A method and apparatus for the additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects are disclosed. Two or more materials are extruded simultaneously as a composite, with at least one material in liquid form and at least one material in a solid continuous strand completely encased within the liquid material. A means of curing the liquid material after extrusion hardens the composite. A part is constructed using a series of extruded composite paths. The strand material within the composite contains specific chemical, mechanical, or electrical characteristics that instill the object with enhanced capabilities not possible with only one material.

A structural reinforcement for an article including a carrier that includes: (i) a mass of polymeric material having an outer surface; and (is) at least one consolidated fibrous insert having an outer surface and including at least one elongated fiber arrangement having a plurality of ordered fibers arranged in a predetermined manner. The fibrous insert is envisioned to adjoin the mass of the polymeric material in a predetermined location for carrying a predetermined load that is subjected upon the predetermined location (thereby effectively providing localized reinforcement to that predetermined location). The fibrous insert and the mass of polymeric material are of compatible materials, structures or both, for allowing the fibrous insert to be at least partially joined to the mass of the polymeric material. Disposed upon at least a portion of the carrier will be a mass of activatable material.

A compactor is disclosed for use with an additive manufacturing print head. The compactor may include a housing connectable to the additive manufacturing print head. The compactor may also include a compacting wheel, and at least one spring disposed in the housing and configured to exert an axial force on the compacting wheel. The compactor may further include a piston moveable to adjust a distance between the housing and the compacting wheel.

An additive manufacturing method includes providing a polymeric material and changing a cooling rate of the polymeric material by adding a second material to the polymeric material. The additive manufacturing method also includes providing the polymeric material and the added second material to an additive manufacturing apparatus and depositing the polymeric material, having the changed cooling rate, with the additive manufacturing apparatus at a deposition rate that is based at least in part on the changed cooling rate of the polymeric material.

A system for manufacturing a panel includes a forming assembly having opposing press plates and at least one platen assembly arranged between the opposing press plates. The platen assembly includes first and second platens connected together via at least one elastic deformable member. Further, the forming assembly is operable in a heating mode and a cooling mode. Moreover, the first platen is maintained at a predetermined temperature range during each of the heating and cooling modes. During the heating mode, the elastic deformable member(s) is compressed such that the first and second platens contact each other. As such, one or more layers of material to be consolidated are held by the forming assembly as the forming assembly applies heat and pressure to the layer(s), thereby consolidating the panel.

An additive manufacturing system is disclosed for use in discharging a continuous reinforcement. The additive manufacturing system may include a support, and a compactor operatively connected to and movable by the support. The compactor may be configured to apply a pressure to the continuous reinforcement during discharge. The additive manufacturing system may also include a feed roller biased toward the compactor to sandwich the continuous reinforcement between the roller and the compactor, and a cutting mechanism at least partially recessed within at least one of the feed roller and the compactor. The cutting mechanism may be configured to selectively move radially outward to engage the continuous reinforcement.

A method of upcycling fiber reinforced polymer source material by disassembling the source material into sections; planking the sections into longitudinal pieces; separating core material from the source material in the longitudinal pieces to make composite strips; preparing the composite strips; and remanufacturing the prepared composite strips into an article.

A tooling to enable variation in radius of molded continuous fiber reinforced polymer curved components which includes a first tooling surface formed on a first tooling member which may be formed of sprung material, a second tooling surface formed on a second tooling member which may be formed of sprung material. The first tooling surface and the second tooling surface are positioned to lie one over the other to form a gap therebetween for receiving a supply of continuous fiber reinforced polymer. The first tooling surface and the second tooling surface are movable towards and away from each other to modify the size of the gap therebetween and thereby modify the amount of compression applied by the first and second tooling surfaces on the continuous fiber reinforced polymer positioned therebetween. A mechanism is engaged with the first tooling member to modify a curvature of the first tooling surface.

This invention relates to a root end structure, a wind turbine blade comprising such a root end structure and a method of manufacturing such a wind turbine blade. The root end structure comprises a plurality of fastening members distributed along a root end of a blade part, wherein a first plurality of pultruded elements are arranged in between the fastening members and a second pultruded element is further arranged at the blade joint ends adjacent to an outermost fastening member. Each first pultruded element has opposite facing second sides each facing a first side of an adjacent fastening member. The second pultruded element has one second side facing the outermost fastening member and another second side facing the blade joint interface. The second pultruded element comprises a transition portion forming a smooth transition for the inner layers extending further along the mould edge surface.

The present disclosure relates to a method for preparing a wind turbine blade for recycling by sectioning the wind turbine into at least a first and a second wind turbine blade part comprising different types of materials or comprising the same type of materials in a different relative content.