Abstract: In some examples, an assembly includes a vehicle wheel that defines an interior and an exterior surface, where the interior surface defines a first protrusion and a second protrusion. The first protrusion defines a first aperture extending in a substantially axial direction. The assembly further includes a rotor drive key on the interior surface, the drive key defining a first and second feature, and the first feature defines a second aperture extending in the substantially axial direction and is configured to align with the first aperture. The assembly includes a fastener configured to be inserted through the first and second aperture in the substantially axial direction to attach the key to the interior surface of the wheel, where the second aperture is configured to form a threaded connection with an end of the fastener. When the fastener is tightened via the threaded connection, the second feature engages the second protrusion.

Abstract: In some examples, an assembly includes a vehicle wheel that defines an interior and an exterior surface, where the interior surface defines a first protrusion and a second protrusion. The first protrusion defines a first aperture extending in a substantially axial direction. The assembly further includes a rotor drive key on the interior surface, the drive key defining a first and second feature, and the first feature defines a second aperture extending in the substantially axial direction and is configured to align with the first aperture. The assembly includes a fastener configured to be inserted through the first and second aperture in the substantially axial direction to attach the key to the interior surface of the wheel, where the second aperture is configured to form a threaded connection with an end of the fastener. When the fastener is tightened via the threaded connection, the second feature engages the second protrusion.

Abstract: A method of forming a densified preform or composite part is disclosed that includes partially densifying a porous preform, forming channels in the partially densified preform that open to an exterior surface of the partially densified preform, infiltrating a densifying agent, such as pitch, into at least some of the channels of the partially densified preform, at least partially stabilizing the densifying agent, including heating at a first temperature, such that cracks form within the densifying agent, and exposing the preform to an oxidizing agent, and heating the at least partially stabilized preform at a second temperature to carbonize at least the stabilized densifying agent. A partially densified preform including a densifying agent disposed at least in such channels also is disclosed.

Abstract: In some examples, the disclosure describes a method including densifying a layer of carbon fibers by at least one of depositing a resin on the layer of carbon fibers via a print head of a three-dimensional printing system or applying CVD on the layer of carbon fibers via the print head; and forming at least one additional layer of densified carbon fibers on the densified layer of carbon fibers, wherein forming the at least one additional layer of densified carbon fibers comprises, for each respective layer of the at least one additional layer, adding an additional layer of carbon fibers on the densified layer of carbon fibers, and densifying the additional layer of carbon fibers by at least one of depositing the resin on the additional layer of carbon fibers or applying CVD on the additional layer of carbon fibers. In some examples, the example method may be used to form a densified carbon-carbon composite component, such as, e.g., a densified carbon-carbon composite brake disc.

Abstract: In some examples, the disclosure describes a method including depositing a first layer including a resin and at least one of a carbon fiber or a carbon fiber precursor material on a work surface of a three-dimensional printing system, carbonizing at least the resin of the first layer using a carbonizer attached to the three-dimensional printer to form a first layer of carbon-carbon composite including carbon fibers and carbonized matrix material, depositing an additional layer including a resin and at least one of a carbon fiber or a carbon fiber precursor material of material on the first layer of carbon-carbon composite, and carbonizing at least the resin of the additional layer using the carbonizer to form an additional layer of carbon-carbon composite on the first layer of carbon-carbon composite.

Abstract: In some examples, the disclosure describes a method including depositing a first layer including a resin and at least one of a carbon fiber or a carbon fiber precursor material on a work surface of a three-dimensional printing system, carbonizing at least the resin of the first layer using a carbonizer attached to the three-dimensional printer to form a first layer of carbon-carbon composite including carbon fibers and carbonized matrix material, depositing an additional layer including a resin and at least one of a carbon fiber or a carbon fiber precursor material of material on the first layer of carbon-carbon composite, and carbonizing at least the resin of the additional layer using the carbonizer to form an additional layer of carbon-carbon composite on the first layer of carbon-carbon composite.

Abstract: In some examples, the disclosure describes a method including densifying a layer of carbon fibers by at least one of depositing a resin on the layer of carbon fibers via a print head of a three-dimensional printing system or applying CVD on the layer of carbon fibers via the print head; and forming at least one additional layer of densified carbon fibers on the densified layer of carbon fibers, wherein forming the at least one additional layer of densified carbon fibers comprises, for each respective layer of the at least one additional layer, adding an additional layer of carbon fibers on the densified layer of carbon fibers, and densifying the additional layer of carbon fibers by at least one of depositing the resin on the additional layer of carbon fibers or applying CVD on the additional layer of carbon fibers. In some examples, the example method may be used to form a densified carbon-carbon composite component, such as, e.g., a densified carbon-carbon composite brake disc.

Abstract: A method of forming a densified preform or composite part is disclosed that includes partially densifying a porous preform, forming channels in the partially densified preform that open to an exterior surface of the partially densified preform, infiltrating a densifying agent, such as pitch, into at least some of the channels of the partially densified preform, at least partially stabilizing the densifying agent, including heating at a first temperature, such that cracks form within the densifying agent, and exposing the preform to an oxidizing agent, and heating the at least partially stabilized preform at a second temperature to carbonize at least the stabilized densifying agent. A partially densified preform including a densifying agent disposed at least in such channels also is disclosed.