US 11,701,816 B2
Process for reinforcing continuous fiber additively manufactured laminates
Eric G. Barnes, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US); Talbot P. Thrasher, Newark, DE (US); and Timothy E. Dominick, Elkton, MD (US)
Assigned to NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION, Falls Church, VA (US)
Filed by NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION, Falls Church, VA (US)
Filed on Dec. 15, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/122,343.
Prior Publication US 2022/0184880 A1, Jun. 16, 2022
Int. Cl. B29C 64/118 (2017.01); B29C 64/188 (2017.01); B33Y 40/20 (2020.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 70/10 (2020.01); B29K 101/12 (2006.01); B29K 307/04 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 64/118 (2017.08) [B29C 64/188 (2017.08); B33Y 40/20 (2020.01); B29K 2101/12 (2013.01); B29K 2307/04 (2013.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 70/10 (2020.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated method for fabricating a composite part, said method comprising:
depositing a plurality of part layers in a consecutive manner on top of each other in the X and Y directions where each layer is deposited by laying down rows of filaments made of a thermoplastic composite material;
inserting reinforcing Z-pins through the part layers to provide reinforcement of the part in the Z-direction; and
depositing a plurality of additional part layers in a consecutive manner on top of each other where each additional layer is deposited by laying down rows of the filaments made of the thermoplastic composite material on the part layers including the reinforcing Z-pins and inserting the reinforcing Z-pins through the additional part layers to provide reinforcement of the part in the Z-direction.