GROOVED DIE FOR MANUFACTURING UNIDIRECTIONAL TAPE

A method of manufacturing thermoplastic components includes receiving, by a movable die with an internal grooved surface that has a plurality of longitudinal grooves, spread dry fiber tows. The method also includes receiving, by the movable die and from a polymer extruder, molten polymer. The method also includes wetting, by the movable die, the spread fiber tows with the molten polymer. The method also includes moving, by the movable die, the wet fiber tows along the plurality of longitudinal grooves in a direction parallel to a length of the longitudinal grooves. The method also includes depositing, by the movable die, a layer of the wet fiber tows on a printing surface. The movable die moves along the printing surface to form a thermoplastic component of one or more layers of fiber tows on the printing surface.