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US 10,933,584 B2Granted
Additive manufacturing system having dynamically variable matrix supply
AssigneeContinuous Composites Inc.
InventorsKenneth L. Tyler, Ryan C Stockett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A head is disclosed for an additive manufacturing system. The head may include a reservoir configured to hold a matrix, and a nozzle configured to discharge a continuous fiber received via the reservoir. The head may also include a plurality of supplies of different matrixes in fluid communication with the reservoir.
Claims5
An additive manufacturing system, comprising:
- a support;
- a head mounted to the support and including:
- a reservoir
- a nozzle configured to discharge a continuous fiber received via the reservoir;
- a plurality of supplies of different matrixes in fluid communication with the reservoir;
- wherein the plurality of supplies of different matrixes and the continuous fiber, when discharged from the nozzle, create a structure with a three-dimensional shape;
- at least one valve configured to regulate flows of the plurality of supplies of different matrixes into the reservoir;
- and
- at least one cure enhancer connected to the head and configured direct light to the different matrixes at discharge from the nozzle to from the structure;
- and
- a processor configured to:
- coordinate operation of the support, the at least one valve, and the at least one cure enhancer;
- and
- operate the at least one valve to selectively allow a flow of only one of the different matrixes during a first fabrication condition and to selectively allow simultaneous flow of multiple of the different matrixes into the reservoir during a second fabrication condition.
11 more elements
An additive manufacturing system, comprising:
- a support;
- a head mounted to the support and including:
- a reservoir
- a nozzle configured to discharge a continuous fiber received via the reservoir;
- a plurality of supplies of different matrixes in fluid communication with the reservoir;
- wherein the plurality of supplies of different matrixes and the continuous fiber, when discharged from the nozzle, create a structure with a three-dimensional shape
- at least one valve configured to regulate flows of the plurality of supplies of different matrixes into the reservoir;
- at least one cure enhancer connected to the head and configured direct light to the different matrixes at discharge from the nozzle to from the structure;
- a supply of purge fluid in fluid communication with the reservoir;
- and
- at least one purge valve configured to regulate a flow of the purge fluid into the reservoir;
- and
- a processor configured to:
- coordinate operation of the support, the at least one valve, the at least one purge valve, and the at least one cure enhancer;
- and
- to selectively open the at least one purge valve and cause the purge fluid to flow into the reservoir at a timing between flows of different matrixes into the reservoir when the at least one valve is closed.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.