Spatial is a leading supplier of 3D software development, design, manufacturing and engineering solutions, and a subsidiary of Dassault Systèmes.
Composite materials are far superior to metals in terms of strength-to-weight ratio. However, due to the high cost of traditional composite manufacturing processes, composite materials are generally only used in high-end applications. Continuous Composites' innovative continuous fiber 3D printing (CF3D?) Process uses industrial robots to print dry fibers impregnated with resin on site, eliminating the need for expensive molds and basic equipment such as autoclaves and curing ovens.
Continuous Composites' CF3D process begins with the introduction of high-performance continuous fibers such as aviation-grade carbon fibers, glass fibers, or Kevlar fibers. Instead of using expensive prepreg fibers, the fibers are impregnated in the print head with fast-curing thermosetting resins during the printing process. An industrial robot controlled by Continuous Composites' CF3D software starts the required printhead stroke, and the impregnated fibers are pulled through the printhead. Then use high-intensity energy sources (such as UV, heat, etc.) to cure the wet fibers to produce true 3D composite parts.
Tyler Alvarado, CEO of Continuous Composites, said: "Our CF3D process enables true 3D printing. Therefore, we need innovative software to advance our patented CF3D process. Spatial's CGM Core Modeler is not only our software It provides a powerful geometric modeling kernel and provides us with the fast and efficient geometric operation methods necessary to generate the complex paths required for CF3D. "
This partnership also enables continuous composites companies to use the industry-leading 3D CAD data conversion software development kit, 3D InterOp. Spatial's 3D InterOp enables continuous composites companies to import 3D data from all major 3D data interchange formats into CF3D software.