Additive manufacturing deposition head with substantially surrounding compaction surface for poly-directional deposition

A deposition head for additive manufacturing, the deposition head comprising:

• a deposition nozzle having a nozzle outlet, the deposition head configured to deposit additive manufacturing material through the nozzle outlet;
• and
• one or more compaction members, each having at least one compaction surface, the at least one compaction surface, individually or collectively, being disposed at least 270 degrees around the nozzle outlet, wherein
• a first plane that includes at least a portion of the at least one compaction surface closest to an intended deposition surface during operation is spaced from a second plane, parallel to the first plane, that includes a portion of the nozzle outlet farthest from the intended deposition surface during operation and/or the at least one compaction surface is disposed a nonzero distance from the nozzle outlet.

A method of additive manufacturing, comprising:

• providing an additive manufacturing machine (AMM) having:
• a deposition head with a nozzle outlet,
• a motion system configured to move the deposition head in multiple degrees of freedom, and
• one or more compaction members, each having at least one compaction surface, the compaction surfaces, individually or collectively, substantially surrounding the nozzle outlet;
• moving the deposition head in multiple degrees of freedom using the motion system;
• depositing additive manufacturing material from the nozzle outlet onto a deposition surface;
• and
• compacting the newly deposited material with at least one compaction surface during poly-directional movement of the deposition head effected by the motion system.