A proof of concept system for the implementation of path planning strategies in the context of additive manufacturing of composites

Abstract

In recent years, the use of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies has increased significantly in industrial applications. In AM processes, which can produce complex shapes layer by layer, the end-product presents anisotropic properties that depend mostly on the deposition trajectory. The problem is that there is a bottleneck in research and improvement of these properties, due to limitations on the deposition trajectory control. In the case of commercial systems, the end-product mechanical properties are not taken into consideration, and the limited selectable options impedes the designer’s tool-path strategies to be implemented. This thesis presents a proof of concept system integrated by an adapted machine system and a software framework that allows the designer to implement and test the path planning strategies for the deposition trajectory control. An overview of the hardware conditioning is explained, and a proof of concept strategy is proposed for increasing the deposition trajectory continuity, as a proof of use of the system in the context of additive manufacturing of composites.