System and method for machining workpiece of lattice structure and article machined therefrom

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10399166-B2
Application number	US-201615196165-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2016
Priority date	Oct 30, 2015
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

A system is configured for machining a workpiece of a lattice structure, the system includes an electrode of a lattice structure, an electrolyte supply, and a power supply. The workpiece and the electrode are intertwined with each other and electrically isolated from each other. The electrolyte supply is configured for circulating an electrolyte around and between the workpiece and the electrode. The power supply is configured for applying a voltage between the workpiece and the electrode to facilitate smoothing surfaces of the workpiece.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for machining a workpiece of a lattice structure, the system comprising:
an electrode of a lattice structure, wherein the electrode and the workpiece are intertwined with each other and electrically isolated from each other; and
an electrolyte supply for circulating an electrolyte around and between the workpiece and the electrode; and
a power supply for applying a voltage between the workpiece and the electrode to facilitate smoothing surfaces of the workpiece.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a polarity of the voltage is reversed to facilitate smoothing surfaces of the electrode.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the polarity of the voltage is switched at a determined high frequency.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein a polarity of the voltage is reversed to at least partially dissolve the electrode.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises:
a plurality of electrodes of lattice structures, wherein each of the electrodes and the workpiece are intertwined with each other and electrically isolated from each other;
wherein the electrolyte supply is configured for circulating the electrolyte around and between the workpiece and each of the electrodes; and
wherein the power supply is configured for applying the voltage between the workpiece and each of the electrodes to facilitate smoothing surfaces of the workpiece.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein a polarity of the voltage between the workpiece and each of the electrodes is reversed to at least partially dissolve each of the electrodes.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises:
a plurality of electrodes of lattice structures, wherein the electrodes and the workpiece are intertwined with each other and electrically isolated from each other;
wherein the electrolyte supply is configured for circulating the electrolyte around and between the workpiece and the electrodes; and
wherein the power supply is configured for applying the voltage between any two of the workpiece and the electrodes to facilitate smoothing surfaces of the workpiece.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein a polarity of the voltage between any two of the workpiece and the electrodes is reversed to facilitate smoothing surfaces of any one of the electrodes.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein a polarity of the voltage between any two of the workpiece and the electrodes is reversed to at least partially dissolve any one of the electrodes.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the workpiece and the electrodes are coupled in pairs to the power supply, the voltage is sequentially applied to each pair of the workpiece and the electrode or each pair of the two electrodes so as to facilitate smoothing surfaces of all of the workpiece and the electrodes.

11. The system of claim 2 , wherein cathode reactions are configured to optimize oxygen evolution to speed up anodic reactions when the polarity of the voltage is switched, the oxygen evolution is configured to enhance electrochemical machining of the workpiece.

12. A method for machining a workpiece of a lattice structure, the method comprising:
providing an electrode of a lattice structure to be intertwined with the workpiece and be electrically isolated from the workpiece;
circulating an electrolyte around and between the workpiece and the electrode; and
applying a voltage between the workpiece and the electrode to facilitate smoothing surfaces of the workpiece.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
reversing a polarity of the voltage to facilitate smoothing surfaces of the electrode.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
reversing a polarity of the voltage to at least partially dissolve the electrode.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
providing a plurality of electrodes of lattice structures, wherein each of the electrodes and the workpiece are intertwined with each other and electrically isolated from each other;
circulating the electrolyte around and between the workpiece and each of the electrodes; and
applying the voltage between the workpiece and each of the electrodes to facilitate smoothing surfaces of the workpiece.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
reversing a polarity of the voltage between the workpiece and each of the electrodes to at least partially dissolve each of the electrodes.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
providing a plurality of electrodes of lattice structures, wherein the electrodes and the workpiece are intertwined with each other and electrically isolated from each other;
circulating the electrolyte around and between the workpiece and the electrodes; and
applying the voltage between any two of the workpiece and the electrodes to facilitate smoothing surfaces of the workpiece.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
reversing a polarity of the voltage between any two of the workpiece and the electrodes to facilitate smoothing surfaces of any one of the electrodes.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
reversing a polarity of the voltage between any two of the workpiece and the electrodes to facilitate smoothing surfaces of any one of the electrodes.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Carter William Thomas
• Erno Daniel J
• Trimmer Andrew Lee′

Classifications

• B22F10/66

  by mechanical means · CPC title

• B22F10/62

  by chemical means · CPC title

• B22F10/28

  Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM] · CPC title

• C25F7/00

  Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells for electrolytic removal of material from objects (for both electrolytic coating and removal C25D); Servicing or operating · CPC title

• B33Y99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title