A carbon fiber recycling method utilizes a carbon fiber recycling device for recycling carbon fiber from a carbon fiber polymer composite by using a microwave. The carbon fiber recycling device has a cavity and at least one microwave supplying unit. The carbon fiber recycling method adjusts the microwave supplying unit to change the angle between the long axis direction of the cavity and the electric field direction, and to make the long axis direction of the carbon fiber parallel to the electric field direction. By radiating the microwave on the carbon fiber polymer composite, energy of the microwave is quickly absorbed by the carbon fiber to quickly increase a temperature of the carbon fiber, and the carbon fiber polymer composite is effectively and quickly decomposed to remove most polymer matrix of the carbon fiber polymer composite, so as to achieve the objective of recycling the carbon fiber indeed.

A system for additively manufacturing a composite structure is disclosed. The system may include a print head configured to discharge a matrix-coated reinforcement, and a support configured to move the print head in multiple dimensions during discharging of the matrix-coated reinforcement. The system may further include at least one cure enhancer located offboard the print head, and a controller in communication with the support and the at least one cure enhancer. The controller may be configured to selectively activate the at least one cure enhancer to expose the matrix-coated reinforcement to a cure energy during discharging of the matrix-coated reinforcement.

A head is disclosed for use with an additive manufacturing system. The head may include a housing, and a matrix reservoir disposed inside of the housing. The head may also include at least one roller located inside of the housing and configured to engage at least one of a ribbon and a sheet of reinforcement passing through the head. The head may further include a nozzle fluidly connected to the matrix reservoir, and a cure enhancer located outside of the housing and adjacent the nozzle.

A system for additively manufacturing a composite part is disclosed. The system may include a vat configured to hold a supply of resin, and a build surface disposed inside the vat. The system may also include a print head configured to discharge a matrix-coated continuous reinforcement onto the build surface, and an energy source configured to expose resin on a surface of the matrix-coated continuous reinforcement to a cure energy.

A method for forming a vehicle reinforcing member (26, 28, 30). The method includes conforming a planar body of fibre reinforced material (CFRM) (504), such as a sheet or unidirectional tape, to a shape of a shape defining member (506, 900). In effect, the shape defining member (506, 900) is a core that defines an internal volume of a closed cross-section portion of the vehicle reinforcing member (26, 28, 30). The CFRM material (504) comprises continuous fibres in a synthetic matrix. The method further includes bonding a first edge portion (510) of the CFRM body (504) to a second edge portion (512) of the CFRM body (504) thereby to form the closed cross-section portion of the vehicle reinforcing member (26, 28, 30). An apparatus (800) for implementing the method, and components (e.g. vehicle reinforcing members (26, 28, 30), vehicle seats (10) and so forth) formed using the method are also described.

A system for additively manufacturing a composite part is disclosed. The system may include a vat configured to hold a supply of resin, and a build surface disposed inside the vat. The system may also include a print head configured to discharge a matrix-coated continuous reinforcement onto the build surface, and an energy source configured to expose resin on a surface of the matrix-coated continuous reinforcement to a cure energy.

A heated composite structure and a method for forming a heated composite structure. The structure includes carbon fibers embedded within a thermoplastic matrix. The carbon fibers are connected with first and second electrodes that are configured to be connected with an electric source such that applying current to the electrodes causes current to flow through the embedded carbon fibers to provide resistive heating sufficient to heat the composite structure to impede formation of ice on the composite structure.

A system for additively manufacturing a composite part is disclosed. The system may include a vat configured to hold a supply of resin, and a build surface disposed inside the vat. The system may also include a print head configured to discharge a matrix-coated continuous reinforcement onto the build surface, and an energy source configured to expose resin on a surface of the matrix-coated continuous reinforcement to a cure energy.

Methods for fabricating fiber-composite truss structures comprise a) individually molding multiple unit cells of a given size, and subsequently fusing them together in a repeating pattern, b) cross members are consolidated with longerons while maintaining continuity of fiber in the longerons, and c) compression-molded truss components are unioned to continuous fiber beams by means of mechanically interlocking joints.

A heated composite structure and a method for forming a heated composite structure. The structure includes carbon fibers embedded within a thermoplastic matrix. The carbon fibers are connected with first and second electrodes that are configured to be connected with an electric source such that applying current to the electrodes causes current to flow through the embedded carbon fibers to provide resistive heating sufficient to heat the composite structure to impede formation of ice on the composite structure.