Additive manufacturing system having feed-tensioner
AssigneeContinuous Composites Inc.
InventorKenneth L. Tyler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tension mechanism is disclosed for use with a print head of an additive manufacturing system. The tension mechanism may include a first guide roller configured to receive a continuous reinforcement making up a portion of a composite structure. The tension mechanism may also include a second guide roller spaced apart from the first guide roller and configured to receive the continuous reinforcement in a straight-line trajectory from the first guide roller. The tension mechanism may further include a dancer located between the first and second guide rollers and configured to bias the continuous reinforcement away from the straight-line trajectory. At least one of the first and second guide rollers may have a concave outer profile configured to axially spread out the continuous reinforcement.
Claims20
A head assembly for an additive manufacturing system, comprising:
- a mounting bracket having a first end connectable to a moveable support, and a second end;
- a matrix reservoir connected to the second end of the mounting bracket and configured to wet a continuous reinforcement with a liquid matrix;
- a nozzle connected to receive the matrix-wetted continuous reinforcement from the matrix reservoir;
- and
- a tension mechanism located upstream of the nozzle and movable throughout pulling of the continuous reinforcement out of the additive manufacturing system to maintain a desired level of tension greater than zero in an axial direction of the continuous reinforcement.
A head assembly for an additive manufacturing system, comprising:
- a mounting bracket having a first end connectable to a moveable support, and a second end;
- a matrix reservoir connected to the second end of the mounting bracket and configured to wet a continuous reinforcement with a liquid matrix;
- a nozzle connected to receive the matrix-wetted continuous reinforcement from the matrix reservoir;
- a first guide element;
- a second guide element spaced apart from the first guide element and configured to receive the continuous reinforcement in a straight-line trajectory from the first guide element;
- a dancer located between the first and second guide elements and configured to bias the continuous reinforcement away from the straight-line trajectory based on a level of tension in the continuous reinforcement that is greater than zero in an axial direction;
- at least one sensor associated with the dancer and configured to generate a signal indicative of movement of the dancer;
- and
- a controller in communication with the at least one sensor and configured to selectively adjust a feed rate of the continuous reinforcement based on the signal to raise or lower the level of tension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.