Patents by Inventor Michael Evans Graham

Michael Evans Graham 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).

  • Patent number: 10796018
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to generate a workscope. An example apparatus includes a workscope mapper, workscope strategy analyzer, and workscope selector. The workscope strategy analyzer is to evaluate each of the plurality of workscopes using dynamic optimization to determine a maintenance value and benefit to an asset associated with each workscope based on a stage in a remaining life of a constraint at which the evaluation is executed and a state of the asset. The dynamic optimization is to determine a prediction of the maintenance value based on a probability of a future change in state and associated workscope value until the end of life of the constraint. The maintenance value, used to select a workscope from the plurality of workscopes, is to be determined by the dynamic optimization as a sum of the associated workscope values until the end of life of the constraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor Manuel Perez Zarate, Luis Gabriel De Alba Rivera, Brock Estel Osborn, Katherine Tharp Nowicki, Michael William Bailey, Michael Evans Graham
  • Publication number: 20200276764
    Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing machine energy beam alignment error compensation includes, a calibration table having x-y planar offsets to correct laser alignment errors representing energy beam positional offsets between beam-steering commanded energy beam locations and fiducial marks generated on a burn-paper, a recoater mechanism that distributes successive layers of powder, one or more sensors monitoring the powderbed surface proximal to the beam scan unit, and a processor unit configured to perform a method. The method including collecting sensor data representing height variations across at least a portion of the powderbed surface, deriving dimensional data from the collected data, analyzing the dimensional data to determine a distribution of differences between the powderbed surface and a reference plane containing the burn-paper when the fiducial marks were generated, and calculating z-axis calibration offset points for inclusion in the calibration table x-y planar offsets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Brian Scott MCCARTHY, Dean Andrew SNELLING, JR., Thomas ADCOCK, Donnell CREAR, Michael Evans GRAHAM
  • Patent number: 10698386
    Abstract: Some embodiments facilitate creation of an industrial asset item via a rotary additive manufacturing process. For example, a build plate may rotate about a vertical axis and move, relative to a print arm, along the vertical axis during printing. An industrial asset item definition data store may contain at least one electronic record defining the industrial asset item. A frame creation computer processor may slice the data defining the industrial asset item to create a series of two-dimensional, locally linear frames helically arranged as a spiral staircase of steps (and each step may be oriented normal to the vertical axis. Indications of the series of two-dimensional frames may then be output to be provided to a rotary three-dimensional printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Subhrajit Roychowdhury, Brian McCarthy, Michael Tucker, David C Bogdan, Jr., Michael Evans Graham, William Carter
  • Patent number: 10695865
    Abstract: A controller for use in an additive manufacturing system including at least one laser device configured to generate at least one melt pool in powdered material including a processing device and a memory device. The controller is configured to generate at least one control signal to control a power output of the at least one laser device throughout at least one scan path across the layer of powdered material, the scan path generated at least partially based on a functional relationship between a plurality of points of a generating path and each point of a plurality of points of the scan path. The controller is further configured to generate a non-uniform energy intensity profile for the scan path, and transmit the control signal to the laser device to emit at least one laser beam to generate at least one melt pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Evans Graham, Lang Yuan
  • Patent number: 10583530
    Abstract: A component is fabricated in a powder bed by moving a laser array across the powder bed. The laser array includes a plurality of laser devices. The power output of each laser device of the plurality of laser devices is independently controlled. The laser array emits a plurality of energy beams from a plurality of selected laser devices of the plurality of laser devices to generate a melt pool in the powder bed. A non-uniform energy intensity profile is generated by the plurality of selected laser devices. The non-uniform energy intensity profile facilitates generating a melt pool that has a predetermined characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Harris Karp, Justin John Gambone, Jr., Michael Evans Graham, David Charles Bogdan, Jr., Victor Petrovich Ostroverkhov, William Thomas Carter, Harry Kirk Mathews, Jr., Kevin George Harding, Jinjie Shi, Marshall Gordon Jones, James William Sears
  • Publication number: 20200031042
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a build platform, a plurality of particles positioned on the build platform defining a build layer, a first and second region within the build layer, and at least one consolidation device. The first region and the second region each including a portion of the plurality of particles. The at least one consolidation device is configured to consolidate the plurality of particles within the build layer into a solid, consolidated portion of said build layer. The consolidation device is further configured to consolidate at least one of the plurality of particles within the build layer and the solid, consolidated portion of the build layer into a molten volume of transfer material. The consolidation device is further configured to transfer a portion of the molten volume of transfer material within the first region from the first region to the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Evans Graham, William Thomas Carter, John Broddus Deaton, JR., John Joseph Madelone, JR., Thomas Charles Adcock, Matthias Hoebel, Subhrajit Roychowdhury
  • Patent number: 10532515
    Abstract: A method that includes additively manufacturing with an additive manufacturing (AM) system a sub-component that has a locator element. Using a control system of the AM system for positioning a first location of the locator element. Selectively placing a portion of another sub-component adjacent to the locator element, based on the positioning. Then attaching the second sub-component to the first sub-component in a region, wherein the region is based on the positioning knowledge from the control system so as to make a component. A component that comprises a first sub-component that has an AM locator element; and a second sub-component attached to the first sub-component, wherein the locator element is attached to the second sub-component within the same additive manufacturing build chamber as the first sub-component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Evans Graham, John Broddus Deaton, Jr., Mark Allen Cheverton, Thomas Charles Adcock, Andrew David Deal, Marshall Gordon Jones, Prabhjot Singh
  • Patent number: 10518356
    Abstract: A method includes applying thermal and/or strain modeling to the CAD representation of an object. In addition, scan path data is generated based at least in part on a result of the thermal and/or strain modeling. A build file comprising the scan path data is generated. The build file comprises instructions that configure an additive manufacturing tool to generate the object according to the scan path data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Evans Graham, Lang Yuan, Thomas Adcock, Justin Gambone, Jr., James Sears, John Madelone
  • Patent number: 10514680
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a component using an additive manufacturing system is provided. The method includes providing a build file on a controller of the additive manufacturing system. The build file includes at least one generating function, at least one seed value, and at least one function parameter. The method also includes generating a curve that corresponds to the component based on the at least one generating function, the at least one seed value, and the at least one function parameter. The method further includes positioning a material on a surface. The method further includes determining, using the controller, a plurality of set points for a consolidation device. The plurality of set points are located along the curve. The method also includes operating the consolidation device of the additive manufacturing system to consolidate the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Joseph Madelone, Jr., Thomas Charles Adcock, Justin John Gambone, Jr., Michael Evans Graham, Subhrajit Roychowdhury, Daniel J. Erno
  • Publication number: 20190381604
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a component is provided. The method includes depositing particles onto a build platform. The method also includes distributing the particles to form a build layer. The method further includes operating a consolidation device to consolidate a first plurality of particles along a scan path to form a component. The component includes a top surface spaced apart from the build platform and an outer surface. The outer surface extends between the build platform and the top surface, and at least a portion of the outer surface faces a substantially particle-free region of the build platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Evans Graham, Thomas Charles Adcock, John Joseph Madelone, Jr., John Broddus Deaton, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190381605
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a build platform, at least one first consolidation device, and at least one second consolidation device. The at least one first consolidation device is configured to direct at least one first energy beam to a first face of a component. The first face has a first orientation. The at least one second consolidation device is configured to simultaneously direct at least one second energy beam toward a second face of the component as the first consolidation device directs the at least one first energy beam toward the first face. The second face has a second orientation different from the first orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: John Joseph Madelone, JR., Thomas Charles Adcock, John Broddus Deaton, JR., Michael Evans Graham
  • Patent number: 10471510
    Abstract: A computerized method, system, program product and additive manufacturing (AM) system are disclosed. Embodiments provide for modifying object code representative of an object to be physically generated layer by layer by a computerized AM system using the object code. The computerized method may include providing an interface to allow a user to manually: select a region within the object in the object code, the object code including a plurality of pre-assigned build strategy parameters for the object that control operation of the computerized AM system, and selectively modify a build strategy parameter in the selected region in the object code to change an operation of the computerized AM system from the plurality of pre-assigned build strategy parameters during building of the object by the computerized AM system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donnell Eugene Crear, Michael Evans Graham, Tao Jia, Mohammed Mounir Shalaby
  • Patent number: 10406633
    Abstract: A computerized method, system, program product and additive manufacturing (AM) system are disclosed. Embodiments provide for modifying object code representative of an object to be physically generated layer by layer by a computerized AM system using the object code. The computerized method may include providing an interface to allow a user to manually: select a region within the object in the object code, the object code including a plurality of pre-assigned build strategy parameters for the object that control operation of the computerized AM system, and selectively modify a build strategy parameter in the selected region in the object code to change an operation of the computerized AM system from the plurality of pre-assigned build strategy parameters during building of the object by the computerized AM system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donnell Eugene Crear, Michael Evans Graham, Tao Jia, Mohammed Mounir Shalaby
  • Publication number: 20190240775
    Abstract: A method includes applying thermal and/or strain modeling to the CAD representation of an object. In addition, scan path data is generated based at least in part on a result of the thermal and/or strain modeling. A build file comprising the scan path data is generated. The build file comprises instructions that configure an additive manufacturing tool to generate the object according to the scan path data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Evans GRAHAM, Lang YUAN, Thomas ADCOCK, Justin GAMBONE, JR., James SEARS, John MADELONE
  • Publication number: 20190232428
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a laser device, a build plate, and a scanning device. The laser device is configured to generate a laser beam with a variable intensity. The build plate is configured to support a powdered build material. The scanning device is configured to selectively direct the laser beam across the powdered build material to generate a melt pool on the build plate. The scanning device is configured to oscillate a spatial position of the laser beam while the laser device is configured to simultaneously modulate the intensity of the laser beam to thermally control the melt pool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Subhrajit Roychowdhury, Matthias Hoebel, Lang Yuan, Prabhjot Singh, Michael Evans Graham, Robert John Filkins, Thomas Etter, Felix Martin Gerhard Roerig
  • Publication number: 20190232427
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a laser device, a build plate, and a scanning device. The laser device is configured to generate a laser beam with a variable intensity. The build plate is configured to support a powdered build material. The scanning device is configured to selectively direct the laser beam across the powdered build material to generate a melt pool on the build plate. The scanning device is configured to oscillate a spatial position of the laser beam while the laser device simultaneously modulates the intensity of the laser beam to facilitate reducing spatter and to facilitate reducing a temperature of the melt pool to reduce overheating of the melt pool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Subhrajit Roychowdhury, Matthias Hoebel, Michael Evans Graham, Robert John Filkins, Felix Martin Gerhard Roerig, Donnell Eugene Crear, Prabhjot Singh
  • Patent number: 10338569
    Abstract: A computerized method, system, program product and additive manufacturing (AM) system are disclosed. Embodiments provide for modifying object code representative of an object to be physically generated layer by layer by a computerized AM system using the object code. The computerized method may include providing an interface to allow a user to manually: select a region within the object in the object code, the object code including a plurality of pre-assigned build strategy parameters for the object that control operation of the computerized AM system, and selectively modify a build strategy parameter in the selected region in the object code to change an operation of the computerized AM system from the plurality of pre-assigned build strategy parameters during building of the object by the computerized AM system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Donnell Eugene Crear, Michael Evans Graham, Tao Jia, Mohammed Mounir Shalaby
  • Patent number: 10307823
    Abstract: A method for repairing a structure in an additive manufacturing system is provided. The method includes detecting a defect in a structure formed using an additive manufacturing process, the structure including a first surface that faces a powder containing region and a second surface that faces a substantially powder free region, generating a supplemental scan path that covers at least a portion of the structure based on a location of the detected defect, and controlling a consolidation device, based on the supplemental scan path, to remedy the defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Broddus Deaton, Jr., Thomas Charles Adcock, William Monaghan, John Joseph Madelone, Jr., Michael Evans Graham
  • Publication number: 20190163167
    Abstract: Some embodiments facilitate creation of an industrial asset item via an additive manufacturing process wherein motion is provided between a build plate and a print arm. A correction engine may receive, from an industrial asset item definition data store containing at least one electronic record defining the industrial asset item, the data defining the industrial asset item. A correction engine computer processor may then correct the motion provided between the build plate and the print arm such that the motion deviates from a path indicated by the data defining the industrial asset item. The three-dimension printer may be a rotary printer such that the build plate rotates about a vertical axis and moves along the vertical axis during printing. In these cases, a pre-compensation algorithm may be applied to correct the motion provided between the build plate and the print arm before transmitting data to the three-dimensional additive manufacturing printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Subhrajit ROYCHOWDHURY, Brian McCARTHY, Michael TUCKER, David C BOGDAN, JR., Michael Evans GRAHAM, William CARTER, Victor OSTROVERKHOV
  • Publication number: 20190143408
    Abstract: In one aspect, an additive manufacturing system is provided. The additive manufacturing system includes a build platform, a first plurality of particles positioned on the build platform, and a particle containment system positioned on the build platform. The particle containment system includes a particle containment wall. The particle containment wall at least partially surrounds the first plurality of particles and includes a second plurality of particles consolidated together. The particle containment wall includes a top end spaced apart from the build platform, an inner face positioned against the first plurality of particles and extending between the build platform and the top end, and an outer face that faces a substantially particle-free region, the outer face positioned opposite the inner face and extending between the build platform and the top end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Evans Graham, William Monaghan, Thomas Charles Adcock, Andrew J. Martin, John Joseph Madelone, Jr., David Charles Bogdan, Jr., John Broddus Deaton, Jr., William Thomas Carter