Fiber-Reinforced Structure Fabrication With Reversible Feed And Cutoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
The embedding of reinforcement members in additive construction is labor-intensive and error-prone, posing safety risks for construction workers.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a motor, feed rollers, an actuator, and a controller to control the supply and cutoff of reinforcement members into a printable material extruded from a nozzle, using a reversible motor to engage and disengage couplers for torque transfer to the feed rollers and actuator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If reinforcement members are manually embedded in additive construction, then the strength of the structure is enhanced, but the process becomes labor-intensive and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-service by using the extrusion system itself to feed and embed reinforcement members through integrated feed rollers and control mechanisms, eliminating the need for separate manual labor while maintaining consistent reinforcement placement within the printable material
2Strength
If reinforcement members are manually embedded in additive construction, then the strength of the structure is enhanced, but safety risks for construction workers increase
Solution Approach 1:
The automated reinforcement member feeding system performs all reinforcement embedding operations without human intervention in the hazard zone, allowing workers to operate the system from safe distances while the automated mechanisms handle the physically demanding and potentially dangerous tasks of feeding and positioning reinforcement members
3Productivity
If automated control of reinforcement member supply is implemented, then labor requirements are reduced and safety is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the reinforcement member feeding mechanism with the existing printable material extrusion system by integrating feed rollers, actuators, and control components into the same operational framework, allowing both materials and reinforcements to be delivered through a single nozzle system rather than requiring separate independent systems
Solution Approach 2:
The extrusion system is designed with multi-functionality to handle both printable material and reinforcement members through the same nozzle and support structure, with the ability to switch between feeding different materials based on construction requirements, reducing the need for entirely separate automated systems
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Automated control of reinforcement member supply and cutoff reduces labor requirements, enhances safety, and improves the efficiency of fiber-reinforced structure fabrication.
Implementation Method 1
transfer torque from the driveshaft to the feed roller to supply the reinforcement member into the printable material
Implementation Method 2
transfer torque from the driveshaft to the actuator to cut-off the supply of the reinforcement member into the printable material
Data Source
AI summary
A system, for controlling a supply of a reinforcement member into a printable material extruded from a nozzle of an additive manufacturing system, includes a motor with a driveshaft defining a drive axis and an engagement portion, a feed roller mountable on the driveshaft and including a first coupler engageable with the engagement portion, an actuator including a second coupler engageable with the engagement portion, and a controller configured to actuate the motor to rotate the driveshaft about the drive axis: in a first direction to engage the engagement portion with the first coupler and transfer torque from the driveshaft to the feed roller to supply the reinforcement member into the printable material; and in a second direction to engage the engagement portion with the second coupler and transfer torque from the driveshaft to the actuator to cut-off the supply of the reinforcement member into the printable material.