Patent Description:
Drilling templates are well known in the state of art in order to respect the exact position and tolerances of the drilling of a set of holes in a piece or a structure. Use of drilling template in manufacturing process of aircraft or spacecraft is quiet common for drilling for example composite or metallic adjacent parts of fuselage, in order to assemble them together with fasteners such as rivet connections. But an aircraft (or a spacecraft) is a so huge building that several drilling templates are necessary to respect the manufacturing specificity and specification of each aircraft such as the family of the aircraft, and/or the section of the aircraft, and/or the parts of the section to assemble together. Moreover, in the case of work stoppage of an aircraft family, it is difficult to reuse a drilling template already used for a previous family to a new one.

It could be relevant to find another way to use or reuse drilling templates in order to reduce the ecologic print during the aircraft or spacecraft manufacturing process and costs associated.

<CIT> describes a seal for a drill template tool that can be applied by means of vacuum to a surface of a part to be drilled. The seal is described in conjunction with a drill template tool designed in a CAD program and obtained with an additive manufacturing process, i.e., <CIT> discloses a drilling template according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

In order to solve the drawbacks stated above, the present invention proposes a drilling template according to claim <NUM>. One advantage of the invention is to allow to the drilling template to improve its mechanical resistance via the graphene properties, in order to resist and conserve its integrity when high temperatures are reached due to the friction between the drilling tool and the drilling template. Another advantage of the invention is the possibility to use the ALM (Additive Laser Manufacturing) in order to manufacture quickly any simple or complex patterns of the drilling template, according to an ad-hoc design. Another advantage of the invention is the possibility to modify the shape or restyle partially or totally the drilling template, such as the framework and/or the set of traversing orifices.

Further according to the invention, the drilling template comprises a circuit board partially or totally embedded within the rigid framework, said circuit board comprising:.

This allows to confer some smart properties to the drilling template in order to interact with the operator or the automaton by itself or from a request.

In some embodiments, polymer material is used to manufacture the drilling template <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c based on PLA (Polylactic Acid) or ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene). One advantage of these embodiments is to allow an ecologic recycling of each part of the drilling template <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c comprising PLA or ABS.

In some embodiments, the set of sensors comprises a moisture sensor in order to measure the humidity of the drilling template. One advantage of these embodiments is to easily monitor and predict the need to manufacture a new drilling template in due time before the failure of the previous one in order to avoid a potential discontinuity of manufacturing process.

In some embodiments, the set of sensors comprises sensors able to measure the temperature at the surface of the structure to drill and/or directly in said drilling template. One advantage of these embodiments is that said drilling template is able to assess by itself the temperature of the surface of the structure to drill and/or its own temperature. The drilling template is able to interact with the operator or automaton via the IHM, in order to inform him about the temperatures reached due to the friction between the drilling tool with the drilling template and/or the drilling tool and the surface of the structure to drill. This advantage will increase significantly the life expectancy of the drilling templates avoiding the need of re-manufacturing and preventing inaccuracies caused by the template deformation.

In some embodiments, the set of sensors comprises gyroscopes and/or piezoelectric materials. One advantage of these embodiments is to allow to determine easily if the position and orientation of the drilling template is the adequate one. Another advantage of this solution is also to decrease the assembly time.

In some embodiments, at least one component of the set of digital and/or analogic components are manufactured via 3D printed graphene.

In some embodiments, at least one component is a 3D printed Surface-Mount Component (SMT).

In some embodiments, the drilling template comprises a 3D printed antenna.

In some embodiments, the 3D printed antenna is a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). One advantage with the RFID is the ability to transmit, receive and store remote data.

In some embodiments, the trace has a thermal conductivity or is able to conduct electricity.

In some embodiments, the IHM is a buzzer, and/or a display interface such as LCD or a set of led.

Said drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention.

The present invention is directed toward drilling templates.

3D (Three Dimensions) printing, also known as additive layer manufacturing, is increasingly taking importance in all the different industrial sectors. There are an infinity of possible applications such as the manufacturing of tools, jigs, parts of simple or complex structure, designed according the needed. This manufacturing via 3D printing technologies is used especially with the so called Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) as represented in <FIG>.

The Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), also called FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) or PJP (Plastic Jet Printing) is an additive manufacturing technology. Additive manufacturing technology is commonly used for thermoplastics 3D printing with special focus on modeling, prototyping and production applications. The additive manufacturing technology is able to print 3D parts by printing 2D (Two Dimensions) continuous thickness layer, usually called <NUM>,5D (<NUM> Dimensions) as there is no coordinated movement in 3D.

The 3D printing material used to 3D print consist on a polymer base which can be PLA (Polylactic Acid) or ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene).

According to the invention, the polymer base is mixed with powdered graphene in order to modify some of its properties. Indeed, graphene is a nanomaterial, discovered in <NUM>, consisting on a one-atom-thick planar sheet of bonded carbon atoms that are densely packed in a honeycomb crystal lattice. Graphene is a basic structural element of some variants carbon such as graphite, charcoal, nanotubes, and fullerenes. Graphene has an unique electronic and mechanical properties, such as:.

Consequently, the addition of graphene to some material increase their potential and allow new 3D printing applications.

Furthermore, graphene opened new ways and new possibilities for the manufacturing of electronic components. Indeed, the possibility to print on sheet active or passive electronic components with graphene, such as semi-conductors, dielectric-interfaces, transistors, integrated circuits, OLED displays, or organic photovoltaic cells.

Following the different knowledge previously cited, time is come to develop a smart device or tool with the 3D printing technlogy.

In order to go on this way, according to <FIG>, the 3D-printer <NUM> able to 3D-print a drilling template according the invention, comprises at least a first 3D-printing head 11a to selectively discharge conductive 3D-printing material 12a and a second 3D-printing head 11b to selectively discharge insulating 3D-printing material 12b. The 3D printer <NUM> comprises also a processor <NUM> able to control the operations of the first and second 3D-printing heads 11a, 11b. The processor <NUM> of the 3D-printer <NUM> is able to decrypt the list of steps <NUM> from a CAD (Computer-Aided Design) scheme <NUM> describing a multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) intended for 3D-printing.

Each 3D printing head 11a, 11b is able to print in X and Y directions for each layer of conductive or insulating 3D-printing material, such as the 3D print heads 11a, 11b or a print bed <NUM> move before the following layer is printed.

In this kind of technology, the thermoplastic material filament 12a, 12b or wire is heated pass its glass transition temperature of the material and then laid on the print bed <NUM> or table, where it cools down and consolidates with previous layers in order to create a solid part.

The first and second 3D-printing heads 11a, 11b are able to 3D-print a functional passive and/or active electrical component, a functional resistor, a functional capacitor, a functional electromagnetic waveguide, a functional optical waveguide, a functional antenna or protruding antenna or horn antenna, a functional heat sink, a functional coaxial element or coaxial cable or coaxial mesh, a SMT/COB component, or equivalent. By COB component, we understand a Chip-On-Board component assembly.

The first and the second 3D-printing heads 11a, 11b are able to 3D-print, in a same 3D printing session, a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) and an electrical component embedded within said PCB.

The first 3D printing heads 11a that is able to discharge the conductive 3D-printing material is associated with at least a first and a second 3D-printing nozzles (not referenced on the figures). The first 3D-printing nozzle is able to discharge the conductive 3D-printing material through a first nozzle aperture having a first diameter. The second 3D-printing nozzles is able to discharge the conductive 3D-printing material through a second nozzle aperture having a second, different, diameter. In order to switch between the at least first and second 3D printing nozzle, the 3D-printer <NUM> comprises a switching module to selectively activate during a 3D-print process, one of the first and second 3D-printing nozzles.

In order to be more efficient, the 3D printer <NUM> requires some additional modules. These modules are describes below and can be use alone or in combination with others in order to reach the goal expected. This following list of embodiment of additional modules is not exhaustive and can be completed according the specific needs and the technological advances in the 3D-printer field.

In some embodiments, the 3D-printer <NUM> comprises an ultraviolet (UV) energy based curing module, to emit ultraviolet radiation for curing 3D-printed materials region-by-region when the 3D-printed materials are being 3D-printed.

In some embodiments, the 3D-printer <NUM> comprises a laser source to emit a laser beam for curing 3D-printed materials region-by-region when the 3D-printed materials are being 3D-printed.

In some embodiments, the 3D-printer <NUM> comprises a laser source to emit a targeted laser beam for curing just-dispensed 3D-printed materials.

The 3D-printer <NUM> is able to proceed to a transition between two crossed conductive materials, with the following sequential 3D printing:.

In some embodiments, the 3D-printer <NUM> comprises an Automatic Optical Inspection (AOI) module able sequentially to:.

In some embodiments, the 3D-printer <NUM> comprises an Automatic Optical Inspection (AOI) module sequentially able to:.

In some embodiments, the 3D-printer <NUM> comprises an Automatic Optical Inspection (AOI) module sequentially able to :.

In some embodiment, the 3D-printer <NUM> comprises an Automatic Optical Inspection (AOI) module sequentially able to:.

In some embodiments, the 3D-printer <NUM> comprises a sodermask 3D-printing module able to 3D-print a soldermask with conductive material 12a on a 3D-printed PCB, wherein the soldermask and the PCB are 3D-printed in a single, unified, 3D-printing process.

In some embodiments, the 3D-printer <NUM> comprises a heat sink 3D-printing module to 3D-print a thermally-conductive heat sink integrated in a pre-defined region of a 3D-printed PCB being <NUM>-printed.

In some embodiments, the 3D-printer <NUM> comprises a thermal conductivity planner able to:.

In some embodiments, the 3D-printer <NUM> comprises an embedded SMT component 3D-printing module, to 3D-print a 3D-printed PCB having a fully-buried (unexposed 3D-printed Surface-Mount Technology (SMT) component.

In some embodiments, the 3D-printer <NUM> comprises a pause-and resume 3D-printing controller, able to:.

In some embodiments, the 3D-printer <NUM> comprises a module able to modify the trace width/thickness, during a 3D-printing process of a conductive trace, at least one of.

wherein said module is able to modify trace width/thickness of the conductive trace while maintaining a fixed current-carrying capacity of said conductive trace.

In some embodiments, the 3D-printer <NUM> comprises a module able to modify the rigidity and/or flexibility when said 3D-printer <NUM> needs to 3D-print a PCB having a gradually-changing level of rigidity.

In some embodiments, the 3D-printer <NUM> comprises a module able to modify the rigidity and/or flexibility when said 3D-printer <NUM> needs to 3D-print a PCB having an abruptly-changing level of rigidity.

In some embodiments, the 3D-printer <NUM> comprises a module able to modify a dielectric material thickness when said 3D-printer <NUM> needs to 3D-print, between a first 3D-printed conductive layer and a second, neighboring, non-parallel, 3D-printed conductive layer, a dielectric material having varying thickness.

In some embodiments, the 3D printer <NUM> is able to 3D-print a conductive material to create a three-dimensional structure of a first layer of a PCB and a second, non-parallel, layer of the PCB.

The 3D-printer <NUM> is able to 3D-print a drilling template <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c according to the invention, comprising a rigid framework able to be manipulated by an operator or an automaton. An operator is defined by a human or humanoid entitled and able to handle with his hand said drilling template. An automaton is defined by a self-operating machine, or a machine, or a control mechanism designed to automatically follow a predetermined sequence of operations, or respond to predetermined instructions. The drilling template <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c comprises a set of traversing orifices <NUM>, 32a, 32b, 32c, 33c designed according to the requested holes to drill. The 3D-printer <NUM> is able to design or restyle on an ad-hoc basis. According to the invention, the drilling template <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c is 3D-printed via a 3D-printing technology based on a polymer material mixed with powdered graphene. Consequently, one main advantage of the invention is to allow to the drilling template <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c to improve its mechanical resistance via the graphene properties, in order to resist and conserve its integrity when high temperatures are reached due to the friction between the drilling tool and the drilling template <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c. Another advantage of the invention is the possibility to use the ALM (Additive Laser Manufacturing) in order to manufacture/3D-print quickly any simple or complex patterns of drilling template <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c, according to Z an ad-hoc design. Another advantage of the invention is the possibility to modify the shape or restyle partially or totally the drilling template <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c, such as the framework and/or the set of traversing orifices <NUM>, 32a, 32b, 32c, 33c.

Further according to the invention, the drilling template comprises a circuit board, prefererably 3D-printed, partially or totally embedded within the rigid framework, said circuit board comprising.

In an embodiment according to the invention, polymer material is used to manufacture the drilling template <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c based on PLA (Polylactic Acid) or ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene). One main advantage of this embodiment is to allow an ecologic recycling of each part of the drilling template <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c comprising PLA or ABS.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the set of sensors <NUM> comprises a moisture sensor in order to measure the humidity of the drilling template <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c. One main advantage of this embodiment is to easily monitor and predict the need to manufacture/3D-print a new drilling template <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c in due time before the failure of the previous one in order to avoid a potential discontinuity during the manufacturing process.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the set of sensors <NUM> comprises sensors able to measure the temperature at the surface of the structure to drill and/or directly in said drilling template <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c. One main advantage of this embodiment is that said drilling template <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c is able to assess by itself the temperature of the surface of the structure to drill and/or its own temperature. The drilling template <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c is able to interact with the operator or automaton via the IHM <NUM>, in order to inform him/it about the temperatures reached due to the friction between the drilling tool with the drilling template <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c and/or the drilling tool and the surface of the structure to drill. The main advantage of this embodiment is the increasement significantly of the life expectancy of the drilling templates <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c. That allows to avoid the need of re-manufacturing and preventing inaccuracies caused by the template deformation.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the set of sensors <NUM> comprises gyroscopes and/or piezoelectric materials. One main advantage of this embodiment is to allow to determine easily if the position and orientation of the drilling template <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c is adequate or not. Another advantage of this embodiment is also to decrease the assembly time.

In an embodiment according to the invention, at least one component of the set of digital and/or analogic components <NUM> is manufactured via 3D-printed graphene.

In an embodiment according to the invention, at least one component <NUM> is a 3D printed Surface-Mount Component (SMT) or a Chip On Board (COB).

In an embodiment according to the invention, the drilling template comprises a 3D printed antenna.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the 3D printed antenna is a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). One main advantage with the RFID antenna is the ability to transmit, receive and store remote data quickly to a humanoid or an automaton able to communicate with said drilling template <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the trace <NUM> has a thermal conductivity or is able to conduct electricity. The 3D-printer <NUM> is able to add more or less graphene powder in the conductive material 12a in order to obtain a trace <NUM> with a better thermal or electricity conductivity.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the IHM is a buzzer, and/or a display interface such as LCD or a set of led to interact easily the human operator.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the drilling template <NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c comprises a part relative to a battery in order to feed all the consumers, such as the set of sensors <NUM>, the set of digital and/or analogic components <NUM>, and the IHM <NUM>. In this embodiment according to the invention, the battery is rechargeable.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the scope of the invention.

Claim 1:
- Drilling template (<NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c) comprising :
- a rigid framework (<NUM>, 31a, 31b, 31c) able to be manipulated by an operator or an automaton, and
- a set of traversing orifices (<NUM>,32a, 32b, 32c, 33c) designed according to the requested holes to drill, wherein
- the drilling template (<NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c) is designed or restyled on an ad-hoc basis and manufactured via a 3D printing technology based on a polymer material characterized in that the polymer material is mixed with powdered graphene and in that the drilling template comprises a circuit board partially or totally embedded within the rigid framework (<NUM>, 31a, 31b, 31c), said circuit board comprising:
- a set of sensors (<NUM>) able to measure values respectively from the rigid framework (<NUM>, 31a, 31b, 31c) and/or from or with respect to the structure to drill;
- a set of digital and/or analogic components (<NUM>) able to operate respectively digital or analogic signals from the set of sensors (<NUM>);
- at least one IHM (Interface Human Machine) (<NUM>) able to allow to an operator or an automaton to interact with the sensors (<NUM>) of the said drilling template (<NUM>, 30a, 30b, 30c); and
- at least one conductive trace (<NUM>) able to connect the set of sensors (<NUM>) to respectively the set of digital and/or analogic components (<NUM>), and the at least one IHM (<NUM>).