Patent ID: 11872761
Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 15:
16. An ultrasonic compaction device for heating a material as it is being deposited on a tool or substrate, said compaction device being configured to be part of an additive manufacturing machine operable to move in at least three degrees of freedom, said compaction device comprising at least one ultrasonic driver and a plurality of ultrasonic disk horns positioned side-by-side relative to each other in a direction perpendicular to a direction that the material is being deposited, said at least one ultrasonic driver being coupled to the plurality of ultrasonic disk horns and ultrasonically vibrating the plurality of ultrasonic disk horns in a reciprocating rotational motion to melt or flow the filament material in contact with the plurality of disk horns and cause the filament material to fuse and be compacted to the tool or substrate.