# US 10,864,677 B2 · Additive manufacturing system implementing in-situ anchor-point fabrication > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,677 B2 - Document ID: US10864677B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/798,646 - Filed: 2017-10-31 - Published: 2018-05-10 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-04 - Assignees: Continuous Composites Inc. - Applicants: Cc3D LLC - Inventors: Kenneth L. Tyler; Ryan C Stockett - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864677B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/209: Heads; Nozzles - B29C 64/106: using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material - B29C 64/118: using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM] - B29C 64/141: using only solid materials - B29C 64/165: using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber - B29C 64/20: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B29C 64/227: Driving means - B29C 64/245: Platforms or substrates (support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40) - B29C 64/264: Arrangements for irradiation - B29C 64/291: for operating globally, e.g. together with selectively applied activators or inhibitors - B29C 64/307: Handling of material to be used in additive manufacturing - B29C 64/336: of two or more materials - B29C 64/379: Handling of additively manufactured objects, e.g. using robots - B29C 64/386: Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing - B29C 64/393: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B29C 64/40: Structures for supporting 3D objects during manufacture and intended to be sacrificed after completion thereof - B29C 70/384: {Fiber placement heads, e.g. component parts, details or accessories} - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B33Y 70/10: Composites of different types of material, e.g. mixtures of ceramics and polymers or mixtures of metals and biomaterials - B29B 15/122: {with a matrix in liquid form, e.g. as melt, solution or latex} - B29C 31/042: {using dispensing heads, e.g. extruders, placed over or apart from the moulds (positioning extruded preforms on conveyors B29C31/085)} - B29C 35/0261: {using ultrasonic or sonic vibrations} - B29C 64/259: Interchangeable - B29C 64/295: Heating elements - B29C 70/524: {the transport direction being vertical} - B29C 2035/0827: {using UV radiation} - B29C 2035/0855: {using microwave} - B29K 2105/08: of continuous length, e.g. cords, rovings, mats, fabrics, strands or yarns - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - B29B: PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS ## Abstract An additive manufacturing system may include a head configured to discharge a matrix-coated reinforcement, a support configured to move the head during discharging, and a cure enhancer configured to cure the matrix as the matrix-coated reinforcement discharges from the head. The additive manufacturing system may also include a controller in communication with the head, the support, and the cure enhancer. The controller may be configured to receive specifications for a structure to be fabricated, and to determine an anchor point from which the matrix-coated reinforcement will be pulled during fabrication of the structure. The controller may also be configured to regulate operation of the head, the support, and the cure enhancer to manufacture the structure and the anchor point. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An additive manufacturing system, comprising: a head configured to discharge a matrix-coated reinforcement; a support configured to move the head during discharging; a cure enhancer configured to cure a matrix in the matrix-coated reinforcement as the matrix-coated reinforcement discharges from the head; and a controller in communication with the head, the support, and the cure enhancer, the controller being configured to: receive specifications for a structure to be fabricated; determine an anchor from which the matrix-coated reinforcement will be pulled during fabrication of the structure; and regulate operation of the head, the support, and the cure enhancer to: manufacture the anchor; adhere the matrix-coated reinforcement to a point on the anchor; and move the head away from the anchor to pull the matrix-coated reinforcement from the head. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The additive manufacturing system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the anchor based on a trajectory of the matrix-coated reinforcement within the structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The additive manufacturing system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to determine the anchor based further on a force vector specified for the matrix-coated reinforcement. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The additive manufacturing system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to determine the anchor based further on a magnitude of tensile stress to be induced in the matrix-coated reinforcement. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The additive manufacturing system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine a number, location, orientation, size, and shape of the anchor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The additive manufacturing system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to regulate operation of the head, the support, and the cure enhancer to manufacture the anchor on a print chamber surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The additive manufacturing system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to regulate operation of the head, the support, and the cure enhancer to manufacture the anchor on the structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The additive manufacturing system of claim 1, wherein the anchor is adjustable after manufacture. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The additive manufacturing system of claim 8, wherein the anchor is manufactured on a moveable fixture. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The additive manufacturing system of claim 1, wherein the anchor includes a functional element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The additive manufacturing system of claim 10, wherein the functional element is only temporarily connected to the structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The additive manufacturing system of claim 10, wherein the functional element becomes a permanent part of the structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The additive manufacturing system of claim 1, wherein the anchor is manufactured from the matrix-coated reinforcement. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The additive manufacturing system of claim 1, wherein the anchor is manufactured from only a matrix. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The additive manufacturing system of claim 1, wherein the structure is only tethered to the anchor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The additive manufacturing system of claim 1, wherein the structure is tethered to the anchor by at least one of an uncured matrix-coated reinforcement or an uncoated reinforcement. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The additive manufacturing system of claim 1, wherein the structure extends in multiple directions away from the anchor. ### Claim 18 An additive manufacturing system, comprising: a head configured to discharge a matrix-coated reinforcement; a support configured to move the head during discharging; a cure enhancer configured to cure a matrix in the matrix-coated reinforcement as the matrix-coated reinforcement discharges from the head; and a controller in communication with the head, the support, and the cure enhancer, the controller being configured to: determine a tensile force vector specified for a structure to be manufactured; determine a number and location of an anchor required to provide reactionary support against the tensile force vector; and regulate operation of the head, the support, and the cure enhancer to: manufacture the anchor; adhere the matrix-coated reinforcement to a point on the anchor; and move the head away from the anchor to pull the matrix-coated reinforcement from the head. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The additive manufacturing system of claim 18, wherein the anchor includes a functional element that becomes a permanent part of the structure.