System and method for 3D construction printing

    公开(公告)号:US11124961B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-09-21

    申请号:US16188892

    申请日:2018-11-13

    Abstract: A large-scale additive manufacturing system for printing a structure includes an extrusion system and a knitting system. The extrusion system includes a nozzle configured to receive a supply of structural material and to selectively dispense the structural material in flowable form, and a first gantry configured to move the nozzle along toolpaths defined according to a structure to be printed such that structural material may be dispensed along the toolpaths to print a series of structural layers, wherein the series of structural layers bond together to form all or a portion of the structure. The knitting system includes a tow feeder configured to feed a supply of tow material to a location proximate a current course of loops extending above an upper surface of a current structural layer or extending above a base surface in regions where no structural layer has been printed, and a hooking device configured to engage the tow material and bring it through the current course of loops to form a subsequent course of loops interwoven with the current course of loops. A controller is configured to operate the knitting system to form additional subsequent courses of loops each interwoven with a current course of loops after each of the series of structural layers are printed, wherein the interwoven courses of loops create a reinforcement network of knitted loops embedded in the structure, and wherein the series of structural layers are tied together.

    Method of printing parts in a layerwise manner with one or more internal woven panels under tension

    公开(公告)号:US10889044B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-01-12

    申请号:US16245710

    申请日:2019-01-11

    Abstract: A method of producing a part printed in a layer-wise manner includes providing a pre-fabricated starter piece with a first course of loops and printing a layer of a part by extruding one or more flowable thermoplastic materials about the existing course of loops such that an upper surface of the layer is at a selected height on the existing course of loops. The method includes knitting a next course of loops to the existing course of loops to form a portion of an internal woven reinforcement network, and printing a next layer of the part by extruding one or more flowable thermoplastic materials about the next course of loops such that an upper surface of the next layer is at a selected height on the next course of loops, wherein the next course of loops extends above the structure being printed and may function as an existing course of loops for subsequent knitting steps. The method includes repeating the knitting and printing steps to create an internal woven reinforcement network within the printed part until the part is completed. The starter piece and the course of loops extending from the second end of the completed part are engaged and heated to a temperature where the material is flowable. The reinforcement network is then placed into tension by applying a force to pull the starter piece and the course of loops in opposite directions from each other. The part is cooled to a temperature where the thermoplastic material solidifies such that the internal woven structure remains in tension.

    METHOD OF PRINTING PARTS IN A LAYERWISE MANNER WITH ONE OR MORE INTERNAL WOVEN PANELS UNDER TENSION

    公开(公告)号:US20200223121A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-07-16

    申请号:US16245710

    申请日:2019-01-11

    Abstract: A method of producing a part printed in a layer-wise manner includes providing a pre-fabricated starter piece with a first course of loops and printing a layer of a part by extruding one or more flowable thermoplastic materials about the existing course of loops such that an upper surface of the layer is at a selected height on the existing course of loops. The method includes knitting a next course of loops to the existing course of loops to form a portion of an internal woven reinforcement network, and printing a next layer of the part by extruding one or more flowable thermoplastic materials about the next course of loops such that an upper surface of the next layer is at a selected height on the next course of loops, wherein the next course of loops extends above the structure being printed and may function as an existing course of loops for subsequent knitting steps. The method includes repeating the knitting and printing steps to create an internal woven reinforcement network within the printed part until the part is completed. The starter piece and the course of loops extending from the second end of the completed part are engaged and heated to a temperature where the material is flowable. The reinforcement network is then placed into tension by applying a force to pull the starter piece and the course of loops in opposite directions from each other. The part is cooled to a temperature where the thermoplastic material solidifies such that the internal woven structure remains in tension.

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