Described herein are devices, methods and systems for measuring temperature in Automated Fiber Placement materials without contacting same via an antennae to measure current induced within an electromagnetic coil to accurately measure the temperature of the materials employed in the Automated Fiber Placement process.

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a composite structure can be formed of or including a plurality of composite strips. The plurality of composite strips include one or more filler strips which can have at least one filler edge having a filler edge geometry between a first surface and second surface, the second surface being opposite the first surface. The filler edge geometry can be configured to prevent formation of one or more gaps between one or more adjacent composite strips.

Provided are: a method for manufacturing a molded article having high compressive strength and excellent appearance by compressing a shaped article obtained using a 3D printer, and a material containing another resin; and a manufacturing device for the same. The method for manufacturing a molded article includes: shaping a filament containing a resin and continuous reinforcing fibers using a 3D printer; and manufacturing a molded article by compressing a second material containing resin against a shaped article formed by the shaping, wherein the shaped article has a void ratio of from 5 to 30%.

A granular material for a fused deposition three-dimensional printer that enables a flexible molded object to be manufactured with high precision. A granular material for a fused deposition three-dimensional printer is provided. The granular material is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer, and the thermoplastic elastomer has, at at least one of the measurement temperature of 120 to 270° C., a loss tangent tan δ of 0.40 or more and a loss modulus G″ of 11000 Pa or less, which are measured with a rotary rheometer having a pair of parallel plates with a diameter of 20 mm and a measurement gap of 1.3 mm at a frequency of 1 Hz.

A method and apparatus for the continuous fabrication of fiber-bundle-based and composite-tape based preforms and preform charges includes a mandrel about which a constituent material, which is maintained under tension, is wound. The tension is insufficient to fully consolidate the wound material.

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems and methods for producing high quality 3-dimensional prints using various materials. Aspects of the present disclosure may provide particular advantages when used with high temperature thermoplastics (such as polyetherimide (PEI) polymers), such as when using continuous fibers impregnated with a high temperature thermoplastic, or when co-depositing a continuous fiber with a formation material containing a high temperature thermoplastic.

Systems and techniques to provide a flexible, lightweight material that is also effective at protecting a body from ballistic threats are described. An example composite material described herein is fiber-based, and it includes one or more first regions where the fiber composite material is consolidated, and one or more second regions where the fiber composite material is unconsolidated. Example methods of manufacturing the composite material disclosed herein include using a specialized tool with a heated platen press or an autoclave. The tool may include one or more protrusions and/or cavities that contact a precursor composite material to transform the precursor material into a partially consolidated fiber composite material, which is suitable for use as body armor, among other potential applications for the manufactured composite material.

A composite component (16) for a vehicle (10) includes a laminate (18) made from a composite material, a first pad-up area (22) applied to the laminate (18), where the first pad-up area (22) includes a plurality of first tows laid next to one another in a side-by-side arrangement and where the first pad-up area (22) defines a first fiber orientation, and a second pad-up area (24), where the second pad-up area (24) includes a plurality of second tows laid next to one another in a side-by-side arrangement and where the second pad-up area (24) defines a second fiber orientation that differs by a predetermined angle from the first fiber orientation. The first pad-up area (22) and the second pad-up area (22) intersect at an intersecting area and together form a first pad-up ply on the laminate (18).

Disclosed is a method and a system for manufacturing a composite structure, such as a wind turbine blade. The system comprises: a first mould; a second mould; a monorail arranged between the first mould and the second mould; and a primary mobile unit configured to mount the monorail and comprising: a first distributor configured to distribute first fibre material in the first mould; and a first cover handler configured to arrange a first cover material over the distributed first fibre material in the first mould, to lock the first fibre material in the first mould.

A feedstock configured for use in an extruder in an additive manufacturing system is configured as a braided comingled tow filament. A method of producing the braided comingled tow filament includes providing a bundle of comingled tow material having a fiber count ranging from about 1,000 fibers to about 25,000 fibers having thermoplastic fibers comingled therewith, wherein the tow material in the filament ranges from about 50 to 75 volume percent and the volume percent of the thermoplastic material ranges from about 25 volume percent to about 50 volume percent. The method includes dividing the length of comingled tow material into sections, twisting each section into a strand to form a plurality of strands of twisted tow material, and braiding together the strands.