Abstract: A method of controlling operation of an electron beam gun and wire feeder during deposition of pools of molten matter onto a substrate to form beads upon solidification of the molten matter. The method includes providing a substrate and a wire source. A molten pool of liquid phase metal is formed on the substrate by melting the wire utilizing an electron beam generated by an electron beam gun. The liquid metal solidifies into a solid phase. A controller utilizes data from a sensor to adjust a process perimeter based, at least in part, on data generated by the sensor.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the real time inspection of additive manufacturing deposits using infrared thermography. Various embodiments may enable the measurement of material properties and the detection of defects during the additive manufacturing process. Various embodiments may enable the characterization of deposition quality, as well as the detection of deposition defects, such as voids, cracks, disbonds, etc., as a structure is manufactured layer by layer in an additive manufacturing process. Various embodiments may enable quantitative inspection images to be archived and associated with the manufactured structure to document the manufactured structure's structural integrity.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments may provide a joint suitable for use with space systems, such as robotic space systems, (e.g., Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) space systems, Intra Vehicular Activity (IVA) space systems, etc.), etc. Various embodiments provide a joint configured to enable structural connection of structural elements, such as trusses, antenna boom sections, beams, etc., including cantilevered elements. Various embodiments provide a joint configured to enable connection of truss structure sections. Various embodiments may provide a robotic erectable joint including an active joint half and a passive joint half configured to connect to the active joint half to thereby form the robotic erectable joint when so connected, wherein the robotic erectable joint has a noncircular cross section (e.g., polygon (e.g., square, triangle, hexagon, etc.) cross section, oval cross section, ellipse cross section, etc.).

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the real time inspection of additive manufacturing deposits using infrared thermography. Various embodiments may enable the measurement of material properties and the detection of defects during the additive manufacturing process. Various embodiments may enable the characterization of deposition quality, as well as the detection of deposition defects, such as voids, cracks, disbonds, etc., as a structure is manufactured layer by layer in an additive manufacturing process. Various embodiments may enable quantitative inspection images to be archived and associated with the manufactured structure to document the manufactured structure's structural integrity.

Abstract: A method of controlling operation of an electron beam gun and wire feeder during deposition of pools of molten matter onto a substrate to form beads upon solidification of the molten matter. The method includes providing a substrate and a wire source. A molten pool of liquid phase metal is formed on the substrate by melting the wire utilizing an electron beam generated by an electron beam gun. The liquid metal solidifies into a solid phase. A controller utilizes data from a sensor to adjust a process perimeter based, at least in part, on data generated by the sensor.

Abstract: A vessel for removing bubbles from a fluid is provided. The vessel includes a fluid inlet port for receiving the fluid and a bubble outlet for removing bubbles in the fluid from the vessel. One or more ultrasonic transducers transmit one or more ultrasonic beams through the received fluid to move bubbles in the fluid towards the bubble outlet. A fluid outlet port outputs the fluid insonified by the one or more ultrasonic beams. A conduit structure conveys the one or more ultrasonic beams through the vessel in a first direction towards the air outlet. An interface prevents reflection of one or more ultrasonic beams in a direction generally opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A vessel for removing bubbles from a fluid is provided. The vessel includes a fluid inlet port for receiving the fluid, and a bubble outlet port for removing bubbles in the fluid from the vessel. An ultrasonic transducer is mounted in the vessel and transmits an ultrasonic beam through the received fluid to move bubbles in the fluid towards the bubble outlet port. A fluid outlet port outputs the fluid insonified by the ultrasonic beam. An ultrasonic reflector mounted near the bubble outlet port reflects the ultrasonic beam away from the fluid outlet port to reduce or prevent reflection of the ultrasonic beam off an interior surface in the vessel directed towards the fluid outlet port.

Abstract: This invention is for a passive laminar flow airfoil which has an upper skin 12 and lower skin 14 joined at a trailing edge 16. A leading edge structure 20, such as de-icing equipment, is joined to the upper and lower skins by interface mechanisms 30 and 35. Generally, the interface mechanisms are forward facing steps, with or without adjacent gaps, shaped and dimensioned to accomplish laminar flow using standard airfoil manufacturing techniques.