Methods and Apparatus for Actuated Fabricator

Abstract

In exemplary implementations of this invention, an actuated fabricator deposits structural elements (e.g., tensile structural elements) in a 3D pattern over large displacements. The fabricator is supported by at least three elongated support members. It includes onboard actuators that translate the fabricator relative to the ends of the support members. The fabricator is configured, by actuating different translations along different support members, to translate itself throughout a 3D volume. In some implementations, each of the actuators use fusible material to fuse metal tapes together, edge-to-edge, to form a hollow structure that can be shortened or lengthened.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 (a) spinning fibers, the spinning being performed by a sieve that is part of an apparatus;   (b) depositing, from the apparatus, the fibers that have been spun, the depositing being performed in such a way as to fabricate a tensile structure that includes at least three tensile elements, which at least three tensile elements support weight of the apparatus; and   (c) actuating, by actuators that are onboard the apparatus, movements of the apparatus along the at least three tensile elements, in such a way that the apparatus moves to different points in a three-dimensional volume during the depositing.   
     
     
         2 . A method comprising:
 (a) heating a material to a glass transition temperature of the material;   (b) spinning the material into fibers;   (c) winding the fibers, the heating, spinning and winding being performed by an apparatus;   (d) depositing, from the apparatus, the fibers that have been wound, the depositing being performed in such a way as to fabricate a tensile structure that includes at least three tensile elements, which tensile elements support weight of the apparatus; and   (e) actuating, by actuators that are onboard the apparatus, movements of the apparatus along the at least three tensile elements, in such a way that the apparatus moves to different points in a three-dimensional volume during the depositing.   
     
     
         3 . A method comprising:
 (a) pulling film from an interface between two chemically reacting liquids;   (b) forming the film into a filament, the pulling and forming being performed by an apparatus;   (c) depositing, from the apparatus, the filament, in such a way as to fabricate a tensile structure that includes at least three tensile elements, which tensile elements support weight of the apparatus; and   (d) actuating, by actuators that are onboard the apparatus, movements of the apparatus along the at least three tensile elements, in such a way that the apparatus moves to different points in a three-dimensional volume during the depositing.