Rapid manufacturing of carbon nanotube composite structures

A rapid manufacturing system operable to fabricate a free form structure containing homogeneously distributed carbon nanotubes, comprising:

• at least one matrix material source;
• at least one source of carbon nanotubes;
• a dispersal system, operably coupled to the matrix material source and source of carbon nanotubes, wherein the dispersal system is operable to disperse a stream, wherein the stream comprises matrix material and homogeneously distributed carbon nanotubes;
• a fusing system, operable to combine the matrix material and homogeneously distributed carbon nanotubes of the stream into a composite material node having homogeneously distributed carbon nanotubes;
• and
• a repositioning system operable to rearrange the dispersal system and fusing system relative to a reference point in order to fuse at least one additional composite material node;
• a control system operable to direct to the formation of a plurality of composite material nodes to form the free form structure.