General Electric Company
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURED OBJECT WITH PASSAGE HAVING VARYING CROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPE

Abstract:

A passage incorporated into an additively manufactured object, the object and a related method are disclosed. The object has an additive manufacture build direction. The passage includes: a first portion aligned along an axis oriented less than approximately 45.degree. from the build direction; and a second portion aligned along an axis oriented greater than approximately 45.degree. from the build direction, the second portion including at least one self-supporting top surface portion including at least one edge aligned no greater than approximately 45.degree. from the build direction. The passage having varying cross-sectional shape along a non-linear length accommodates additive manufacture regardless of build direction.