Spatial Corp., the leading provider of 3D software development toolkits
for design, manufacturing, and engineering solutions, and a subsidiary
of Dassault Systèmes, announces today its strategic partnership with
Continuous Composites, a pioneer in the area of continuous-fiber 3D
printing using a moldless, out-of-autoclave (OoA) composite
manufacturing process. Continuous Composites is using Spatial’s SKDs in
the development of this process.
Composite materials are far superior to metals from a strength-to-weight
ratio; however, they are typically only found in high-end applications
due to the cost of traditional composite manufacturing processes.
Continuous Composites’ revolutionary continuous-fiber 3D printing
(CF3D™) process uses an industrial robot to print with dry fibers,
impregnated with resin in situ, removing the need for expensive
molds and capital equipment such as autoclaves and ovens.
Continuous Composites’ CF3D process starts with high-performance
continuous fibers such as aerospace-grade carbon fiber, glass fiber, or
Kevlar. During the printing process, the fiber is impregnated with a
rapid-curing thermoset resin inside the print head rather than using
costly prepreg fibers (fiber material pre-impregnated with resin). An
industrial robot controlled by Continuous Composites’ CF3D software
creates the needed print head motion while the impregnated fiber is
pulled through the print head. The wet fiber is then cured using a
high-intensity energy source (e.g. UV, heat, etc.), instantaneously
resulting in a true 3D composite part.
“Our CF3D process enables true 3D printing, moving beyond the
traditional stacking of 2D layers to create the final product. As a
result, we needed innovative software to drive our patented CF3D
process,” said Tyler Alvarado, CEO of Continuous Composites. “Spatial’s
CGM Core Modeler provides us not only with a powerful geometric modeling
kernel for our software, but also access to quick and efficient
geometric operations needed for generating the complex toolpaths needed
for CF3D. In addition to the CGM Core Modeler, we are excited about the
possibilities CGM Polyhedra brings to our workflow. The power of
polygonal and B-rep modeling can now be combined to enable workflow
innovation never before possible.”
This partnership also provides Continuous Composites access to 3D
InterOp, the industry-leading 3D CAD data translation software
development toolkit. Spatial’s 3D InterOp enables Continuous Composites
to import 3D data in all the major 3D data exchange formats into their
CF3D software.
“Continuous Composites receiving the JEC Innovation Award for 3D
printing at JEC World 2019 is recognition of the disruptive nature of
this groundbreaking technology in manufacturing,” said Omar-Pierre
Soubra, Director of Marketing and Communications at Spatial Corp. “We
are pleased to have our 3D modeling SDKs selected to power this
revolutionary process.”
About Continuous Composites
Continuous Composites is a rapidly growing tech startup in the heart of
Northern Idaho, developing their patented Continuous Fiber 3D Printing
(CF3D) technology. CF3D offers a paradigm shift in composites
manufacturing and brings high-performance materials to the 3D printing
industry by combining high-strength, low-weight composite materials with
a 3D printing process using industrial robotics. Continuous Composites
is creating a technology ecosystem of industry leaders in materials,
hardware, and software in order to advance CF3D for commercialization.
By breaking down existing barriers of traditional manufacturing, CF3D
will be leveraged in every industry including aerospace, automotive,
defense, energy, marine, infrastructure, construction, sporting goods,
healthcare, and more.
About Spatial
Spatial Corp., a Dassault Systèmes subsidiary, is the leading provider
of 3D software development toolkits for technical applications across a
broad range of industries. Spatial 3D
modeling, 3D
visualization, and CAD
translation software development toolkits help application
developers deliver market-leading products, maintain focus on core
competencies, and reduce time-to-market. For over 30 years, Spatial’s 3D
software development toolkits have been adopted by many of the world’s
most recognized software developers, manufacturers, research institutes,
and universities. Headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, Spatial has
offices in the USA, Germany, Japan, China, and the United Kingdom. For
more information, visit www.spatial.com.
ACIS, 3DScript and SAT are registered trademarks and CGM is a trademark
of Spatial Corp. CF3D is a trademark of Continuous Composites.
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