System and print head for continuously manufacturing composite structure

• Main Authors: Stockett, Ryan C, Alvarado, Tyler B, Budge, Trevor David
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.09.2021
• Subjects: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY; ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OFTHREE-DIMENSIONAL [3-D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVEAGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3-D PRINTING,STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

A system is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing a composite structure. The system may include a head configured to discharge a continuous reinforcement. The system may further include an external applicator configured to apply a matrix to the discharged continuous reinforcement, and a cure enhancer configured to expose the matrix to a cure energy at a side of the external applicator opposite the head.