THREE DIMENSIONAL PRINTER FOR FIBER REINFORCED COMPOSITE FILAMENT FABRICATION

摘要

Various embodiments related to three dimensional printers, and reinforced filaments, and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, a void free reinforced filament is fed into an conduit nozzle. The reinforced filament includes a core, which may be continuous or semi-continuous, and a matrix material surrounding the core. The reinforced filament is heated to a temperature greater than a melting temperature of the matrix material and less than a melting temperature of the core prior to applying the filament from the conduit nozzle.

主权项

1. A three dimensional printer for additive manufacturing of a part comprising:
a supply of a fiber reinforced composite filament including a plurality of axial fiber strands extending substantially continuously within a matrix material of the fiber reinforced composite filament; a deposition head including a conduit therethrough, a chamfer smoothly and continuously transitioning the conduit orthogonally to a substantially rounded outlet tipped with an ironing lip, a deposition head drive driving the ironing lip to spread the plurality of axial fiber strands and flatten the fiber reinforced composite filament against previously deposited portions of the part, as the matrix material is flowed interstitially among the axial fiber strands spread by the ironing lip; a cutter arranged along a path of the fiber reinforced composite filament to cut the fiber reinforced composite filament to form an unattached terminal end; a filament drive pushing an upstream portion of the solidified fiber reinforced composite filament to force the unattached terminal end of the fiber through the conduit to exit the conduit at the ironing lip; and a controller operatively connected to the filament drive and the deposition head drive.