General Electric Company
Method for real-time simultaneous and calibrated additive and subtractive manufacturing

Abstract:

A method for large-scale, real-time simultaneous additive and subtractive manufacturing is described. The apparatus used in the method includes a build unit and a machining mechanism that are attached to a positioning mechanism, a rotating platform, and a rotary encoder attached to the rotating platform. The method involves rotating the build platform; determining the rotational speed; growing the object and the build wall through repetitive cycles of moving the build unit(s) over and substantially parallel to multiple build areas within the build platform to deposit a layer of powder at each build area, leveling the powder, and irradiating the powder to form a fused additive layer at each build area; machining the object being manufactured; and cutting and removing the build wall. The irradiation parameters are calibrated based on the determined rotational speed.