Abstract: A method (1000) of additively manufacturing an object (200) from a powder material (202) comprises discharging the powder material (202) from a powder-deposition opening (126) in a hollow body (122) of a powder-supply arm (108) while rotating the powder-supply arm (108) and an energy-supply arm (112) about a vertical axis A1. Method (1000) also comprises, while rotating the powder-supply arm (108) and the energy-supply arm (112) about the vertical axis A1, distributing the powder material (202) within a powder-bed volume (204) using a powder-distribution blade (128) that is coupled to the hollow body (122) and extends along the powder-deposition opening (126). The method (1000) further comprises, while rotating the powder-supply arm (108) and the energy-supply arm (112) about vertical axis A1, consolidating at least a portion of the powder material (202) in the powder-bed volume (204) using the energy emitters (114), coupled to the energy-supply arm (112).

Abstract: An additive-manufacturing apparatus (100) comprises a support (102) and a powder-material source (106). The additive-manufacturing apparatus (100) further comprises a powder-supply arm (108), which comprises a hollow body (122), having an interior volume (124) that is in communication with the powder-material source (106), a powder-deposition opening (126) in the hollow body (122), and a powder-distribution blade (128), coupled to the hollow body (122) and extending along the powder-deposition opening (126). The additive-manufacturing apparatus (100) also comprises an energy source (110), an energy-supply arm (112), and energy emitters (114), coupled to the energy-supply arm (112). The additive-manufacturing apparatus (100) further comprises a rotary drive (116), configured to rotate the powder-supply arm (108) and the energy-supply arm (112) about a vertical axis A1, passing through the support (102), and intersecting a powder-supply-arm central axis A2 and an energy-supply-arm central axis A3.

Abstract: A hole location target includes a self-centering insert having a centerline and a laser beam emitter attached to the self-centering insert. The axis of the emitted laser beam is concentric to the centerline of the self-centering insert.

Abstract: A hole location target includes a self-centering insert having a centerline and an optical target attached to the self-centering insert at a fixed position relative to the centerline of the self-centering insert. The optical target surface includes a two-dimensional pattern thereon.

Abstract: A method (1000) of additively manufacturing an object (200) from a powder material (202) comprises discharging the powder material (202) from a powder-deposition opening (126) in a hollow body (122) of a powder-supply arm (108) while rotating the powder-supply arm (108) and an energy-supply arm (112) about a vertical axis A1. Method (1000) also comprises, while rotating the powder-supply arm (108) and the energy-supply arm (112) about the vertical axis A1, distributing the powder material (202) within a powder-bed volume (204) using a powder-distribution blade (128) that is coupled to the hollow body (122) and extends along the powder-deposition opening (126). The method (1000) further comprises, while rotating the powder-supply arm (108) and the energy-supply arm (112) about vertical axis A1, consolidating at least a portion of the powder material (202) in the powder-bed volume (204) using the energy emitters (114), coupled to the energy-supply arm (112).

Abstract: An additive-manufacturing apparatus (100) comprises a support (102) and a powder-material source (106). The additive-manufacturing apparatus (100) further comprises a powder-supply arm (108), which comprises a hollow body (122), having an interior volume (124) that is in communication with the powder-material source (106), a powder-deposition opening (126) in the hollow body (122), and a powder-distribution blade (128), coupled to the hollow body (122) and extending along the powder-deposition opening (126). The additive-manufacturing apparatus (100) also comprises an energy source (110), an energy-supply arm (112), and energy emitters (114), coupled to the energy-supply arm (112). The additive-manufacturing apparatus (100) further comprises a rotary drive (116), configured to rotate the powder-supply arm (108) and the energy-supply arm (112) about a vertical axis A1, passing through the support (102), and intersecting a powder-supply-arm central axis A2 and an energy-supply-arm central axis A3.

Abstract: A hole location target includes a self-centering insert having a centerline and an optical target attached to the self-centering insert at a fixed position relative to the centerline of the self-centering insert. The optical target surface includes a two-dimensional pattern thereon.

Abstract: A hole location target includes a self-centering insert having a centerline and a laser beam emitter attached to the self-centering insert. The axis of the emitted laser beam is concentric to the centerline of the self-centering insert.

Abstract: A hole location target includes a self-centering insert having a centerline and an optical target attached to the self-centering insert at a fixed position relative to the centerline of the self-centering insert. The optical target includes a light-emitting display. The light-emitting display includes a two-dimensional pattern thereon.

Abstract: A method for implementing machining tasks for an object. The method identifies location coordinates for a plurality of holes. A task file contains the machining tasks. The robotic devices use the task files to perform the machining tasks. A minimum number of positioning stations is determined where a portion of the machining tasks will be performed by the robotic devices. An ordered sequence for performing the machining tasks is calculated and path a path with the near-minimum distance is determined. Robotic control files are created that cause the robotic devices to perform the machining tasks. The robotic control files are output to the robotic devices to perform the machining tasks to form the plurality of holes.

Abstract: A method of coordinating automated systems, the method includes providing a first automated system that is programmed with a set of predetermined operating instructions that correspond with automated system processing requirements, monitoring an operational status of the first automated system with a second automated system, automatically generating a second system action, with the second automated system, that is complementary to a first system action of the first automated system, where the first system action corresponds to the set of predetermined operating instructions and the second system action depends on the operational status of the first automated system, and performing the second system action with the second automated system so that the second automated system cooperates with the first automated system to perform a predetermined operation.

Abstract: Provided is a machine system having optical endpoint control and associated method for maintaining having is provided constant optical contact. Specifically, the machine system comprises a machine capable of movement in at least one direction. The machine is configured such that, during a calibration phase, a steerable retroreflective system is mounted upon the machine for movement therewith. A controller is configured to control the movement of the machine in at least one direction. The machine system may be configured to automatically adjust the feedrate of the machine, upon determining that a velocity required for the positioner to move the retroreflector to a desired position exceeds a certain segment feedrate threshold, such that an incident beam of light can maintain constant contact with the retroreflector throughout movement of the machine from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A method, a device, and a computer-readable storage medium is provided for performing the method for automating an assembling sequence operation for a workpiece using an one-up assembly process that uses adjacent hole clamping. The method can include obtaining an adjacency list from points for the workpiece to be assembled; controlling an assembly machine for assembling the workpiece using a sequence of assembly operations based on the adjacency list; identifying potential errors in the sequence of assembly operations; determining a revised sequence of assembly operations based on the potential errors that are identified; and controlling the assembly machine based on the revised sequence of assembly operations.

Abstract: Aspects herein use a feature detection system to visually identify a feature on a component. The feature detection system includes at least two cameras that capture images of the feature from different angles or perspectives. From these images, the system generates a 3D point cloud of the components in the images. Instead of projecting the boundaries of features onto the point cloud directly, the aspects herein identify predefined geometric shapes in the 3D point cloud. The system then projects pixel locations of the feature's boundaries onto the identified geometric shapes in the point cloud. Doing so yields the 3D coordinates of the feature which then can be used by a robot to perform a manufacturing process.

Abstract: A method for implementing machining tasks for an object. The method identifies location coordinates for a plurality of holes. A task file contains the machining tasks. The robotic devices use the task files to perform the machining tasks. A minimum number of positioning stations is determined where a portion of the machining tasks will be performed by the robotic devices. An ordered sequence for performing the machining tasks is calculated and path a path with the near-minimum distance is determined. Robotic control files are created that cause the robotic devices to perform the machining tasks. The robotic control files are output to the robotic devices to perform the machining tasks to form the plurality of holes.

Abstract: A system for printing an image on a surface includes a robot, a printhead having a reference line printing mechanism, and a reference line sensor. The robot has at least one arm. The printhead is mounted to the arm and is movable by the arm over a surface along a rastering path while printing a new image slice on the surface. The reference line printing mechanism is configured to print a reference line on the surface when printing the new image slice. The reference line sensor is configured to sense the reference line of an existing image slice and transmit a signal to the robot causing the arm to adjust the printhead in a manner such that a side edge of the new image slice is aligned with the side edge of the existing image slice.

Abstract: A method of determining a pose of a workpiece includes receiving known positions of a plurality of reference features of a workpiece in a first pose in a first coordinate space, determining from the known positions an estimate of the first pose of the workpiece in a second coordinate space in which any pose of the workpiece is defined by six distinct components, and at least one of the six components are known. The method includes receiving a position of a second feature of the workpiece in the second coordinate space when the workpiece is disposed in a distinct, second pose in which the at least one known components remain constant between the first and second pose. The method includes determining the second pose of the workpiece from the first pose estimate and the position of the second feature of the workpiece in the second pose.

Abstract: Provided is a machine system having optical endpoint control and associated method for maintaining having is provided constant optical contact. Specifically, the machine system comprises a machine capable of movement in at least one direction. The machine is configured such that, during a calibration phase, a steerable retroreflective system is mounted upon the machine for movement therewith. A controller is configured to control the movement of the machine in at least one direction. The machine system may be configured to automatically adjust the feedrate of the machine, upon determining that a velocity required for the positioner to move the retroreflector to a desired position exceeds a certain segment feedrate threshold, such that an incident beam of light can maintain constant contact with the retroreflector throughout movement of the machine from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A method of coordinating automated systems, the method includes providing a first automated system that is programmed with a set of predetermined operating instructions that correspond with automated system processing requirements, monitoring an operational status of the first automated system with a second automated system, automatically generating a second system action, with the second automated system, that is complimentary to a first system action of the first automated system, where the first system action corresponds to the set of predetermined operating instructions and the second system action depends on the operational status of the first automated system, and performing the second system action with the second automated system so that the second automated system cooperates with the first automated system to perform a predetermined operation.

Abstract: Aspects herein use a feature detection system to visually identify a feature on a component. The feature detection system includes at least two cameras that capture images of the feature from different angles or perspectives. From these images, the system generates a 3D point cloud of the components in the images. Instead of projecting the boundaries of features onto the point cloud directly, the aspects herein identify predefined geometric shapes in the 3D point cloud. The system then projects pixel locations of the feature's boundaries onto the identified geometric shapes in the point cloud. Doing so yields the 3D coordinates of the feature which then can be used by a robot to perform a manufacturing process.