# US 11,029,658 B2 · Systems and methods for controlling additive manufacturing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,658 B2 - Document ID: US11029658B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/655,528 - Filed: 2017-07-20 - Published: 2018-03-08 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-06 - Assignees: Continuous Composites Inc. - Applicants: Cc3D LLC - Inventors: Kenneth L. Tyler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029658B2 ## CPC - G05B 19/0426: {Programming the control sequence} - B29C 64/118: using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM] - B29C 64/209: Heads; Nozzles - B29C 64/218: Rollers - B29C 64/386: Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing - B29C 64/393: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B29C 70/382: {Automated fiber placement [AFP]} - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B33Y 50/00: Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing - 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 - G05B 19/4099: Surface or curve machining, making three-dimensional [3D] objects, e.g. desktop manufacturing - G05B 2219/49023: 3-D printing, layer of powder, add drops of binder in layer, new powder - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - 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 ## Abstract A system is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing a structure. The system may include an additive manufacturing machine, a memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, and a processor. The processor may be configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to determine a characteristic of an existing point to be used as an anchor for a path of composite material discharged by the additive manufacturing machine. The processor may also be configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to selectively cause the additive manufacturing machine to discharge the path of composite material with a variable ratio of matrix-to-fiber at the existing point that is based on the characteristic. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for additively manufacturing a structure, comprising: an additive manufacturing machine; a memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon; and a processor configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to: determine a characteristic of an existing point to be used as an anchor for a path of composite material discharged by the additive manufacturing machine based on input received from one or more peripherals of the additive manufacturing machine; and selectively cause the additive manufacturing machine to discharge the path of composite material with a first ratio or a second ratio of matrix-to-fiber while in motion at the existing point based on the characteristic. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the characteristic is a stability of the existing point. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to determine the stability of the existing point based on an amount of time elapsed since fabrication of the existing point. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to: determine a plan for fabrication of the structure with the composite material; determine locations of existing points; and selectively cause the additive manufacturing machine to fabricate the existing point prior to discharge of the path when the existing points do not correspond with the plan. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein: when the existing point is less than fully cured, the processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to cause the additive manufacturing machine to discharge the path of composite material with a baseline ratio of matrix-to-fiber; and when the existing point is fully cured, the processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to cause the additive manufacturing machine to discharge the path of composite material with a greater ratio of matrix-to-fiber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to cause the additive manufacturing machine to discharge the path of composite material with the greater ratio of matrix-to-fiber by at least one of pausing or slowing nozzle movement of the additive manufacturing machine at the existing point. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to: determine when the composite material is bonded to the existing point; and responsively cause a nozzle of the additive manufacturing machine to move away from the existing point. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein movement of the nozzle away from the existing point causes the composite material to be pulled from the nozzle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to determine bonding of the composite material to the existing point based on at least one of a number of cure enhancers included in the additive manufacturing machine, an intensity of cure energy generated by the cure enhancers, and an exposure time of the composite material to the cure energy. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to selectively activate the cure enhancers while the composite material is being discharged onto the existing point. ### Claim 11 A system for additively manufacturing a structure, comprising: an additive manufacturing machine; a peripheral device for determining a composition characteristic of a point to be used as an anchor by the additive manufacturing machine; a memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon; and a processor configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to: selectively cause the additive manufacturing machine to discharge a path of composite material with a first ratio of matrix-to-fiber at the point to be used as an anchor by the additive manufacturing machine, when the composition characteristic is indicative of material at the point being previously discharged by the additive manufacturing machine; and selectively cause the additive manufacturing machine to discharge a path of composite material with a second ratio of matrix-to-fiber at the point, when the composition characteristic is indicative of material at the point being another material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein a value of the first ratio is at least partially dependent on a time elapsed since the composite material was previously discharged. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein when the ratio increases as an amount of curing of the previously discharged composite material increases. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to: determine a plan for fabrication of the structure with the composite material; determine locations of a plurality of points to be used as anchors by the additive manufacturing machine; and selectively cause the additive manufacturing machine to fabricate the plurality of points prior to discharge of the path when the plurality of points do not correspond with the plan. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to cause the additive manufacturing machine to discharge the path of composite material with the greater ratio of matrix-to-fiber by at least one of pausing or slowing nozzle movement of the additive manufacturing machine at the existing point. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to: determine when the composite material is bonded to the point; and responsively cause a nozzle of the additive manufacturing machine to move away from the point. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein movement of the nozzle away from the point causes the composite material to be pulled from the nozzle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to determine bonding of the composite material to the point based on at least one of a number of cure enhancers included in the additive manufacturing machine, an intensity of cure energy generated by the cure enhancers, and an exposure time of the composite material to the cure energy. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to selectively activate the cure enhancers while the composite material is being discharged onto the point. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the composite material includes a continuous fiber at least partially coated in a thermoset matrix.