In the ever evolving world of 3D printing the integration of carbon fiber material is becoming an attractive 3D solution to many application in wide varieties of markets. Carbon fiber 3D printing allows engineers to produce very strong and lightweight parts. The carbon fiber is usually mixed with another polymer, ranging from the popular PLA to PEEK, creating a very strong carbon fiber reinforced polymer. This winning combination yields a very strong and light parts that are attractive to a wide range of engineering applications. In some special cases, carbon fiber parts can replace traditionally made metal parts.
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In general, there are two types of carbon fiber printing, continues and chopped carbon. In chopped carbon printing, the polymer and carbon particle strands are deposited while overlapped and mixed to form the final part, no real inter-connection exits between the carbon particles of the printable parts. In general, this method provides stronger part and maintain better dimensional geometric integrity. In continues fiber 3D Printer, however, a carbon spool is used in conjunction with a polymer to form interconnections between the various layers of the part. This method mimics the traditional manufacturing process of carbon fiber parts, producing a very strong and light structure. Further optimization is achieved by using customizable and ideal lattice carbon fiber structures, within the part, to re-enforce high loads areas achieving outstanding strength.