PRINT HEAD FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM
A print head is disclosed for use with an additive manufacturing system. The print head may include a nozzle configured to discharge a composite material. The print head may also include a source of tint configured to apply the tint to the composite material.
1 . A print head for an additive manufacturing system, comprising:
a nozzle configured to discharge a composite material; and
a source of tint configured to apply the tint to the composite material.
2 . The print head of claim 1 , further including a matrix reservoir located upstream of the nozzle, wherein the source of tint is located inside of the matrix reservoir.
3 . The print head of claim 2 , wherein the source of tint is one of a valve, a jet, and a spray nozzle.
4 . The print head of claim 3 , wherein:
the composite material includes a reinforcement at least partially coated in a matrix; and
the source of tint is configured to supply tinted matrix to the print head.
5 . The print head of claim 4 , wherein:
the matrix is a curable resin; and
the print head further includes a cure enhancer configured to expose the composite material to a cure energy after discharge from the nozzle.
6 . The print head of claim 3 , wherein the source of tint includes a plurality of jets configured to selectively direct different colors of tint into the matrix reservoir.
7 . The print head of claim 1 , wherein the source of tint is mounted at a trailing side of the nozzle to tint the composite material after discharge from the nozzle.
8 . The print head of claim 7 , wherein the source of tint includes a plurality of jets configured to selectively direct different colors of tint onto the composite material.
9 . The print head of claim 8 , wherein:
the composite material includes a reinforcement at least partially coated in a matrix;
the matrix is a curable resin; and
the print head further includes a cure enhancer configured to expose the composite material to a cure energy after discharge from the nozzle and after the tint is on the composite material.
10 . The print head of claim 8 , wherein:
the composite material includes a reinforcement at least partially coated in a matrix;
the matrix is a curable resin; and
the print head further includes a cure enhancer configured to expose the composite material to a cure energy after discharge from the nozzle and before the tint is on the composite material.
11 . A print head for an additive manufacturing system, comprising:
a matrix reservoir;
a nozzle fluidly connected to the matrix reservoir and configured to discharge a composite material including a reinforcement at least partially coated in a matrix from the matrix reservoir;
a cure enhancer mounted at a trailing side of the nozzle and configured to expose the matrix to a cure energy after discharge from the nozzle; and
a source of tint mounted at a trailing side of the nozzle to tint the composite material after discharge from the nozzle.
12 . The print head of claim 11 , wherein the source of tint is one of a valve, a jet, and a spray nozzle.
13 . The print head of claim 11 , wherein the source of tint includes a plurality of jets configured to selectively direct different colors of tint onto the composite material.
14 . The print head of claim 11 , wherein the cure enhancer is configured to expose the composite material to the cure energy after the tint is on the composite material.
15 . The print head of claim 11 , wherein the cure enhancer is configured to expose the composite material to the cure energy before the tint is on the composite material.
16 . An additive manufacturing system, comprising:
a moveable support;
a print head connected to the moveable support and configured to discharge a composite material including a continuous reinforcement that is at least partially coated with a matrix, the print head including:
a matrix reservoir;
a nozzle configured to discharge a composite material;
a source of tint configured to apply the tint to the composite material; and
a cure enhancer configured to expose the composite material to a cure energy after discharge from the nozzle;
a controller configured to coordinate operation of the moveable support with activation of the source of tint and the cure enhancer.
17 . The additive manufacturing system of claim 16 , wherein the source of tint is one of a valve, a jet, and a spray nozzle located inside of the matrix reservoir.
18 . The additive manufacturing system of claim 16 , wherein the source of tint is mounted at a trailing side of the nozzle to tint the composite material after discharge from the nozzle.
19 . The additive manufacturing system of claim 16 , wherein the source of tint is one of a valve, a jet, and a spray nozzle.
20 . The additive manufacturing system of claim 16 , wherein the source of tint includes a plurality of jets configured to selectively direct different colors of tint onto the composite material.