System, print head, and compactor for continuously manufacturing composite structure
AssigneeContinuous Composites Inc.
InventorsTrevor David Budge, Kenneth Lyle Tyler, Colin Hugh Hambling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compactor is disclosed for use with an additive manufacturing print head. The compactor may include a housing connectable to the additive manufacturing print head. The compactor may also include a compacting wheel, and at least one spring disposed in the housing and configured to exert an axial force on the compacting wheel. The compactor may further include a piston moveable to adjust a distance between the housing and the compacting wheel.
Claims18
A print head for an additive manufacturing system, comprising:
- a matrix reservoir configured to hold a supply of matrix;
- a nozzle connected to an end of the matrix reservoir;
- a cure enhancer configured to expose a composite material being discharged from the nozzle to a cure energy;
- and
- a compactor located between the nozzle and the cure enhancer and configured to compact the composite material prior to exposure to the cure energy, the compactor including:
- a housing;
- a compacting wheel;
- and
- at least one spring disposed in the housing and configured to exert an axial force on the compacting wheel;
- and
- a sensor mounted at a leading side of the nozzle opposite the compactor and configured to generate a signal indicative of a surface condition of a structure being formed by the composite material.
A system for additively manufacturing a composite structure, comprising:
- a nozzle configured to discharge a continuous reinforcement at least partially coated with a matrix;
- a support configured to move the nozzle during discharging;
- a compactor operatively connected to the nozzle and being adjustable to vary a compaction force exerted on the matrix-coated continuous reinforcement discharging from the nozzle;
- a cure enhancer configured to expose the matrix to a cure energy;
- a sensor mounted at a side of the nozzle opposite the compactor and configured to generate a signal indicative of a surface characteristic of the composite structure;
- and
- a controller configured to selectively cause adjustment of the compactor based on the signal.
A system for additively manufacturing a composite structure, comprising:
- a print head configured to discharge a continuous reinforcement at least partially coated with a matrix;
- a support configured to move the print head during discharging;
- a compactor operatively connected to the print head and being adjustable to vary a compaction force exerted on the matrix-coated continuous reinforcement discharging from the print head;
- a sensor mounted at a side of the print head opposite the compactor and configured to generate a signal indicative of a surface characteristic of the composite structure;
- and
- a controller configured to selectively cause adjustment of the compactor based on the signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.