An on-orbit composite filament forming device for space 3D printing includes a constant tension unwinding module, a replaceable resin filament rotary wrapping module, a melt preheating chamber, a curved channel impregnation chamber, a variable aperture resin recovery device, a heat protective housing, a convective cooling device, a traction device, and a winding device. The replaceable resin filament rotary wrapping module wraps a resin filament on a surface of a carbon fiber by circumferential rotation and is provided with an active unwinding reel placed on a circular rail centered on the carbon fiber; the melt preheating chamber is used for melting resin to wrap the surface of the fiber, and is equipped with a lifting device for automatic opening and closing; the curved channel impregnation chamber is formed with a wedge-shaped high-pressure impregnation zone by mutual extrusion of upper and lower pressure blocks, thereby improving the quality of fiber impregnation.

An on-orbit composite filament forming device for space 3D printing includes a constant tension unwinding module, a replaceable resin filament rotary wrapping module, a melt preheating chamber, a curved channel impregnation chamber, a variable aperture resin recovery device, a heat protective housing, a convective cooling device, a traction device, and a winding device. The replaceable resin filament rotary wrapping module wraps a resin filament on a surface of a carbon fiber by circumferential rotation and is provided with an active unwinding reel placed on a circular rail centered on the carbon fiber; the melt preheating chamber is used for melting resin to wrap the surface of the fiber, and is equipped with a lifting device for automatic opening and closing; the curved channel impregnation chamber is formed with a wedge-shaped high-pressure impregnation zone by mutual extrusion of upper and lower pressure blocks, thereby improving the quality of fiber impregnation.

A pultrusion device and method are provided for producing a fiber-reinforced continuous section which has a second cross-sectional profile that is discontinuous in a direction of pultrusion with a press forming device for shaping the continuous section. The press forming device includes a first shaping device for producing the continuous section with a continuous cross-sectional profile and a second shaping device, which follows on from the first shaping device in the direction of pultrusion, for shaping the second discontinuous cross-sectional profile of the continuous section. A punching tool is arranged between the first shaping device and the second shaping device and is designed to bring about a local change in shape of the continuous cross-sectional profile, at least in a defined portion of the continuous section, in order to produce a first discontinuous cross-sectional profile of the continuous section.

A system for continuous process manufacturing of composite friction units uses one or more array gates with a plurality of cutouts each sized to receive one of a plurality of reinforcing fiber fabric therethrough. The system also uses a resin plenum with plenum chamber and a plurality of dispensing tube assemblies. Each of the plurality of dispensing tube assemblies corresponds to a different cutout and includes dispensing bores positioned to dispense resin onto one of the reinforcing fiber fabrics. The system also uses a forming die that receives the reinforcing fiber fabrics with the resin to form a composite panel as they pass through the forming die.

A method and apparatus is disclosed for additive manufacturing and three-dimensional printing, and specifically for extruding tubular objects. A print head extrudes a curable material into a tubular object, while simultaneously curing the tubular object and utilizing the interior of the cured portion of the tubular object for stabilizing and propelling the print head.

A 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system and method based upon a 3D variable die system and including one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines to continuously produce thermoplastic composite pultrusions with at least one of varying cross-section geometry and constant surface contours, varying cross-section geometry and varying surface contours, and constant cross-section geometry and varying surface contours.

A 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system and method based upon a 3D variable die system and including one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines to continuously produce thermoplastic composite pultrusions with at least one of varying cross-section geometry and constant surface contours, varying cross-section geometry and varying surface contours, and constant cross-section geometry and varying surface contours.

In the pultrusion of reinforced plastic profiles in strand form, the strands of the reinforcement are brought together in a positioning device and subsequently embedded in the plastic. The pulling of the strands of the reinforcement through the positioning device leads to an unwanted contraction and uncontrolled positioning of the reinforcement in the plastic profile. The invention envisages forming the positioning device by multiple successive positioning means, of which at least some positioning means can be periodically moved forward in the direction of production and also moved back counter to the direction of production. As a result, there is an alternating tensioning and compression of individual regions of the reinforcement. This makes exact positioning of the reinforcement in the plastic profile possible and prevents contraction of the reinforcement.

The present bumper impact beam includes pultruding polymer (e.g. thermoset polymer, preferably polyurethane) into continuous reinforcement (preferably carbon fibers or glass fibers), the reinforcement including fabrics selectively positioned and extending around corners for improved impact strength. The beam preferably has a 50%-70% fiber volume fraction that is relatively uniform throughout the part. A curved cooling support and/or beam design may be used to cause the cooled beam to have a sweep.

A 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system and method based upon a 3D variable die system and including one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines to continuously produce thermoplastic composite pultrusions with at least one of varying cross-section geometry and constant surface contours, varying cross-section geometry and varying surface contours, and constant cross-section geometry and varying surface contours.