Systems for additively manufacturing composite parts

A system for additively manufacturing a composite part, the system comprising:

• a delivery assembly, wherein:
• the delivery assembly comprises a delivery guide movable relative to a surface and configured to deposit at least a segment of a continuous flexible line along a print path,
• the print path is stationary relative to the surface,
• the delivery assembly further comprises a first inlet, configured to receive a non-resin component, and a second inlet, configured to receive a photopolymer resin, and
• the delivery assembly is configured to apply the photopolymer resin to the non-resin component;
• a feed mechanism, configured to push the continuous flexible line, comprising the non-resin component and further comprising a photopolymer-resin component that comprises at least some of the photopolymer resin applied to the non-resin component by the delivery assembly, out of the delivery guide;
• and
• a source of a curing energy, wherein the source comprises at least one galvanometer mirror-positioning system, configured to deliver a ring of the curing energy at least to a portion of the segment of the continuous flexible line after the segment of the continuous flexible line exits the delivery guide and responsive to movement of the delivery guide relative to the surface.

A system for additively manufacturing a composite part, the system comprising:

• a delivery assembly, wherein:
• the delivery assembly comprises a delivery guide movable relative to a surface and configured to deposit at least a segment of a continuous flexible line along a print path,
• the print path is stationary relative to the surface,
• the delivery assembly further comprises a first inlet, configured to receive a non-resin component, and a second inlet, configured to receive a photopolymer resin, and
• the delivery assembly is configured to apply the photopolymer resin to the non-resin component;
• a feed mechanism, configured to push the continuous flexible line, comprising the non-resin component and further comprising a photopolymer-resin component that comprises at least some of the photopolymer resin, applied to the non-resin component by the delivery assembly, out of the delivery guide;
• a source of a curing energy, wherein the source is configured to deliver the curing energy at least to a portion of the segment of the continuous flexible line after the segment of the continuous flexible line exits the delivery guide;
• and
• a resin-metering system;
• and
• wherein:
• the delivery assembly further comprises an upstream portion opposite the delivery guide relative to the feed mechanism;
• the feed mechanism is configured to push the continuous flexible line through the delivery guide and pull the continuous flexible line through the upstream portion;
• the upstream portion comprises the second inlet, an upstream outlet, through which the continuous flexible line exits the upstream portion, and an upstream line passage, extending from the first inlet to the upstream outlet;
• the second inlet of the upstream portion is in fluid communication with the upstream line passage;
• the resin-metering system is configured to actively control a flow of the photopolymer resin to the second inlet of the upstream portion;
• the resin-metering system comprises at least one sensor, configured to detect a level of the photopolymer resin in the upstream line passage;
• the at least one sensor comprises a high-level sensor positioned upstream from the second inlet of the upstream portion and configured to detect when the level of the photopolymer resin is at or above an upper threshold level in the upstream line passage;
• and
• the resin-metering system is configured to reduce the flow of the photopolymer resin responsive to the photopolymer resin being at or above the upper threshold level in the upstream line passage.