Braiding machine and methods of use

Systems and methods for forming a tubular braid are disclosed here-in. A braiding system configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, an upper drive unit, a lower drive unit, a mandrel coaxial with the upper and lower drive units, and a plurality of tubes extending between the upper drive unit and the lower drive unit. Each tube can be configured to receive individual filaments for forming the tubular braid, and the upper and lower drive units can act in synchronization to move the tubes (and the filaments contained within those tubes) in three distinct motions: (i) radially inward toward a central axis, (ii) radially outward away from the central axis, and (iii) rotationally about the central axis, to cross the filaments over and under one another to form the tubular braid on the mandrel.