Continuous fiber composites printing offers an elegant means to generate complex shapes, reinforce parts by leveraging the inherent anisotropy of fiber deposition, and enable a manufacturing paradigm dominated by digital engineering and distributed production. However, these benefits are yet to be fully realized because of a host of design, material, processing, and integration challenges.
This presentation will describe recent advances within the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and our partners to mature composites AM, apply it to the Department of Air Force imperative, and deliver affordable mass via limited-life aircraft. We will also explore technology gaps identified during these projects and discuss future maturation objectives to establish composites AM as a critical capability for the U.S. Department of Defense and industry.