Reinforce3D Demonstrates CFIP: Injecting Continuous Fibers After 3D Printing to Reinforce a Drone Airframe

On October 29, 2026, Nanjixiong learned that Spain's Reinforce3D had presented a new application of its Continuous Fiber Injection Process (CFIP). A VTOL drone airframe was printed in sections and reinforced by injecting continuous fiber bundles through internal channels. The complete aircraft weighs as little as 820 g and can carry up to 600 g.



CFIP takes place after 3D printing and does not alter the printing process itself. Continuous fibers are injected along channels designed into the part's load paths, providing directional reinforcement in areas of concentrated stress. The process works with PA12 parts printed using systems such as HP Multi Jet Fusion and can also be applied to machined parts. The accompanying Design Checker software plans and validates fiber paths before printing.

In this example, the wings, landing gear, and tail are all CFIP-reinforced. Reinforcement takes about 50 minutes per aircraft. One CFIP Delta system paired with three FFF printers can produce one complete aircraft every eight hours. Reinforce3D began R&D in 2013, commercialized the process in 2022, and installed its first customer systems in 2024. Impac Systems Engineering is its exclusive U.S. representative.

Nanjixiong's observations

3D printing addresses geometric complexity, but mechanical performance has remained a challenge. Reinforcing parts after printing offers a potentially low-cost upgrade for factories with existing MJF production lines, without replacing printers or changing the printing process.

AI-translated from an article by Kuaixiong on Nanjixiong, originally published on 2026-10-29. Text and images retain the original source attribution.
Read the original Chinese article