Electrical wiring harness assembly and process for manufacturing same

A 3D printing apparatus comprising:

• an extruding device having a dispensing head configured to dispense a dielectric material though an orifice in the dispensing head;
• a wire feed device configured to feed a conductive wire through the orifice;
• a cutting device configured to sever the conductive wire;
• an electromechanical device configured to move the extruding device, the wire feed device, and the cutting device within a 3D space;
• and
• an electronic controller in communication with the extruding device, the wire feed device, the cutting device, and the electromechanical device, wherein the electronic controller includes a memory device;
• wherein the 3D printing apparatus is configured to print an electrical wiring harness comprising:
• a plurality of electrical conductors, each electrical conductor comprising a conductive wire enclosed within an insulated sheath formed of the dielectric material;
• and
• a lattice support structure formed of the dielectric material, wherein the lattice support structure defines a plurality of apertures.

A method of manufacturing an electrical wiring harness assembly, said method comprising the steps of:

• a.) providing an automated-additive apparatus comprising:
• an extruding device configured to dispense a dielectric material,
• a wire feed device configured to feed a conductive wire through the extruding device,
• a cutting device configured to sever the conductive wire, and
• an electromechanical device configured to move the automated-additive apparatus within a 3D space;
• b.) forming an electrical conductor comprising the conductive wire enclosed within
• an insulative sheath formed of the dielectric material, the step further comprising:
• i.) dispensing the dielectric material via the extruding device,
• ii.) feeding the conductive wire through the extruding device, and
• iii.) cutting the conductive wire via the cutting device;
• c.) forming a lattice support structure defining a plurality of apertures, the lattice support structure formed of the dielectric material, the step further comprising:
• i.) dispensing the dielectric material via the extruding device, and
• ii.) moving the automated-additive apparatus via the electromechanical device.