Fibre Reinforced Pipe 3D Printer

Fibre Reinforced 3D printed Pipes

An experimental specialist concept for rapid protototyping of vehicles and structurally strong space frame shapes.

Basic concept is to wrap continuous strand fibre round a former then 3D print a single layer of plastic and interleave those.

Rationale is that space frames and geodesic shapes (including buildings and tents) with light weight pipes can easily be constructed with very efficient use of materials, not requiring solid infill yet still retaining high rigidity and structural strength.

• the CNC lathe part rotates a metal "former" around which you wrap wax paper by hand, to start off
• a bobbin with kevlar twine is moved along as the CNC lathe part turns the former.
• on reaching the other end the bobbin direction reverses in order to create cross hatching.
• the bobbin winding stops and the 3D printer takes over, laying down a layer of 3D printed material over the twine by moving the printer head in the X direction along the length of the former and covering the twine
• however instead of moving the pipe in the Y direction, the *CNC lathe* motor *rotates* the pipe.
• more filament is added until a full rotation is completed and the twine entirely encased.
• another crosshatch of twine is added using the CNC lathe
• the 3D printer part increases Z layer height as usual and adds another layer of plastic.

in this way an extremely strong and lightweight pipe is constructed extremely quickly that should have similar mechanical properties to carbon fibre tubes.

twisting strength along its length, due to the crosshatching, should also be extremely high.

for eco conscious projects, hemp fibre can be considered. (Carbonised to carbon fiber via a kiln or similar device? refomed cellulose (ie rayon) also could work as is or carbonized)

for increased strength, fibre reinforced 3D filament can be considered.

for increased speed, 1.2mm or greater volcano E3Dv6 nozzles cwn be considered, although only for large ID tubes due to the need to have multiple interwoven layers.

TODO details, such as considering epoxy resin at the start and end.

TODO, embedding metal screw threaded fittings into the ends of the pipe as it is formed, to aid in rapid assembly and construction of frames.