IP Library Granted Patent US 10,766,191
Granted Patent B2
US 10,766,191 · App. 15/608,017 · Granted Sep 8, 2020

Additive manufacturing system having in-head fiber weaving

Inventor: Kenneth Lyle Tyler (Coeur d'Alene, ID)
Assignee: Continuous Composites Inc.
B29C64/209B29C35/0805B29C64/106B29C64/264B33Y10/00B33Y30/00B33Y50/02B05D1/26B29C48/154B29C48/2556B29C48/266B29C48/30B29C48/301B29C48/304B29C64/188B29C2035/0827B29K2105/0058B29K2105/08B33Y70/00D03D15/12
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,766,191
App. No.
15/608,017
Granted
Sep 8, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing a composite structure. The system may include a head configured to discharge a composite material including a matrix and a plurality of continuous reinforcements. The system may also include a weave mechanism configured to selectively adjust a pattern of weaving of the plurality of continuous reinforcements occurring inside of the head.

Claims (45)

1. An additive manufacturing system, comprising:

a head configured to discharge a composite material including a matrix and a plurality of continuous reinforcements; and

a weave mechanism configured to selectively adjust a pattern of weaving of the plurality of continuous reinforcements occurring inside of the head.

2. The additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the weave mechanism is configured to adjust at least one of a density and overlap amount of the plurality of continuous reinforcements.

3. The additive manufacturing system of claim 2 , wherein the weave mechanism is configured to dynamically adjust the at least one of the density and overlap amount of the plurality of continuous reinforcements as the plurality of continuous reinforcements are discharging from the head.

4. The additive manufacturing system of claim 3 , wherein the weave mechanism is configured to dynamically adjust the at least one of the density and overlap amount of the plurality of continuous reinforcements as the plurality of continuous reinforcements are being pulled from the head due to movement of the head.

5. The additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the weave mechanism is configured to correlate a change in the pattern of weaving of the plurality of continuous reinforcements with a specification change of an associated structure manufactured with the composite material.

6. The additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , further including a controller configured to:

receive information regarding a structure to be manufactured; and

coordinate operation of the weave mechanism with movement of the head based on the information.

7. The additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , further including an external cure enhancer configured to enhance curing of the matrix after discharge.

8. The additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , further including a support configured to move the head in multiple dimensions during discharging.

9. The additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the weave mechanism includes:

a first fiber guide having at least one guide hole configured to receive at least a first of the plurality of continuous reinforcements;

a second fiber guide having at least one guide hole configured to receive at least a second of the plurality of continuous reinforcements; and

an actuator configured to cause relative movement between the first and second fiber guides during discharge of the at least the first and the at least the second of the plurality of continuous reinforcements.

10. The additive manufacturing system of claim 9 , wherein the actuator includes:

at least one permanent magnet associated with at least one of the first and second fiber guides; and

an electro-magnet configured to selectively generate a temporary magnetic field that interacts with the at least one permanent magnet.

11. The additive manufacturing system of claim 10 , further including at least one resilient member configured to bias at least one of the first and second fiber guides.

12. The additive manufacturing system of claim 9 , wherein the actuator includes a motor configured to rotate a pivoting member on which at least one of the first and second fiber guides are mounted.

13. The additive manufacturing system of claim 9 , further including a nozzle tip configured to coalesce the at least the first and the at least the second of the plurality of continuous reinforcements.

14. An additive manufacturing system, comprising:

a head configured to discharge a composite material including a matrix and a plurality of continuous reinforcements;

a support configured to move the head in multiple dimensions during discharging by the head;

a weave mechanism configured to selectively adjust a pattern of weaving of the plurality of continuous reinforcements occurring inside of the head; and

a controller configured to:

receive information regarding a structure to be manufactured with the composite material; and

coordinate operation of the weave mechanism with movement of the head based on the information.

15. The additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the head is configured to wet the plurality of continuous reinforcements before the weave mechanism adjusts the pattern of weaving of the plurality of continuous reinforcements.

16. The additive manufacturing system of claim 14 , wherein the head is configured to wet the plurality of continuous reinforcements with the matrix before the weave mechanism adjusts the pattern of weaving of the plurality of continuous reinforcements.

17. The additive manufacturing system of claim 16 , wherein:

the weave mechanism includes:

a first fiber guide having at least one guide hole configured to receive at least a first of the plurality of continuous reinforcements;

a second fiber guide having at least one guide hole configured to receive at least a second of the plurality of continuous reinforcements; and

an actuator configured to selectively cause the first and second fiber guides to translate relative to each other; and

the head includes:

a housing having a supply end configured to receive the plurality of continuous reinforcements, and a discharge end configured to discharge the plurality of continuous reinforcements after being wetted with the matrix;

an outlet located at the discharge end of the housing and configured to receive the at least the first and the at least the second of the plurality of reinforcements; and

an external cure enhancer configured to enhance curing of matrix-coated reinforcements discharging from the outlet.

18. The additive manufacturing system of claim 17 , wherein the support is configured to move the head away from an anchor point to cause the plurality of reinforcements to be pulled from the head at the same time that the actuator dynamically varies translation of the first and second fiber guides relative to each other.

19. The additive manufacturing system of claim 18 , wherein the actuator includes:

at least one permanent magnet associated with at least one of the first and second fiber guides; and

an electro-magnet configured to selectively generate a temporary magnetic field that interacts with the at least one permanent magnet.

20. The additive manufacturing system of claim 18 , wherein the actuator includes a motor configured to rotate a pivoting member on which at least one of the first and second fiber guides are mounted.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 16, 2019
From: CC3D LLC
To: CONTINUOUS COMPOSITES INC.
Reel/Frame 049772/0013 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2017
From: TYLER, KENNETH LYLE
To: CC3D LLC
Reel/Frame 042529/0883 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62383801 · Sep 6, 2016
Related Publication 20180065144A1 · Mar 8, 2018