The Boeing Company
Systems and methods for additively manufacturing an object

Abstract:

A system for additively manufacturing an object comprises feedstock-line supply, delivery guide, and curing mechanism. The feedstock-line supply dispenses a feedstock line that comprises elongate filaments, a resin that covers the elongate filaments, and at least one optical modifier that is interspersed among the elongate filaments. The delivery guide is movable relative to a surface, receives the feedstock line, and deposits it along a print path. The curing mechanism is directs electromagnetic radiation at the exterior surface of the feedstock line after it is deposited along the print path. When the electromagnetic radiation strikes the outer surface of at least one optical modifier, the optical modifier causes the electromagnetic radiation to irradiate, in the interior volume of the feedstock line, the resin that, due at least in part to the elongate filaments, is not directly accessible to the electromagnetic radiation, incident on the exterior surface of the feedstock line.