Abstract: An apparatus for shaping an extrudable material comprises a sleeve, comprising a first sleeve end, a sleeve inlet at the first sleeve end, a second sleeve end, opposite the first sleeve end, and a sleeve outlet at the second sleeve end. The extrudable material enters the sleeve through the sleeve inlet and exits the sleeve through the sleeve outlet. The apparatus further comprises an actuation mechanism, selectively operable to change at least one of a size or a shape of the sleeve outlet. The sleeve is sufficiently flexible to enable the actuation mechanism to change at least one of the size or the shape of the sleeve outlet. The sleeve is insufficiently stretchable to enable the actuation mechanism to stretch the sleeve.

Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing an object comprises feeding a feedstock line into a delivery guide. The feedstock line has a length and comprises a continuous flexible line. The continuous flexible line has a peripheral surface. The feedstock line further comprises a covering, releasably coupled to the peripheral surface of the continuous flexible line. The method also comprises removing the covering from the peripheral surface of the continuous flexible line before the continuous flexible line is deposited along a print path and depositing the continuous flexible line along the print path using the delivery guide.

Abstract: Systems for thermal control of additive manufacturing comprise a build volume within which a part is additively manufactured; a heat source positioned relative to the build volume and configured to actively deliver heat to discrete sections of the part as it is being additively manufactured; and a controller operatively coupled to the heat source and configured to direct delivery of heat from the heat source to discrete sections of the part as it is being additively manufactured to impart desired physical properties to the part. Methods of additively manufacturing a part comprise additively building a part from a feedstock material; and actively heating discrete sections of the part as the part is being additively built to impart desired physical properties to the part.

Abstract: A system for additively manufacturing an object comprises a fiber supply that dispenses elongate fibers, a resin supply that applies a resin to the elongate fibers to create a feedstock line with the resin in a first non-rigid uncured state, a rigidizing mechanism that transforms the resin from the first non-rigid uncured state to a rigid uncured state, a delivery guide that deposits the feedstock line along a print path, a feed mechanism that feeds the feedstock line through the delivery guide, a de-rigidizing mechanism that transforms the resin from the rigid uncured state to a second non-rigid uncured state, and a curing mechanism that transforms the resin from the second non-rigid uncured state to an at least partially cured state.

Abstract: A system for additively manufacturing an object comprises a source of a feedstock line, a rigidizing mechanism that receives the feedstock line from the source and transforms the resin from a first at least partially uncured state to a rigid at least partially uncured state, a delivery guide that deposits the feedstock line along a print path, a feed mechanism that feeds the feedstock line through the delivery guide, a de-rigidizing mechanism that transforms the resin from the rigid at least partially uncured state to a second at least partially uncured state, and a curing mechanism that transforms the resin from the second at least partially uncured state to an at least partially cured state.

Abstract: A system for additively manufacturing an object comprises a source of a feedstock line, a rigidizing mechanism that receives the feedstock line from the source and transforms the resin from a first at least partially uncured state to a rigid at least partially uncured state, a delivery guide that deposits the feedstock line along a print path, a feed mechanism that feeds the feedstock line through the delivery guide, a de-rigidizing mechanism that transforms the resin from the rigid at least partially uncured state to a second at least partially uncured state, and a curing mechanism that transforms the resin from the second at least partially uncured state to an at least partially cured state.

Abstract: A system for additively manufacturing an object comprises a fiber supply that dispenses elongate fibers, a resin supply that applies a resin to the elongate fibers to create a feedstock line with the resin in a first non-rigid uncured state, a rigidizing mechanism that transforms the resin from the first non-rigid uncured state to a rigid uncured state, a delivery guide that deposits the feedstock line along a print path, a feed mechanism that feeds the feedstock line through the delivery guide, a de-rigidizing mechanism that transforms the resin from the rigid uncured state to a second non-rigid uncured state, and a curing mechanism that transforms the resin from the second non-rigid uncured state to an at least partially cured state.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping an extrudable material comprises a sleeve, comprising a first sleeve end, a sleeve inlet at the first sleeve end, a second sleeve end, opposite the first sleeve end, and a sleeve outlet at the second sleeve end. The extrudable material enters the sleeve through the sleeve inlet and exits the sleeve through the sleeve outlet. The apparatus further comprises an actuation mechanism, selectively operable to change at least one of a size or a shape of the sleeve outlet. The sleeve is sufficiently flexible to enable the actuation mechanism to change at least one of the size or the shape of the sleeve outlet. The sleeve is insufficiently stretchable to enable the actuation mechanism to stretch the sleeve.

Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing an obiect comprises transforming the resin of a feedstock line from a first at least partially uncured state to a rigid at least partially uncured state, introducing the feedstock line into a delivery guide with the resin of the feedstock line in the rigid at least partially uncured state, transforming the resin of the feedstock line from the rigid at least partially uncured state to a second at least partially uncured state as the feedstock line passes through the delivery guide or as the feedstock line exits the delivery guide, depositing the feedstock line along a print path using the delivery guide, and transforming the resin of the feedstock line from the second at least partially uncured state to an at least partially cured state after the feedstock line is dispensed from the delivery guide along the print path.

Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing an object comprises applying a resin in a first non-rigid uncured state to elongate fibers to create a feedstock line, transforming the resin of the feedstock line from the first non-rigid uncured state to a rigid uncured state, introducing the feedstock line into a delivery guide with the resin of the feedstock line in the rigid uncured state, transforming the resin of the feedstock line from the rigid uncured state to a second non-rigid uncured state as the feedstock line passes through the delivery guide or as the feedstock line exits the delivery guide, depositing the feedstock line along a print path, and at least partially curing the resin of the feedstock line after the feedstock line is deposited by the delivery guide along the print path.

Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing an object comprises feeding a feedstock line into a delivery guide. The feedstock line has a length and comprises a continuous flexible line. The continuous flexible line has a peripheral surface. The feedstock line further comprises a covering, releasably coupled to the peripheral surface of the continuous flexible line. The method also comprises removing the covering from the peripheral surface of the continuous flexible line before the continuous flexible line is deposited along a print path and depositing the continuous flexible line along the print path using the delivery guide.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping an extrudable material comprises a sleeve, comprising a first sleeve end, a sleeve inlet at the first sleeve end, a second sleeve end, opposite the first sleeve end, and a sleeve outlet at the second sleeve end. The extrudable material enters the sleeve through the sleeve inlet and exits the sleeve through the sleeve outlet. The apparatus further comprises an actuation mechanism, selectively operable to change at least one of a size or a shape of the sleeve outlet. The sleeve is sufficiently flexible to enable the actuation mechanism to change at least one of the size or the shape of the sleeve outlet. The sleeve is insufficiently stretchable to enable the actuation mechanism to stretch the sleeve.

Abstract: Systems for additive manufacturing comprise a delivery guide configured to dispense a curable material to additively manufacture a part in sequential layers of the curable material, and a source of curing energy configured to direct the curing energy to a discrete region of the curable material forward of or at a location where a subsequent layer of the curable material is dispensed from the delivery guide against a preceding layer of the curable material to cure together the subsequent layer and the preceding layer. Methods of additively manufacturing comprise dispensing a subsequent layer of a curable material against a preceding layer of the curable material, and concurrently with the dispensing, directing curing energy to a discrete region of the curable material to cure together the subsequent layer and the preceding layer.

Abstract: A feedstock line for additively manufacturing an object. The feedstock line has a length and comprises a continuous flexible line. The continuous flexible line has a peripheral surface. The feedstock line also comprises a covering. The covering is releasably coupled to the peripheral surface of the continuous flexible line.

Abstract: An optical waveguide is configured such that when electromagnetic radiation enters a first end face of an optical core, an initial portion of the electromagnetic radiation exits the optical core via a peripheral surface, and a final portion of the electromagnetic radiation, remaining in the optical core after the initial portion of the electromagnetic radiation exits the optical core, exits the optical core via a second end face.

Abstract: A system for additively manufacturing an object comprises feedstock-line supply, delivery guide, and curing mechanism. The feedstock-line supply dispenses a feedstock line that comprises elongate filaments, a resin that covers the elongate filaments, and at least one optical modifier that is interspersed among the elongate filaments. The delivery guide is movable relative to a surface, receives the feedstock line, and deposits it along a print path. The curing mechanism is directs electromagnetic radiation at the exterior surface of the feedstock line after it is deposited along the print path. When the electromagnetic radiation strikes the outer surface of at least one optical modifier, the optical modifier causes the electromagnetic radiation to irradiate, in the interior volume of the feedstock line, the resin that, due at least in part to the elongate filaments, is not directly accessible to the electromagnetic radiation, incident on the exterior surface of the feedstock line.

Abstract: A feedstock line comprises elongate filaments, a resin, and a full-length optical waveguide, comprising a full-length optical core. The full-length optical waveguide is configured such that when electromagnetic radiation enters the full-length optical core via at least one of a first full-length-optical-core end face, a second full-length-optical-core end face, or a full-length peripheral surface that extends between the first full-length-optical-core end face and the second full-length-optical-core end face, at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation exits the full-length optical core via the full-length peripheral surface to irradiate, in an interior volume of the feedstock line, the resin that, due at least in part to the elongate filaments, is not directly accessible to the electromagnetic radiation, incident on the exterior surface of the feedstock line.

Abstract: A feedstock line comprises elongate filaments, a resin, and a full-length optical waveguide, comprising a full-length optical core. The full-length optical waveguide is configured such that when electromagnetic radiation enters the full-length optical core via at least one of a first full-length-optical-core end face, a second full-length-optical-core end face, or a full-length peripheral surface that extends between the first full-length-optical-core end face and the second full-length-optical-core end face, at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation exits the full-length optical core via the full-length peripheral surface to irradiate, in an interior volume of the feedstock line, the resin that, due at least in part to the elongate filaments, is not directly accessible to the electromagnetic radiation, incident on the exterior surface of the feedstock line.

Abstract: A feedstock line comprises elongate filaments, a resin, and a full-length optical waveguide, comprising a full-length optical core. The full-length optical waveguide is configured such that when electromagnetic radiation enters the full-length optical core via at least one of a first full-length-optical-core end face, a second full-length-optical-core end face, or a full-length peripheral surface that extends between the first full-length-optical-core end face and the second full-length-optical-core end face, at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation exits the full-length optical core via the full-length peripheral surface to irradiate, in an interior volume of the feedstock line, the resin that, due at least in part to the elongate filaments, is not directly accessible to the electromagnetic radiation, incident on the exterior surface of the feedstock line.

Abstract: A system for creating a feedstock line for additive manufacturing of an object comprises a prepreg-tow supply, a prepreg-tow separator, an optical-direction-modifier supply, a combiner, and at least one heater. The prepreg-tow supply dispenses a precursor prepreg tow, comprising elongate filaments and resin. The prepreg-tow separator separates the precursor prepreg tow into individual elongate filaments at least partially covered with the resin. The optical-direction-modifier supply dispenses optical direction modifiers to the elongate filaments. When electromagnetic radiation strikes the outer surface of the optical direction modifiers, at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation departs the outer surface at an angle. The combiner combines the elongate filaments and the optical direction modifiers into a derivative prepreg tow. At least the one heater heats the resin to cause wet-out of the optical direction modifiers and the elongate filaments in the derivative prepreg tow by the resin.