Post Cure: Continuous fiber injection reinforces 3D printed parts
Reinforce 3D’s postprocessing technology injects continuous carbon fibers and liquid resin into parts with tubular cavities, enabling reinforcement and integral joining for components like a satellite antenna support.
.jpg;width=70;height=70;mode=crop;format=webp)
Source | Reinforce 3D
Reinforce 3D’s (Tarragona, Spain) patented continuous fiber injection process (CFIP) is a postprocessing technology for reinforcing 3D printed parts with continuous carbon fiber and resin.
First, a part with tubular cavities is designed and manufactured via 3D printing or another process.
Next, specially treated carbon fibers and liquid resin are injected into these cavities using the CFIP machine, called DELTA.
Finally, the part is cured at room temperature or in an oven, depending on the needs of the resin used and the limits of the outer component. The Reinforce3D team helps design optimal fiber trajectories to maximize mechanical performance and optimize weight.
This image shows a satellite antenna support demonstrator that combines two 3D printed parts made in polyamide and aluminum. Continuous carbon fibers and epoxy were injected into the optimally designed trajectories (highlighted in green) to add structural reinforcement to the part and to integrally join both parts, providing end-to-end fiber continuity.
Read more about this process and potential applications in “Reinforcing hollow, 3D printed parts with continuous fiber composites.”
Related Content
-
Post Cure: Composite assemblies orchestrate smaller satellite designs, payload flexibility
CubeSats have become key to space exploration and R&T development, though they are often expensive to build and launch. Funded efforts like the DiskSat program aim at mitigating these challenges.
-
Post Cure: Parallel winding technique demonstrates CFRP anisogrid design optimization
Over the years, CIRA has demonstrated its patented CFRP parallel winding technique in a variety of ways for space applications. The lattice structure for the Vega-C launcher stage is a prime example.
-
Post Cure: Defect-free RTS sets new standards for curved composite structures
Rapid Tow Sheering (RTS), commercialized by iCOMAT, enables in-plane shearing of tows to steer fibers, eliminating concern of buckled tows and wrinkles.