Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cure tool for managing a thermal cycle of a composite component. The cure tool, in certain examples, includes a base plate comprising a work surface, for supporting the composite component, and a back surface opposite the work surface. The cure tool also includes one or more fins protruding from the back surface of the base plate and in thermal communication with the base plate. The cure tool additionally includes one or more heating elements coupled to each of the one or more fins and configured to selectively provide heat to the base plate.

Abstract: A method and device for adjusting the concentricity of a die component of an extrusion assembly relative to a tip component in a manner that minimizes time and effort. The concentricity adjusting extrusion device includes an extrusion die body assembly including a die subassembly and a body, a die tip module and an adjustment sleeve subassembly; wherein said adjustment sleeve subassembly adjusts the concentricity of the die subassembly relative to the die tip module.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming a mold comprising disposing a film having a textured surface on a support; where the support has a shape of an article to be manufactured; pressing the film onto the support to cover a surface of the support; disposing a backing on the film; separating the support from the backing; and molding a material in the backing. Disclosed herein too is a method comprising contacting a first mandrel with a first mold; where the first mold has a textured surface; texturing a surface of the first mandrel with the first mold; disposing the first mandrel in a die; disposing a first material in the die to contact the first mandrel; imparting a texture from the surface of the first mandrel onto the material to form a second mold; and disposing a texture from the second mold onto a second material; where the second material is different from the first material.

Abstract: A method of over-molding a thermoplastic material over fabric includes: precision forming a mold cavity to match the final dimensions of a finished product; cutting a piece of fabric to a correct size; fixedly securing the fabric piece in the mold cavity; and injecting a thermoplastic material into the mold cavity at an appropriate temperature and pressure, on top of the fabric piece. The method may further include heating the thermoplastic material to a temperature for melting a surface layer of the fabric when injected thereon, and cooling of the thermoplastic material and fabric for bonding of the thermoplastic material to the surface of the fabric. The method may further include adding one or more additives from the group of additives consisting of: a UV stabilizer, an anti-blocking agent, a slip agents, a plasticizer, and a flame retardant; and securing a cord member onto an exposed portion of the fabric.

Abstract: An automated manufacturing method and system and in-mold coated plastic article produced thereby are provided. The system includes a compression mold and a plurality of program-controlled manipulators. An automatic sprayer supported on a first manipulator sprays at least a portion of a mold surface with an in-mold coating composition. An end effector supported on a second manipulator picks up a heated blank of moldable plastic sheet material from an oven and places the heated blank between upper and lower mold halves of the mold. An inner portion of the heated blank is forced into an article-defining cavity of the mold and into contact with at least a portion of the in-mold coating composition. The in-mold coating composition and the inner portion of the heated blank cure and bond to one another so as to form the coated plastic article.

Abstract: A tire mold for processing a green tire includes a movable block, an upper sidewall plate, and a lower sidewall plate. A curved surface corresponding to the green tire is provided at a junction of the movable block and the upper sidewall plate/the lower sidewall plate. The movable block, the upper sidewall plate and the lower sidewall plate cooperate with each other to surround a tire cavity for accommodating the green tire. Thereby, the edge of the upper sidewall plate or the lower sidewall plate won't penetrate the green tire to form a joint fin when the mold is closed, which is beneficial to save the rubber material, improves production efficiency and reduces manufacturing costs.

Abstract: A taco shell mold for cooking tortillas may include a tortilla cage sized and shaped to accommodate a tortilla. The tortilla cage may include an outer frame with a substantially U-shaped cross section and an inner frame nested within the outer frame, the inner frame having a substantially U-shaped cross section, wherein the inner frame is spaced from the outer frame, defining a tortilla slot between the inner frame and the outer frame. A handle attachment may be attached to the cage. Some versions of the taco shell mold may include a plurality of taco cages nested within one another.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire is vulcanized using a bladder provided with a coating layer formed of a release agent, and includes a sealant layer disposed on an inner surface of a tread portion in a tire circumferential direction. The amount of silicon of the release agents detected in at least a placement region of the sealant layer by fluorescence X-ray analysis is from 0.1 wt. % to 10.0 wt. %.

Abstract: A method of operating a direct-to-object printer adjusts a pixel density of a portion of contone image data for an image to be printed on a surface of a tapered object. The contone image data is also filtered with a stochastic halftone filer to produce binary image data for the image to be printed on the tapered object. The adjustment in the pixel density for the portion of the image to be printed on the portion of the object having a circumference that is different than another portion of the surface at the uppermost portion of the image produces a more uniform appearance in the resulting printed image.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade, including the step of monitoring a process of infusing and/or curing a fiber lay-up with resin in a mold, wherein the monitoring is based on sensor data obtained from the resin infusion and/or curing process displayed in an augmented reality device, is provided. Displaying sensor data obtained from the resin infusion and/or curing process in an augmented reality device allows to better monitor the resin infusion and/or curing process. Thus, the quality of the manufactured wind turbine blade can be improved.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a mounting press for hot mounting a sample, comprising: a mounting cylinder which receives the sample and has a main cylinder axis and a cylinder opening, wherein the main cylinder axis extends inside the mounting cylinder and out through the cylinder opening, and a covering that extends around the cylinder opening, and a suction device for extracting granular material dust, granular material, or vapors, for example, wherein the suction device comprises a vacuum generator for providing a suction effect, and wherein the suction device is at least partly mounted on the covering or embedded in the covering.

Abstract: A method for making a foam component is provided and includes inserting a foam material into a cavity of a mold having a top plate and a bottom plate, heating the foam material to cause the foam material to expand, and moving one of the top plate and the bottom plate relative to the other of the top plate and the bottom plate as the foam material expands and contacts the one of the top plate and the bottom plate to cause the foam material to fold over on itself within the cavity.

Abstract: In an apparatus for selective laser melting and/or laser sintering with a mounting base, that has at least one chamber, wherein the at least one chamber is a building chamber and/or a powder reservoir chamber for a powder, the saving of powder results in an increase in the possible uses of the apparatus, in that the apparatus further comprises at least one fitting element, wherein in operation, the at least one fitting element is located in the at least one building chamber, wherein in a first configuration the at least one fitting element is vertically movable relative to the main body and in a second configuration the at least one fitting element is fixedly connected to the mounting base.

Abstract: Methods for removing an object from powder after forming the object in an additive manufacturing apparatus are provided. The method may include: positioning a cover over a build platform with the object being positioned within a powder; removing the build platform from the additive manufacturing apparatus with the cover positioned over the build platform; and thereafter, removing the powder from the build platform to expose the object.

Abstract: In example implementations, a powder level sensor is provided. The powder level sensor includes a capacitive sensor, a processor, and a cleaning mechanism. The processor is communicatively coupled to the capacitive sensor. The processor interprets a measurement of the capacitive sensor to detect a layer of residual build material on a surface of the powder level sensor. The cleaning mechanism may be communicatively coupled to the processor. The processor activates the cleaning mechanism to remove the layer of residual build material on the surface of the powder level sensor.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for accurately modifying a concrete slab on subsided ground by injecting an expandable resin below the concrete slab more than once, which also allows for easy control of the work process. The method of the present invention as a means for resolution includes performing the following steps: on a concrete slab in an area including a region where ground subsidence has occurred, determining points to drill injection holes for injecting an expandable resin at a pitch of 0.5 to 2.0 m in a grid pattern or a staggered pattern; injecting an expandable resin below a point where the subsidence of the concrete slab is severest and expanding the expandable resin to push up the concrete slab at most 30 mm more than once.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system for making an implant for an eye comprises a laser, a camera, and a computer. The laser emits a laser beam to shape a material. The camera generates one or more images to monitor shaping of the material. The computer stores a pattern for the implant, which is designed to provide refractive treatment for the eye; sends instructions to the laser to control the laser beam to shape the material according to the pattern; assesses the images from the camera according to the pattern; and adjusts the instructions in response to the images.

Abstract: Proposed is a self-optimizing, adaptive industrial chocolate production system (1), and method thereof. The system comprising a chocolate mass processing line (11) with at least dosing means (2), one or more mixers (3), one or more refiners (4), one or more conches (5), and liquefying and tempering means (6). Appropriate inter-dependent operational parameters of the various devices (2/3/4/5/6) are measured by real-time measuring devices and transmitted to a controller device 12. The measured inter-dependent operational parameters are mutually optimized and dynamically adjusted providing an optimal operation at least in terms of the characteristics of the end chocolate mass 7 and/or throughputs of the chocolate production line 11 and/or other operation conditions as energy consumption.

Abstract: Techniques involve cleaning a polymer melt, which allow volatile foreign substances and solid foreign substances to be removed from the polymer melt. Such techniques involve a filter element and a vacuum of a vacuum chamber. The polymer melt is fed through the filter element into the vacuum of the vacuum chamber, The filter element binds the solid foreign substances and the vacuum chamber takes up the volatile foreign substances.

Abstract: A feedstock for a 3D manufacturing process, in particular a Fused Filament Fabrication process. The feedstock includes (P) sinterable particles made of a metal, metal alloy, glass, ceramic material, or a mixture thereof; and (B) a binder composition including (b1) 5-15% by weight, relative to the total weight of the binder composition, of a polymeric compatibilizer, and (b2) 85-95% by weight, relative to the total weight of the binder composition, of a polymeric binder component, the polymeric binder component being selected from the group consisting of (b2-1) a polymer mixture or polymer alloy, the mixture or alloy including at least a first and a second polymer; (b2-2) one, two or more block copolymers, including at least a first polymer block and second polymer block; and (b2-3) mixtures of (b2-1) and (b2-2), wherein the amount of sinterable particles P is 40 Vol % or more of the composition.