The Problem
Standard continuous fiber 3D printing is essentially squeezing filaments out of a nozzle without proper consolidation. The resulting parts suffer from multiple micro structural defects.
This poor consolidation disrupts the fiber alignment and leads to a high void content. These defects act as stress concentrators that significantly reduce the inter laminar shear and compressive properties of the final part, effectively neutralising the theoretical strength of the carbon fiber.
The DeskFibre Solution
DeskFibre has developed a novel in-situ compaction method that applies localized heat and pressure tothe filament during deposition to improve print quality. By utilising a specialised compaction roller instead of a standard extrusion nozzle, the print head actively drives out voids and forces the polymer chains to entangle across layers, resulting in superior consolidation and true continuous fiber alignment.
Why It's Different
- Continuous Carbon Fiber Printing: True continuous reinforcement.
- A Lightweight, Compact Print Head: Desktop scale without sacrificing industrial-grade compaction.
- Improved Design Freedom: Capable of non-planar tool paths to align fibers precisely with actual load paths.
- Material Flexibility: Fully compatible with both thermoset and thermoplastic matrices.
What It Enables
- Stronger Structures: Up to 60% stronger*
- Mold-Free Composite Manufacture: Direct digital manufacturing without the overhead oftraditional tooling.
- Accelerated R&D: Prototyping time reduced from weeks to hours.
*Compared with standard nozzle-based continuous carbon fiber 3D printing in a lab setting.
Supported By
DeskFibre's core research and technological development is proudly supported by the Engineering andPhysical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and The University of Manchester.