Method and extrusion apparatus for extrusion of fiber-reinforced plastic material for the additive manufacture of a component

An extrusion apparatus for extrusion of fiber-reinforced plastic material for additive manufacture of a component, the extrusion apparatus comprising:

• an extrusion nozzle;
• a heating zone configured to heat a fiber-reinforced plastic material to be extruded and configured to then supply the heated fiber-reinforced plastic material to the extrusion nozzle, at which a material thread including fiber-reinforced plastic material can be extruded for the component to be manufactured, wherein, in the heating zone, a maximum of 5.5 cm3 of volume is provided for the fiber-reinforced plastic material;
• a screw conveyor having a length-diameter ratio of less than 10 and configured to convey the fiber-reinforced plastic material through the heating zone, wherein a rotational speed of the screw conveyor is limited to a maximum of 30 revolutions per minute via an electronic control device of the extrusion apparatus;
• a feed zone at which the fiber-reinforced plastic material is supplied to the screw conveyor;
• and
• a barrier zone that, in a conveying direction of the fiber-reinforced plastic material, follows the feed zone to spatially separate the feed zone from the heating zone, the barrier zone being formed by a first housing portion made of a first material that has a lower thermal conductivity than a second material;
• wherein a second housing portion made from the second material adjoins the barrier zone and at least partly forms the heating zone, the second housing portion having a larger thermal mass than the first housing portion forming the barrier zone.

A 3D printing device comprising:

• an extrusion apparatus for extrusion of fiber-reinforced plastic material for additive manufacture of a component, the extrusion apparatus including:
• an extrusion nozzle;
• a heating zone configured to heat a fiber-reinforced plastic material to be extruded and configured to then supply the fiber-reinforced plastic material to the extrusion nozzle, at which a material thread including fiber-reinforced plastic material can be extruded for the component to be manufactured, wherein, in the heating zone, a maximum of 5.5 cm3 of volume is provided for the fiber-reinforced plastic material;
• a screw conveyor having a length-diameter ratio of less than 10 and configured to convey the fiber-reinforced plastic material through the heating zone, wherein a rotational speed of the screw conveyor is limited to a maximum of 30 revolutions per minute via an electronic control device of the extrusion apparatus;
• a feed zone at which the fiber-reinforced plastic material is supplied to the screw conveyor;
• and
• a barrier zone that, in a conveying direction of the fiber-reinforced plastic material, follows the feed zone to spatially separate the feed zone from the heating zone, the barrier zone being formed by a first housing portion made of a first material that has a lower thermal conductivity than a second material;
• wherein a second housing portion made from the second material adjoins the barrier zone and at least partly forms the heating zone, the second housing portion having a larger thermal mass than the first housing portion forming the barrier zone.