Patents by Inventor Blake L. Alfson

Blake L. Alfson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20190164663
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for additively manufacturing a composite wiring harness. The method may include directing a plurality of conductors through a print head, directing at least one reinforcement through the print head, and coating at least one of the plurality of conductors and the at least one reinforcement with a matrix material. The method may also include discharging the at least one of the plurality of conductors and the at least one reinforcement with the matrix material from the print head, and exposing the matrix material during discharging to a cure energy to cause hardening of a sheath around the plurality of conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: CC3D LLC
    Inventors: Blake L. Alfson, Kenneth Lyle Tyler, Ryan C. Stockett, Tyler B. Alvarado, Trevor David Budge
  • Patent number: 10216165
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing a structure. The system may include an additive manufacturing machine, a memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, and a processor. The processor may be configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to cause the additive manufacturing machine to discharge a path of composite material, and to make a determination regarding existence of support located at a side of the path of composite material. The processor may be further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to selectively cause the additive manufacturing machine to compact the path of composite material after discharge with a variable pressure that is based on the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: CC3D LLC
    Inventors: Trevor David Budge, Kenneth L. Tyler, Ryan C. Stockett, Blake L. Alfson
  • Publication number: 20180065307
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing a structure. The system may include an additive manufacturing machine, a memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, and a processor. The processor may be configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to cause the additive manufacturing machine to discharge a path of composite material. The processor may also be configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to make a comparison of an actual discharge location of the path of composite material to a desired discharge location, and to selectively cause the additive manufacturing machine to abort fabrication of the structure or to adjust discharge parameters based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: CC3D LLC
    Inventors: RYAN C. STOCKETT, Kenneth L. Tyler, Blake L. Alfson, Josiah D. Coad
  • Publication number: 20180065309
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing a structure. The system may include an additive manufacturing machine, a memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, and a processor. The processor may be configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to determine if a tool path to be followed by the additive manufacturing machine during manufacture of the structure is located in free-space or on top of another tool path. When the tool path is located in free-space, the processor may be further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to make a determination regarding a curvature of the tool path, and to selectively cause the additive manufacturing machine to fabricate a support for the tool path based on the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: CC3D LLC
    Inventors: KENNETH L. TYLER, Blake L. Alfson, Ryan C. Stockett
  • Publication number: 20180065306
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing a structure. The system may include an additive manufacturing machine, a memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, and a processor. The processor may be configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to cause the additive manufacturing machine to discharge a path of composite material, including a continuous fiber and a matrix at least partially coating the continuous fiber. The processor may also be configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to monitor an energy level within the continuous fiber during discharging, to make a determination that the continuous fiber has lost continuity based on a reduction in the energy level, and to selectively interrupt the discharging based on the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: CC3D LLC
    Inventors: KENNETH LYLE TYLER, Ryan C. Stockett, Blake L. Alfson
  • Publication number: 20180067464
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing a structure. The system may include an additive manufacturing machine, a memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, and a processor. The processor may be configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to cause the additive manufacturing machine to discharge a path of composite material, and to make a determination regarding existence of support located at a side of the path of composite material. The processor may be further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to selectively cause the additive manufacturing machine to compact the path of composite material after discharge with a variable pressure that is based on the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: CC3D LLC
    Inventors: TREVOR DAVID BUDGE, Kenneth L. Tyler, Ryan C. Stockett, Blake L. Alfson
  • Publication number: 20180065308
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing a structure. The system may include an additive manufacturing machine, a memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, and a processor. The processor may be configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to make a determination associated with the structure being a performance-critical part and, based on the determination, selectively implement a first slicing technique or a second slicing technique to divide a virtual model of the structure into a plurality of planes. The processor may be further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to cause the additive manufacturing machine to deposit composite material in layers corresponding to the plurality of planes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: CC3D LLC
    Inventors: Ryan C. Stockett, Kenneth L. Tyler, Blake L. Alfson
  • Publication number: 20180065304
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing a structure. The system may include an additive manufacturing machine, a memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, and a processor. The processor may be configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to determine a plurality of tension vectors to be generated within the structure, and to generate a plan for manufacturing the structure. The plan may include tool paths that arrange continuous fibers within the structure to generate the plurality of tension vectors. The processor may also be configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to cause the additive manufacturing machine to follow the plan and manufacture the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: CC3D LLC
    Inventors: RYAN C STOCKETT, Kenneth L. Tyler, Blake L. Alfson, Josiah D. Coad
  • Publication number: 20180065322
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling an additive manufacturing system. The method may include causing a head to discharge composite material along a first trajectory, and activating a cure enhancer to at least partially cure composite material discharging from the head along the first trajectory. The method may also include selectively deactivating the cure enhancer as the head nears a corner location, moving the head to a second trajectory after the head reaches the corner location, and reactivating the cure enhancer after moving the head to the second trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: CC3D LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Lyle Tyler, Blake L. Alfson, Josiah D. Coad, Kaleb Forrest Beebout