Additive manufacturing system having dynamically variable matrix supply
A head is disclosed for an additive manufacturing system. The head may include a reservoir configured to hold a matrix, and a nozzle configured to discharge a continuous fiber received via the reservoir. The head may also include a plurality of supplies of different matrixes in fluid communication with the reservoir.
1. An additive manufacturing system, comprising:
a support;
a head mounted to the support and including:
a reservoir
a nozzle configured to discharge a continuous fiber received via the reservoir;
a plurality of supplies of different matrixes in fluid communication with the reservoir;
wherein the plurality of supplies of different matrixes and the continuous fiber, when discharged from the nozzle, create a structure with a three-dimensional shape;
at least one valve configured to regulate flows of the plurality of supplies of different matrixes into the reservoir; and
at least one cure enhancer connected to the head and configured direct light to the different matrixes at discharge from the nozzle to from the structure; and
a processor configured to:
coordinate operation of the support, the at least one valve, and the at least one cure enhancer; and
operate the at least one valve to selectively allow a flow of only one of the different matrixes during a first fabrication condition and to selectively allow simultaneous flow of multiple of the different matrixes into the reservoir during a second fabrication condition.
2. The additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the processor includes a map stored in memory relating locations to characteristics of the matrix to be discharged at the locations, the processor being configured to use the map to correlate operation of the support with operation of the at least one valve.
3. The additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve includes a dedicated valve associated with each of the plurality of supplies of different matrixes.
4. The additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , further including a plurality of jets located inside the head and configured to receive the different matrixes.
5. An additive manufacturing system, comprising:
a support;
a head mounted to the support and including:
a reservoir
a nozzle configured to discharge a continuous fiber received via the reservoir;
a plurality of supplies of different matrixes in fluid communication with the reservoir;
wherein the plurality of supplies of different matrixes and the continuous fiber, when discharged from the nozzle, create a structure with a three-dimensional shape
at least one valve configured to regulate flows of the plurality of supplies of different matrixes into the reservoir;
at least one cure enhancer connected to the head and configured direct light to the different matrixes at discharge from the nozzle to from the structure;
a supply of purge fluid in fluid communication with the reservoir; and
at least one purge valve configured to regulate a flow of the purge fluid into the reservoir; and
a processor configured to:
coordinate operation of the support, the at least one valve, the at least one purge valve, and the at least one cure enhancer; and
to selectively open the at least one purge valve and cause the purge fluid to flow into the reservoir at a timing between flows of different matrixes into the reservoir when the at least one valve is closed.