US 12,011,782 B2
Method and apparatus for performing contactless laser fabrication and propulsion of freely moving structures
Nathan S. Lazarus, Bear, DE (US); Gabriel L. Smith, Ellicott City, MD (US); and Adam A. Wilson, Columbia, MD (US)
Assigned to The Unied States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC (US)
Filed by U.S. Army DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD (US)
Filed on Feb. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/114,679.
Application 18/114,679 is a continuation of application No. 16/662,951, filed on Oct. 24, 2019, granted, now 11,602,806.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/812,057, filed on Feb. 28, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0201972 A1, Jun. 29, 2023
Int. Cl. B23K 26/40 (2014.01); B23K 103/00 (2006.01)
CPC B23K 26/40 (2013.01) [B23K 2103/50 (2018.08)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of using a laser for forming a part, the method comprising:
forming the part from a two-dimensional sheet stock using the laser by:
laser cutting the sheet stock; and
laser folding by using the laser to heat and bend the cut two-dimensional sheet stock to make the part three dimensional;
releasing the cut and laser folded 3D part from the sheet stock using the laser; and
moving the released cut and laser folded 3D part relative to the sheet stock to a position for additional processing or assembly using laser ablation propulsion,
wherein the cutting, folding, releasing and moving of the part are solely accomplished by the laser.