Apparatus for Fabricating Three-Dimensional Printed Composites

摘要

A 3D object according to the invention comprises substrate layers infiltrated by a hardened material. The 3D object is fabricated by a method comprising the following steps: Position powder on all or part of a substrate layer. Repeat this step for the remaining substrate layers. Stack the substrate layers. Transform the powder into a substance that flows and subsequently hardens into the hardened material. The hardened material solidifies in a spatial pattern that infiltrates positive regions in the substrate layers and does not infiltrate negative regions in the substrate layers. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate is carbon fiber and excess substrate is removed by abrasion.

主权项

1. An apparatus for fabricating a three-dimensional object, comprising:
at least one applicator configured for positioning powder on at least a part of a plurality of substrate layers, wherein each substrate layer is a sheet-like structure that is substantially planar or flat; at least one alignment mechanism configured to accurately align the substrate layers when stacked; and at least one transformation element configured for transforming at least some of the powder into a substance that flows and subsequently hardens into hardened material, thereby binding at least some of the plurality of substrate layers together, wherein the hardened material is disposed in a spatial pattern that infiltrates or coats at least one positive region in the plurality of substrate layers and does not substantially infiltrate or coat at least one negative region in the plurality of substrate layers, the three-dimensional object comprising the positive regions of the stacked plurality of substrate layers that are infiltrated or coated by, and bound together by, the hardened material.