Systems and methods for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects using needle felting

3D printing fabrication technique.

A system for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects through felting. The system may include a composition head configured to deposit a manufacturing material comprising a strand of interlocked fibers onto a composition bed along a composition path. The composition path may define a path along which the composition head deposits the manufacturing material to form a predetermined three-dimensional object. The composition head may include a reciprocating felting needle configured to draw the manufacturing material from a material source and deposit the manufacturing material on the composition bed, and a feed lock configured to control the feed of the manufacturing material from the material source to the composition head. The system may include a controller for the composition head comprising one or more processors configured by computer-readable instructions to control the composition head to deposit the manufacturing material on the composition bed through felting.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE(1) This disclosure relates to systems and methods for additive manufacturing.BACKGROUND(2) Additive manufacturing is a process that produces precise three dimensional objects. These techniques may be referred to as “3D printing” using devices typically referred to as “3D printers”. In some implementations of 3D printing, a manufacturing material, such as a plastic, is heated to a liquid state and deposited onto a print bed in successive layers. Deposited material hardens and layers are added one atop another until a final geometry is created.SUMMARY(3) One aspect of the disclosure relates to a system for additive manufacturing using needle felting techniques to compose soft and flexible three-dimensional objects. The composition of such object may be facilitated through the use of manufacturing material comprising a strand of interlocked fibers, such as a wool or wool blend yarn. The system herein may facilitate the composition of three dimensional objects that embody an aesthetic of soft and imprecise objects, and provides a new capability to explore the use of this class of manufacturing materials.(4) In some implementations the system may comprise a composition head and a controller for the composition head. The composition head may be configured to deposit a manufacturing material comprising a strand of interlocked fibers onto a composition bed along a composition path. The composition path may define a three dimensional path along which the compos