CBAM

Step 1

Printing

Long-fiber sheets of carbon / fibreglass are fed into the printer. Thermal inkjet technology deposits an aqueous fluid in the form of object's slice cross section onto the surface of the fibre sheet. The selected thermoplastic powder is then applied to the surface of the sheet, where it adheres to areas impregnated with fluid. A vacuum passes over the sheet and removes all of the remaining loose powder which can then be 100% re-used. The finished sheet is then passed on to the base of a stack. This is repeated for each layer of the object, resulting in an ordered stack.

Step 2

Heating and Compressing

The stack of sheets is heated to the melting point of the chosen thermoplastic and compressed to the design height of the final geometry.

Step 3

Support Removal

Manual Removal Non-applicable; no traditional supports are used during the CBAM process. Soluble Support Removal Non-applicable. Manual Cleaning Notes Parts are separated from the unbound sheet material using compressed air blasting.

Step 4

Surface Finishing

Sanding / Polishing Applicable for smoothing surfaces or refining tolerances; carbon fiber parts may require careful handling to avoid fraying. Chemical Smoothing / Coating Typically non-applicable; surface is controlled by the composite layup and blasting. Painting / Priming Can be applied for branding or protective purposes. Gloss / Matte Control Surface tends to be matte or textured due to fiber content; finishes can be altered with coatings or clear seals.

Step 5

Curing / Heat Treatment

UV / Thermal Curing Thermal processing is integral to the printing process. Sheets are fused via heat and pressure during lamination. No post-print curing is required in most cases. Annealing / Stress Relief Non-applicable.

Step 6

Assembly and Functional Finishing

Gluing or Bonding Epoxies or industrial adhesives work well for composite-to-composite or composite-to-metal joints. Drilling / Tapping / CNC Common and effective; secondary machining is used to improve precision and tolerances. Inserts / Fasteners Threaded inserts can be installed with heat or adhesives; mechanical fastening is common in final assemblies.

Step 7

Special Treatments

Infiltration / Sealing Non-applicable; parts are already dense and functional. Functional Coatings Coatings can add UV protection, weather resistance, or electrical insulation.