A method includes: providing a matrix material and a fiber material separate from the matrix material to a fused deposition modelling (FDM) three dimensional (3D) printer; and delivering the matrix material and the fiber material to a printing location of the FDM 3D printer while maintaining separation of the fiber material from the matrix material up to the printing location of the FDM 3D printer, wherein the delivering includes melting the matrix material and embedding the fiber material within the matrix material. Further, a system includes: a build platform; and two or more tools associated with the build platform; wherein the two or more tools are configured and arranged with respect to the build platform to add matrix material and fiber material in non-planar layers to build the object.

A method includes: providing a matrix material and a fiber material separate from the matrix material to a fused deposition modelling (FDM) three dimensional (3D) printer; and delivering the matrix material and the fiber material to a printing location of the FDM 3D printer while maintaining separation of the fiber material from the matrix material up to the printing location of the FDM 3D printer, wherein the delivering includes melting the matrix material and embedding the fiber material within the matrix material. Further, a system includes: a build platform; and two or more tools associated with the build platform; wherein the two or more tools are configured and arranged with respect to the build platform to add matrix material and fiber material in non-planar layers to build the object.

A method of manufacturing a composite part having a curved or radiused corner to avoid wrinkling or bridging of outer-most composite plies during consolidation and cure, including laying up composite material on male or female tooling to form two flanges extending at a first angle relative each other and a curved or radiused corner extending between the two flanges. Then the method may include changing an orientation of one or both of the flanges of the composite material, such that the two flanges extend at a second included angle relative each other. The second included angle is smaller than the first angle. The method may also include a step of consolidating the composite material before, after, or during the step of changing the orientation of the composite material to the second angle, as well as a step of curing the composite material oriented at the second angle.

A method of manufacturing a composite part having a curved or radiused corner to avoid wrinkling or bridging of outer-most composite plies during consolidation and cure, including laying up composite material on male or female tooling to form two flanges extending at a first angle relative each other and a curved or radiused corner extending between the two flanges. Then the method may include changing an orientation of one or both of the flanges of the composite material, such that the two flanges extend at a second included angle relative each other. The second included angle is smaller than the first angle. The method may also include a step of consolidating the composite material before, after, or during the step of changing the orientation of the composite material to the second angle, as well as a step of curing the composite material oriented at the second angle.

Structurally reinforced composite components are disclosed having access openings reinforced to increase strain load and buckling load without adding weight to the composite components by inducing out-of-plane regions proximate to the access opening during composite prepreg laminate layup.

A wheel includes a rim having a rim well and rim flanges, a hub, and at least three spoke elements. Each spoke element forms at least one spoke between the hub and the rim. The spoke elements are fastened to an inside of the rim in a form-closed manner or a form-closed and bonded manner. In the hub region, the spoke elements are supported on each other in a circumferential direction at abutting surfaces designed therefor. A method for producing the wheel is provided.

An apparatus for laminating a fiber tow is provided. The apparatus includes a supply unit that supplies a fiber tow impregnated with resin. A laminating unit is configured to move along a surface of a lamination object and has a shock-absorption element to laminate a fiber tow supplied from the supply unit on a surface of the lamination object.

An apparatus for laminating a fiber tow is provided. The apparatus includes a supply unit that supplies a fiber tow impregnated with resin. A laminating unit is configured to move along a surface of a lamination object and has a shock-absorption element to laminate a fiber tow supplied from the supply unit on a surface of the lamination object.

The invention relates to a process for producing storage-stable polyurethane prepregs and mouldings produced therefrom (composite components). For production of the prepregs or components, for example, (meth)acrylate monomers, (meth)acrylate polymers, hydroxy-functionalized (meth)acrylate monomers and/or hydroxy-functionalized (meth)acrylate polymers are mixed with non-(meth)acrylic polyols and with uretdione materials. This mixture or solution is applied to fibre material, for example carbon fibres, glass fibres or polymer fibres, by known methods and polymerized thermally, via a redox initiation or with the aid of radiation or plasma applications.

Polymerization, for example at room temperature or at up to 80° C., gives rise to thermoplastics or thermoplastic prepregs which can subsequently be subjected to a forming operation. The hydroxy-functionalized (meth)acrylate constituents and the polyols can subsequently be crosslinked with the uretdiones already present in the system by means of elevated temperature. In this way, dimensionally stable thermosets or crosslinked composite components can be produced.

The invention relates to a process for producing storage-stable polyurethane prepregs and mouldings produced therefrom (composite components). For production of the prepregs or components, for example, (meth)acrylate monomers, (meth)acrylate polymers, hydroxy-functionalized (meth)acrylate monomers and/or hydroxy-functionalized (meth)acrylate polymers are mixed with non-(meth)acrylic polyols and with uretdione materials. This mixture or solution is applied to fibre material, for example carbon fibres, glass fibres or polymer fibres, by known methods and polymerized thermally, via a redox initiation or with the aid of radiation or plasma applications.

Polymerization, for example at room temperature or at up to 80° C., gives rise to thermoplastics or thermoplastic prepregs which can subsequently be subjected to a forming operation. The hydroxy-functionalized (meth)acrylate constituents and the polyols can subsequently be crosslinked with the uretdiones already present in the system by means of elevated temperature. In this way, dimensionally stable thermosets or crosslinked composite components can be produced.