Additive manufacturing system configured for sheet-printing composite material
AssigneeContinuous Composites Inc.
InventorsRyan C. Stockett, Kenneth L. Tyler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A head is disclosed for use with an additive manufacturing system. The head may include a housing, and a matrix reservoir disposed inside of the housing. The head may also include at least one roller located inside of the housing and configured to engage at least one of a ribbon and a sheet of reinforcement passing through the head. The head may further include a nozzle fluidly connected to the matrix reservoir, and a cure enhancer located outside of the housing and adjacent the nozzle.
Claims19
A head for an additive manufacturing system, comprising:
- a housing;
- a matrix reservoir disposed inside of the housing;
- at least one roller located inside of the housing and configured to engage at least one of a ribbon and a sheet of reinforcement passing through the head;
- a nozzle fluidly connected to the matrix reservoir;
- and
- at least one cure enhancer located outside of the housing and adjacent the nozzle,
- wherein an axis of the at least one roller is angled toward the matrix reservoir such that matrix clinging to the at least one roller is pulled by gravity into the matrix reservoir.
An additive manufacturing system, comprising:
- a moveable support;
- a matrix reservoir connected to an end of the moveable support;
- at least one roller associated with the matrix reservoir;
- a nozzle and
- a cure enhancer located adjacent the nozzle;
- and
- a processor in communication with the moveable support and the cure enhancer,
- wherein:
- the additive manufacturing system is configured to:
- receive at least one of a ribbon and a sheet of reinforcement into the matrix reservoir to wet the at least one of the ribbon and the sheet of reinforcement with a matrix;
- pass the at least one of the ribbon and the sheet of reinforcement over the at least one roller after wetting;
- discharge the at least one of the ribbon and the sheet of reinforcement and the matrix from the nozzle;
- wherein the matrix reservoir comprises a single opening through which the at least one a ribbon and a sheet of reinforcement is both received and discharged, wherein the single opening has a diameter smaller than an internal diameter of the matrix reservoir;
- and
- the processor is configured to:
- activate the moveable support to move the nozzle in multiple dimensions during discharging;
- and
- activate the cure enhancer to expose the matrix wetting the at least one of the ribbon and the sheet of reinforcement to a cure energy during discharging.
A head for an additive manufacturing system, comprising:
- a housing;
- a reservoir disposed inside of the housing and configured to wet at least one of a ribbon and a sheet of a continuous reinforcement with a liquid matrix, the reservoir having a teardrop cross-section and single opening through which the at least one of a ribbon and a sheet of reinforcement is both received and discharged;
- a discharge outlet connected to receive the at least one of a ribbon and a sheet of continuous reinforcement;
- and
- at least one cure enhancer located adjacent the discharge outlet and configured to expose the liquid matrix wetting the at least one of the ribbon and the sheet of reinforcement to a cure energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.