Continuous Composites Inc.

Samuel VanDenBerg

Nathan Andrew Stranberg

Stephen Tyler Wilson

Trevor David Budge

Brock Adam Jahner

Andrew Michael Stulc

Andrew John Overby

Jeremiah R Smith

Ryan C Stockett

Kyle Frank Cummings

Marcus Raye Vincent Brodie

A system is disclosed for additively manufacturing a composite structure. The system may include a support, and a print head operatively connected to and moveable by the support. The print head may include a first supply configured to hold a liquid matrix, a second supply configured to hold a continuous reinforcement, and a wetting module configured to separately receive the liquid matrix and the continuous reinforcement from the first and second supplies, respectively, and to discharge a composite material including the continuous reinforcement wetted with the liquid matrix. The wetting module may include a body forming an internal chamber having an upstream open end and a downstream open end, an entrant nozzle disposed within the upstream open end and configured to receive the continuous reinforcement, and an exit nozzle disposed within the downstream closed end and configured to discharge the composite material.

Print head for additive manufacturing system

A system is disclosed for additively manufacturing a composite structure. The system may include a support, and a print head operatively connected to and moveable by the support. The print head may include an outlet configured to discharge a material in a trajectory along a central axis of the outlet, and a compactor disposed downstream of the outlet relative to the trajectory and configured to press the material transversely against an adjacent surface. The outlet may be configured to translate relative to the compacting module.

A system is disclosed for additively manufacturing a composite structure. The system may include a support, and a print head operatively connected to and moveable by the support. The print head may include an outlet configured to discharge a material in a trajectory along a central axis of the outlet; a compactor disposed downstream of the outlet relative to the trajectory and configured to press the material transversely against an adjacent surface, and a cutting module located between the outlet and the compactor. The compactor and the cutting module may be configured to move together relative to the outlet.

Print heads for additive manufacturing systems

A system is disclosed for additively manufacturing a composite structure. The system may include a support, and a print head operatively connected to and moveable by the support. The print head may include a first supply configured to hold a continuous reinforcement, a second supply configured to hold a matrix separate from the continuous reinforcement, and a wetting mechanism in separate communication with the first and second supplies and configured to discharge the continuous reinforcement wetted with the matrix. The system may also include a controller programmed to selectively pressurize the second supply to direct the matrix to the wetting mechanism.

A print head is disclosed for use in an additive manufacturing system. The print head may include an outlet configured to discharge a material, and a compacting device mounted to trail behind the outlet during movement of the print head in a normal direction. The print head may also include a spring configured to bias the compacting device against the material and to allow movement of the compacting device in a direction parallel with a discharge direction of the material through the outlet, and a locker configured to selectively lock a position of the compacting device relative to the outlet.

System for additively manufacturing composite structure

A system is disclosed for additively manufacturing a composite structure. The system may include a support, and a print head operatively connected to and moveable by the support. The print head may include a supply of continuous reinforcement, an outlet configured to discharge the continuous reinforcement, and a tensioning module disposed between the supply and outlet. The tensioning module may be configured to generate a signal indicative of a tension in the continuous reinforcement. The system may also include a processor programmed to selectively cause the supply to dispense the continuous reinforcement based on the signal.

A system is disclosed for additively manufacturing a composite structure. The system may include a print head configured to discharge a continuous reinforcement that is at least partially coated in a matrix, and a compactor configured to compact the continuous reinforcement and the matrix. The system may also include a cure enhancer configured to direct a path of cure energy toward the matrix after discharge, wherein the path of cure energy passes through at least a portion of the compactor.

Growing community of inventors

Hayden, ID, United States of America

Samuel VanDenBerg