Abstract: A system is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing a structure. The system may include a print head to discharge a material, and a support to move the print head during discharging to fabricate a structure. The system may also include a receiver mounted to the print head to generate a signal indicative of at least one of a shape, a size, and a location of the discharged material, and a processor in communication with the receiver and the support. The processor may be configured to generate a data cloud of the structure fabricated by the additive manufacturing system based on the signal and based on a known position of the receiver at a time of signal generation. The processor may also be configured to make a comparison of the data cloud and a virtual model of the structure during discharging, and to selectively affect discharging based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for additively manufacturing a structure. The method may include slicing a virtual model of the structure into a plurality of layers, applying at least one infill pattern to each of the plurality of layers, and distributing a plurality of points along lines of the at least one infill pattern. The method may also include sequentially grouping the plurality of points into at least one path, validating the at least one path for fabrication by an additive manufacturing machine, and causing the additive manufacturing machine to discharge material along the validated at least one path.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing a composite structure from reinforcements wetted with a matrix. The method may include slicing a virtual model of the composite structure into multiple slices that are adjacent to each other along a length direction of the composite structure and determining points of the reinforcements passing through each of the multiple slices. The method may further include clocking the points differently around each of the multiple slices and generating at least one tool path including a sequenced subset of the points. The method may additionally include causing an additive manufacturing machine to discharge the reinforcements along the at least one tool path.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for additively manufacturing a structure. The method may include generating a vector field through a 3D virtual model, and slicing the virtual model into a plurality of layers that are aligned with the vector field. The method may also include generating at least one tool path for at least one of the plurality of layers, and causing an additive manufacturing machine to deposit a material along the at least one tool path.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for additively manufacturing a structure. The method may include generating at least one tool path, causing the additive manufacturing machine to place material along a first portion of the at least one tool path, and monitoring placement of the material along the first portion of the at least one tool path. The method may also include adjusting a second portion of the at least one tool path based on the placement, and causing the additive manufacturing machine to place material along the second portion of the at least one tool path after the adjusting.

Abstract: Methods and associated systems and apparatus are disclosed for determining a tool path for use in additively manufacturing a structure. The methods may include receiving data that at least partially defines a plurality of intersecting elongate elements forming a layer of the structure, and determining, based on the received data, a graph structure comprising a plurality of edges each representing one of the plurality of intersecting elongate elements, and a node representing an intersection of at least two of the plurality of intersecting elongate elements. The method may also include determining a plurality of regions of the structure based on the graph structure, each region comprising one or more elongate elements, and generating a plurality of tool paths for each of the plurality of regions.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for additive manufacturing of a composite structure. The system may include a support, and a print head connected to and moveable by the support. The print head may include an outlet configured to discharge a continuous reinforcement at least partially coated in a matrix. The outlet may be moveable relative to the support. The print head may also include at least one actuator configured to cause movement of the outlet relative to the support.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing a structure. The system may include a print head to discharge a material, and a support to move the print head during discharging to fabricate a structure. The system may also include a receiver mounted to the print head to generate a signal indicative of at least one of a shape, a size, and a location of the discharged material, and a processor in communication with the receiver and the support. The processor may be configured to generate a data cloud of the structure fabricated by the additive manufacturing system based on the signal and based on a known position of the receiver at a time of signal generation. The processor may also be configured to make a comparison of the data cloud and a virtual model of the structure during discharging, and to selectively affect discharging based on the comparison.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing a structure. The system may include a print head configured to discharge a material, and a support connected to and configured to move the print head during discharging to fabricate a structure. The system may also include a receiver mounted to the print head and configured to generate a signal indicative of at least one of a shape, a size, and a location of the discharged material, and a processor in communication with the receiver and the support. The processor may be configured to generate a data cloud of the structure fabricated by the additive manufacturing system based on the signal and based on a known position of the receiver at a time of signal generation. The processor may also be configured to make a comparison of the data cloud and a virtual model of the structure during discharging, and to selectively affect discharging based on the comparison.

Abstract: Methods and associated systems and apparatus for determining a tool path for use in additively manufacturing a structure. The methods may include receiving placement data indicative of a relative placement of a plurality of nodes, each node including one or more regional tool paths and each regional tool path for additively manufacturing a region of the structure. The methods may also include receiving operation data indicative of an operation to be performed in relation to at least one of the plurality of nodes, and resolving the at least one of the plurality of nodes into a resolved tool path for use in additively manufacturing the structure based on the received placement data and operation data.

Abstract: Methods and associated systems and apparatus for determining a tool path for use in additively manufacturing a structure. The methods may include receiving data that at least partially defines an outer boundary for a region of the structure, partitioning the region based on placement of a partitioning line across the region from the outer boundary, and generating the tool path to navigate at least part of the outer boundary and to cross, at least partially, the region based on the placement of the partitioning line.

Abstract: Methods and associated systems and apparatus are disclosed for determining a tool path for use in additively manufacturing a structure. The methods may include identifying a propagation surface onto which material forming at least part of the structure is to be deposited, and determining a structure boundary associated with the propagation surface and defining at least part of the structure. The methods may also include determining one or more structure layers offset from the propagation surface and laterally bounded by the structure boundary; generating a tool path for each structure layer.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for additively manufacturing a composite structure. The method may include receiving from a user a sketch of a cross-section of the composite structure and a desired height. The method may also include automatically generating a virtual model of the composite structure having a plurality of layers, each with a thickness related to the height. The method may further include receiving from the user at least one infill pattern for at least one of the plurality of layers, and causing an additive manufacturing machine to deposit a continuous fiber along segments of the at least one infill pattern.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for additively manufacturing a structure. The method may include generating at least one tool path, causing the additive manufacturing machine to place material along a first portion of the at least one tool path, and monitoring placement of the material along the first portion of the at least one tool path. The method may also include adjusting a second portion of the at least one tool path based on the placement, and causing the additive manufacturing machine to place material along the second portion of the at least one tool path after the adjusting.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for additively manufacturing a structure. The method may include slicing a virtual model of the structure into a plurality of layers, applying at least one infill pattern to each of the plurality of layers, and distributing a plurality of points along lines of the at least one infill pattern. The method may also include sequentially grouping the plurality of points into at least one path, validating the at least one path for fabrication by an additive manufacturing machine, and causing the additive manufacturing machine to discharge material along the validated at least one path.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for additively manufacturing a structure. The method may include generating a vector field through a 3D virtual model, and slicing the virtual model into a plurality of layers that are aligned with the vector field. The method may also include generating at least one tool path for at least one of the plurality of layers, and causing an additive manufacturing machine to deposit a material along the at least one tool path.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing a composite structure from reinforcements wetted with a matrix. The method may include slicing a virtual model of the composite structure into multiple slices that are adjacent to each other along a length direction of the composite structure and determining points of the reinforcements passing through each of the multiple slices. The method may further include clocking the points differently around each of the multiple slices and generating at least one tool path including a sequenced subset of the points. The method may additionally include causing an additive manufacturing machine to discharge the reinforcements along the at least one tool path.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for additively manufacturing a structure. The system may include a support, a platform, and a print head connected to and moveable by the support. The print head may be configured to discharge a material onto the platform to build up a structure in an axial direction away from the platform. The system may also include a controller programmed to determine a threshold height of the structure in the axial direction at which continued discharge of the material from the print head will cause the structure to deviate from a desired location in a radial direction that is orthogonal to the axial direction, and to coordinate operation of the print head with operation of the support to fabricate at least one support that extends away from the structure at the threshold height to resist deviation of the structure from the desired location in the radial direction.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing a structure. The system may include a print head configured to discharge a material, and a support connected to and configured to move the print head during discharging to fabricate a structure. The system may also include a receiver mounted to the print head and configured to generate a signal indicative of at least one of a shape, a size, and a location of the discharged material, and a processor in communication with the receiver and the support. The processor may be configured to generate a data cloud of the structure fabricated by the additive manufacturing system based on the signal and based on a known position of the receiver at a time of signal generation. The processor may also be configured to make a comparison of the data cloud and a virtual model of the structure during discharging, and to selectively affect discharging based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method of forming a composite structure with an additive manufacturing machine is disclosed. The method may include generating a vector field within a virtual model of the composite structure based on anticipated load conditions for the composite structure, and generating a plurality of NURBS curves inside the virtual model that have trajectories at least partially affected by the vector field. The method may further include selectively sequencing the plurality of NURBS curves to generate a tool path based on the analysis, and causing the additive manufacturing machine to discharge a path of composite material along the tool path.