Three dimensional printing

Abstract

Various embodiments related to three dimensional printers, and reinforced filaments, and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, a void free reinforced filament is fed into an extrusion nozzle. The reinforced filament includes a core, which may be continuous or semi-continuous, and a matrix material surrounding the core. The reinforced filament is heated to a temperature greater than a melting temperature of the matrix material and less than a melting temperature of the core prior to extruding the filament from the extrusion nozzle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 104 . (canceled) 
     
     
         105 . A three-dimensional printer, comprising:
 a multi-element printhead including:
 a central channel configured to receive a first material; 
 a first inlet transverse to the central channel, the first inlet configured to receive a second material and feed the second material into the central channel; and 
 an outlet in fluid communication with the central channel, 
   wherein the multi-element printhead is configured to:
 selectively combine the first material and the second material within the central channel in a first combination; and 
 deposit, via the outlet, the first combination of the first material and the second material on a build surface in a first layer of a part. 
   
     
     
         106 . The three-dimensional printer of  claim 105 , wherein in combining the first material and the second material, the multi-element printhead is further configured to mix the first material and the second material. 
     
     
         107 . The three-dimensional printer of  claim 105 , wherein in combining the first material and the second material, the multi-element printhead is further configured to coat the first material with the second material by surrounding the first material with the second material. 
     
     
         108 . The three-dimensional printer of  claim 105 , wherein in combining the first material and the second material, the multi-element printhead is further configured to layer the first material and the second material. 
     
     
         109 . The three-dimensional printer of  claim 105 , wherein the multi-element printhead is further configured to singly deposit, via the outlet, the first material on the build surface in the first layer. 
     
     
         110 . The three-dimensional printer of  claim 109 , wherein the multi-element printhead further comprises a second inlet transverse to the central channel, the second inlet configured to receive a third material and feed the third material into the central channel. 
     
     
         111 . The three-dimensional printer of  claim 110 , wherein the multi-element printhead is further configured to:
 selectively combine the first material, the second material, and the third material within the central channel in a second combination; and   deposit, via the outlet, the second combination of the first material, the second material, and the third material on the build surface in the first layer.   
     
     
         112 . The three-dimensional printer of  claim 111 , wherein in combining the first material, the second material, and the third material, the multi-element printhead is further configured to layer the first material, the second material, and the third material such that the second material is on a first side of the first material and the third material is on a second side of the first material. 
     
     
         113 . The three-dimensional printer of  claim 112 , wherein the first material is a core material. 
     
     
         114 . The three-dimensional printer of  claim 113 , wherein the second material is a matrix material. 
     
     
         115 . The three-dimensional printer of  claim 114 , wherein the third material is a soluble support material. 
     
     
         116 . The three-dimensional printer of  claim 111 , further comprising a cutting mechanism positioned at the outlet of the multi-element printhead and configured to selectively cut one of the first combination of the first material and the second material, the singly deposited first material, and the second combination of the first material, the second material, and the third material. 
     
     
         117 . The three-dimensional printer of  claim 105 , further comprising an air nozzle configured to pre-heat a print area of the build surface prior to deposition of the first combination of the first material and the second material on the print area. 
     
     
         118 . The three-dimensional printer of  claim 105 , further comprising an air nozzle configured to cool the deposited first combination of the first material and the second material. 
     
     
         119 . A method of additively manufacturing a part, the method comprising:
 feeding a first material into a central channel of a multi-element printhead;   feeding a second material into the central channel through a first inlet in the multi-element printhead, the first inlet transverse to the central channel;   selectively combining the first material and the second material in the central channel in a first combination; and   depositing the first combination of the first material and the second material on a build surface in a first layer of the part.   
     
     
         120 . The method according to  claim 119 , wherein combining the first material and the second material includes mixing the first material and the second material. 
     
     
         121 . The method according to  claim 119 , wherein combining the first material and the second material includes coating the first material with the second material by surrounding the first material with the second material. 
     
     
         122 . The method according to  claim 119 , wherein combining the first material and the second material includes layering the first material and the second material. 
     
     
         123 . The method according to  claim 119  further comprising singly depositing the first material in the first layer. 
     
     
         124 . The method according to  claim 123 , further comprising feeding a third material into the central channel through a second inlet in the multi-element printhead, the second inlet transverse to the central channel. 
     
     
         125 . The method according to  claim 124 , further comprising:
 selectively combining the first material, the second material, and the third material within the central channel in a second combination; and   depositing the second combination of the first material, the second material, and the third material on the build surface in the first layer.   
     
     
         126 . The method according to  claim 125 , wherein combining the first material, the second material, and the third material includes layering the first material, the second material, and the third material such that the second material is on a first side of the first material and the third material is on a second side of the first material. 
     
     
         127 . The method according to  claim 125 , further comprising selectively cutting, at an outlet of the multi-element printhead, one of the first combination of the first material and the second material, the singly deposited first material, and the second combination of the first material, the second material, and the third material. 
     
     
         128 . The method according to  claim 119 , further comprising pre-heating a print area of the build surface prior to depositing the first combination of the first material and the second material on the print area. 
     
     
         129 . The method according to  claim 119 , further comprising cooling the deposited first combination of the first material and the second material.