Multilayer fiber reinforcement design for 3D printing
First Claim
1. A 3D printer for additive manufacturing of a part, comprising:
- an anisotropic solidifying head configured to solidify, along anisotropic fill toolpaths, fiber swaths from a supply of anisotropic fiber reinforced material including a plurality of fiber strands extending continuously within a matrix material, the fiber swaths having an anisotropic characteristic oriented relative to a trajectory of the anisotropic fill toolpaths;
an isotropic solidifying head configured to solidify, along isotropic fill toolpaths, a substantially isotropic material from a supply of solidifiable isotropic material;
a motorized drive configured to relatively move at least the anisotropic solidifying head and a build plate supporting the part in at least three degrees of freedom, anda controller configured to control the motorized drive, the anisotropic solidifying head and the isotropic solidifying head, to which the controller is operatively connected, to build the part by;
solidifying the isotropic material along the isotropic fill toolpaths,solidifying, for each shell of a first sequence of parallel shells of the part, the anisotropic fill material in the fiber swaths tracking a non-concentric set of the anisotropic fill toolpaths, each fiber swath exhibiting the anisotropic characteristic in at least one specific direction corresponding to the trajectory of an anisotropic fill toolpath of the non-concentric set of the anisotropic fill toolpaths;
solidifying, for each shell of a second sequence of parallel shells of the part, the anisotropic fill material in the fiber swaths tracking an outer concentric set of the anisotropic fill toolpaths, each fiber swath exhibiting the anisotropic characteristic in at least one specific direction corresponding to the trajectory of an anisotropic fill toolpath of the outer concentric set of the anisotropic fill toolpaths;
each of the non-concentric set and the outer concentric set of anisotropic toolpaths being located at least partially radially outward from a centroid of the part.
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Abstract
According to at least one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a 3D printer comprising an anisotropic head that solidifies, along anisotropic toolpaths, fiber swaths having an anisotropic characteristic oriented relative to a trajectory of the anisotropic tool paths, an isotropic head that solidifies, along isotropic toolpaths, a substantially isotropic material, a motorized drive for moving the anisotropic head and a build plate supporting a printed part in at least three degrees of freedom, and a controller configured to control the 3D printer to build the printed part by solidifying the isotropic material along the isotropic tool paths, solidifying the anisotropic material in fiber swaths tracking a non-concentric set of anisotropic tool paths for at least a first sequence of parallel shells, solidifying the anisotropic material in fiber swaths tracking an outer concentric set of anisotropic tool paths for at least a second sequence of parallel shells.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A 3D printer for additive manufacturing of a part, comprising:
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an anisotropic solidifying head configured to solidify, along anisotropic fill toolpaths, fiber swaths from a supply of anisotropic fiber reinforced material including a plurality of fiber strands extending continuously within a matrix material, the fiber swaths having an anisotropic characteristic oriented relative to a trajectory of the anisotropic fill toolpaths; an isotropic solidifying head configured to solidify, along isotropic fill toolpaths, a substantially isotropic material from a supply of solidifiable isotropic material; a motorized drive configured to relatively move at least the anisotropic solidifying head and a build plate supporting the part in at least three degrees of freedom, and a controller configured to control the motorized drive, the anisotropic solidifying head and the isotropic solidifying head, to which the controller is operatively connected, to build the part by; solidifying the isotropic material along the isotropic fill toolpaths, solidifying, for each shell of a first sequence of parallel shells of the part, the anisotropic fill material in the fiber swaths tracking a non-concentric set of the anisotropic fill toolpaths, each fiber swath exhibiting the anisotropic characteristic in at least one specific direction corresponding to the trajectory of an anisotropic fill toolpath of the non-concentric set of the anisotropic fill toolpaths; solidifying, for each shell of a second sequence of parallel shells of the part, the anisotropic fill material in the fiber swaths tracking an outer concentric set of the anisotropic fill toolpaths, each fiber swath exhibiting the anisotropic characteristic in at least one specific direction corresponding to the trajectory of an anisotropic fill toolpath of the outer concentric set of the anisotropic fill toolpaths; each of the non-concentric set and the outer concentric set of anisotropic toolpaths being located at least partially radially outward from a centroid of the part. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification