A　novel　3D　printing　based　fabrication　process　of　Continuous　Fiber　Reinforced　Thermoplastic　Composites　(CFRTPCs)　was　proposed.　Continuous　carbon　fiber　and　PLA　filament　were　utilized　as　reinforcing　phase　and　matrix,　respectively,　and　simultaneously　fed　into　the　fused　deposition　modeling　(FDM)　3D　printing　process　realizing　the　integrated　preparation　and　forming　of　CFRTPCs.　Interfaces　and　performance　of　printed　composites　were　systematically　studied　by　analyzing　the　influencing　of　process　parameters　on　the　temperature　and　pressure　in　the　process.　Forming　mechanism　of　multiple　interfaces　was　proposed　and　utilized　to　explain　the　correlations　between　process　and　performance.　Fiber　content　of　the　printed　specimens　can　be　easily　controlled　by　changing　the　process　parameters.　When　the　fiber　content　reached　27%,　flexural　strength　of　335　MPa　and　modulus　of　30　GPa　were　obtained　for　the　printed　composite　specimens.　Composite　components　were　fabricated　to　demonstrate　the　process　feasibility.　Potential　applications　could　be　found　in　the　field　of　aviation　and　aerospace.　(C)　2016　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.