. A reconfigurable apparatus for performing a manufacturing operation on a surface, the apparatus comprising: a first beam;a second beam, wherein the second beam is supported by the first beam and movable along a first axis, and is also movable along a second axis relative to the first beam;a connecting assembly having a clamp at one end of the connecting assembly, wherein the connecting assembly is attachable to the second beam and movable along a third axis which is different from the first and second axes;a first component having an end that is selectively clampable by the clamp of the connecting assembly, wherein the first component is movable relative to the connecting assembly when the one end of the first component is clamped by the clamp;a second component having an end that is selectively clampable by the clamp of the connecting assembly, wherein the second component is movable relative to the connecting assembly when the one end of the second component is clamped by the clamp; anda head assembly for performing a manufacturing operation on the surface, the head assembly having an end that is selectively clampable by the clamp, as an alternative to the first and second components, wherein the head assembly is configured to be movably attached to the first component for relative movement of the head assembly relative to the first component when the one end of the first component is clamped by the clamp, and wherein the head assembly is configured to be movably attached to the second component for relative movement of the head assembly relative to the second component when the one end of the second component is clamped by the clamp, and wherein the head assembly is movable relative to the first and second beam when attached to the connecting assembly,wherein the clamp connects the one of the first component, the second component, and the head assembly that has the end that is being clamped by the clamp at least one of physically, electrically, and pneumatically to the connecting assembly.