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: Methods of additively manufacturing a part comprise dispensing a multi-part filament in three dimensions. The multi-part filament comprises an elongate filament body comprising a first body part extending longitudinally along the elongate filament body and comprising a first material that is configured to be cured responsive to a first cure condition, and a second body part extending longitudinally along the elongate filament body and comprising a second material that is configured to be cured responsive to a second cure condition that is different from the first cure condition. Methods also comprise concurrently with the dispensing, delivering curing energy corresponding to the first cure condition to impart a desired rigidity characteristic to the first body part to facilitate printing of self-supporting structures from the multi-part filament.

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 ply for fabricating composite material includes a first tow of a plurality of fibers, which are spread in a direction along a width of a cross section of the ply, wherein a first sheet of enhanced performance material overlies the first tow. A second tow of a plurality of fibers, which are spread in the direction along the width of the cross section of the ply, overlies the first sheet of the enhanced performance material. Another tow of a plurality of fibers, which are spread in the direction along the width of the cross section of the ply, are positioned against and laterally extend from the first tow, the second tow and the first sheet of enhanced performance material.

Abstract: Systems and methods for additively manufacturing composite parts are disclosed. Methods comprise combining a plurality of pre-consolidated tows to define a macro tow and dispensing the macro tow in three dimensions to define the composite part. Each pre-consolidated tow comprises a fiber tow within a non-liquid binding matrix. The combining comprises actively altering a shape and/or size of a cross-sectional profile of the macro tow along a length of the macro tow as it is being defined.

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: Systems for cure control of additive manufacturing comprise a build volume, a curing energy source, and a controller. The curing energy source is configured to actively deliver curing energy to discrete sections of a part as it is being additively manufactured. The controller is programmed to direct delivery of curing energy to impart desired cure properties to the discrete sections and/or according to predetermined cure profiles for the discrete sections. Methods of additively manufacturing a part comprise additively building a part from a feedstock material, and actively curing discrete sections of the part as it is being additively built to impart desired cure properties to the part and/or desired cure profiles to the part.

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: 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: Additive manufacturing fiber composites comprise a bundle of elongate fibers and a matrix material that holds or encompasses the elongate fibers of the additive manufacturing fiber tow. The matrix material includes an energy-emissive dopant that emits a curing energy in response to receiving an activating energy. The curing energy effects curing of the solidifiable matrix material so that it solidifies to a rigid or semi-rigid matrix material. Methods of additively manufacturing an article include dispensing an additive manufacturing fiber tow, a solidifiable matrix material, and an energy-emissive dopant to form a solidifiable composite, and applying the activating energy to the energy-emissive dopant to activate the energy-emissive dopant to emit the curing energy. Systems to additively manufacturing an article may be configured to employ such additive manufacturing fiber composites and/or methods.

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: A method of fabricating a composite laminate comprises forming a stack including first and second fiber beds and an interlayer between the fiber beds. The fiber beds are impregnated with matrix resin. The interlayer includes a soluble thermoplastic component on an insoluble component. The method further comprises dissolving the soluble thermoplastic component into the matrix resin to reduce thickness of the interlayer.

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 ply for fabricating composite material which includes a first tow including a plurality of fibers spread in a direction along a width of a cross section of the ply. A first sheet of enhancement performance material extends within the plurality of fibers and between a top and a bottom of the cross section of the ply.

Abstract: A ply for fabricating composite material includes a first tow of a plurality of fibers, which are spread in a direction along a width of a cross section of the ply, wherein a first sheet of enhanced performance material overlies the first tow. A second tow of a plurality of fibers, which are spread in the direction along the width of the cross section of the ply, overlies the first sheet of the enhanced performance material. Another tow of a plurality of fibers, which are spread in the direction along the width of the cross section of the ply, are positioned against and laterally extend from the first tow, the second tow and the first sheet of enhanced performance material.