MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND APPARATUS HAVING AN INTERCHANGEABLE MACHINE TOOL HEAD WITH INTEGRATED CONTROL

摘要

A modular manufacturing system and methods of using are provided. The modular manufacturing system includes a plurality of manufacturing heads that perform different manufacturing processes. These heads may include multi-axial machining heads, fiber placement heads including fiber tow and fiber tape lay-up heads. The heads are fixably attachable to a single positioning system that can manipulate the various heads along a plurality of different degrees of freedom relative to a tool or material blank.

主权项

1. A modular manufacturing apparatus comprising:
a positioning system; a plurality of manufacturing heads, each manufacturing head having a different characteristic; and a coupling arrangement, the positioning system providing one portion of the coupling arrangement and each of the manufacturing heads having a cooperating portion of the coupling arrangement configured to couple with the portion of the coupling arrangement of the positioning system.