Curing composites with UV-light

The Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology (ILK) at TU Dresden is developing an innovative manufacturing process that combines 3D printing with UV-light curing of thermosets to produce continuous fiber-reinforced composite parts. This method is designed to offer SMEs a cost-effective, flexible, and tool-free alternative to conventional composite production.

Key features of the process include:

• Rapid UV curing, which is significantly faster and more energy-efficient than traditional thermal curing, reducing processing time from hours to seconds.

• In-line impregnation, allowing for the use of various fiber and resin combinations, giving manufacturers flexibility in material choices.

• Variable-axial fiber placement, enabling reinforcement fibers to be oriented precisely along load paths, maximizing strength and material efficiency.

The existing lab-scale system demonstrates how this technology can be used for individualized part production, structural reinforcement of existing components, or low-volume manufacturing—perfectly aligned with the typical needs of SMEs.The robot-guided print bed and integrated UV-light source show one possible implementation, with software-controlled path planning, to automate the printing process.

TU Dresden is seeking development partners from industry who are interested in:

• Exploring new 3D printing applications without the need for expensive tooling.

• Integrating reinforcement structures into existing components.

• Scaling up the process and adapting it to high-performance fibers such as carbon.