United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of Nasa

John M Gardner

Emilie J Siochi

Jae-Woo Kim

Godfrey Sauti

Christopher J Stelter

John W Connell

Joseph G Smith, Jr

Christopher J Wohl, Jr

Katherine A Fotion

Frank M Palmieri

A cutting mechanism includes electrodes that are utilized to cut or score a non-conductive outer material of a filament or sheet. The electrodes contact a conductive reinforcing material of the filament or sheet to complete an electric circuit. Electric current flows through and heats the conductive material to oxidize or otherwise separate/cut the conductive material and any remaining non-conductive material.

Cutting mechanism for carbon nanotube yarns, tapes, sheets and polymer composites thereof

A method of fabricating (printing) parts utilizing flexible filaments includes anchoring a portion of a flexible filament to a substrate. A length of flexible filament is extended over the substrate while the flexible filament is in tension to thereby avoid buckling of the flexible filament. The flexible filament may comprise a thermoplastic material and fibers or other reinforcing materials whereby composite 3D parts can be fabricated.

Devices and methods for additive manufacturing using flexible filaments

A method of fabricating composite articles includes supplying electrical current to an electrically conductive filament. The electrically conductive filament may include a first material that is electrically conductive and a polymer second material. The polymer second material comprises at least one of a thermoplastic polymer and a partially cured thermosetting polymer. The heated filament is deposited according to a predefined pattern in successive layers to adhere the polymer material of the layers together and build up a three dimensional article. The article includes strands of the first material embedded in a substantially continuous polymer matrix of the second material.

Method for the free form fabrication of articles out of electrically conductive filaments using localized heating

A method of controlling an additive fabrication process includes providing a primary substrate and a test substrate. Polymer test material is extruded onto the test substrate utilizing an extrusion head. The extrusion head is moved relative to the test substrate, and a force required to move the extrusion head relative to the test substrate is measured to thereby generate test data. A part is fabricated by extruding polymer material onto the primary substrate utilizing the extrusion head. The test data is utilized to control at least one process parameter associated with extruding polymer material onto the primary substrate.

Adhesion test station in an extrusion apparatus and methods for using the same

Epoxy resin compositions prepared using amino terminated fluoro alkyl ethers. The epoxy resin compositions exhibit low surface adhesion properties making them useful as coatings, paints, moldings, adhesives, and fiber reinforced composites.

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Newport News, VA, United States of America

John M Gardner