As explained in the 2021 article, “ DLR launches EmpowerAX to industrialize continuous fiber 3D printing”, additive extrusion combines low-cost pelletized thermoplastic compounds - often with chopped fibers -and continuous fiber reinforcement to create multifunctional composite structures that avoid high tooling costs, improve production efficiency and enable new lightweight and load-optimized designs.

Photo Credit: CW compilation of EmpowerAX images.ĮmpowerAX is an international and industry-diversified technology platform that seeks to improve industry’s accessibility to additive extrusion technologies and expertise. It has been developed and is being fabricated by 10 EmpowerAX members, led by DLR, and showcases the expertise and solutions available throughout the additive extrusion process chain. The EmpowerAX demonstrator part for additive functionalization will be exhibited at JEC 2023 is a double-curved carbon fiber/epoxy shell functionalized with 3D-printed PEI and PEEK ribs using chopped and continuous carbon fiber reinforcement.

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