Abstract: A method of cleaning a recoater of an additive manufacturing machine includes installing a cleaning fixture into the additive manufacturing machine, the cleaning fixture including one or more cleaning elements, advancing the recoater into contact with the one or more cleaning elements, and rotating the recoater about a recoater axis thus dislodging material from a recoater outer surface due to frictional contact with the one or more cleaning elements.

Abstract: An injection molding machine includes: a screw inserted in an injection cylinder and configured to be movable in the axial direction; a motor configured to move the screw; a torque detection unit configured to detect the torque of the motor; a position detection unit configured to detect the position of the screw; a motor drive control unit configured to drive the motor while imposing torque limitation so that the motor's torque will not exceed a limit torque, to thereby advance the screw to the foremost position in the direction of injection; and a determination unit configured to determine that unmelted resin remains inside the injection cylinder if the moving speed of the screw becomes lower than or equal to a predetermined speed while the screw is advancing to the foremost position.

Abstract: A method for the variothermal temperature control of an injection mould using a temperature control device, the method including at least the following steps: in a learning phase, determining a temperature control characteristic of the temperature-controllable system including at least the injection mould and the temperature control device, in order to obtain individual reference values for the system, with which the temperature control device can be controlled in order to obtain a nominal temperature profile; and in a production phase: temperature control of the injection mould with the reference values determined during the learning phase; determining deviations of an actual temperature profile of the injection mould in relation to the nominal temperature profile during the production cycle and calculating corrected reference values from these deviations; and carrying out a resulting production process using the corrected reference values.

Abstract: A method of arranging, in particular thermoplastic, semi-finished products by using an electronically controlled or regulated placing device for the semi-finished products. The method includes detecting at least one part of an outline of a semi-finished product to be placed, wherein the detecting is carried out by a detection device, determining a target position for the semi-finished product and/or for the placing device for placing the semi-finished product by matching the at least one part of the outline with a placing edge occurring on an underlying surface, and placing the semi-finished product by the placing device using the target position.

Abstract: Method for calibrating at least one apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam that can be generated via an irradiation element of an irradiation device (7) of the apparatus (1), wherein a determination unit (2) is provided for determining at least one parameter of radiation (3) inside a process chamber (5), wherein a calibration beam source (4) is arranged or generated inside the process chamber (5) of the apparatus (1), in particular in a build plane (9) or a region above the build plane (9), wherein at least one parameter, in particular the intensity, of radiation (3) emitted by the calibration beam source (4) is determined via the determination unit (2).

Abstract: Provided are a method for preparing a unidirectionally aligned discontinuous fiber reinforcement composite material, a unidirectionally aligned discontinuous fiber reinforcement composite material, and a sandwich structure. The method for preparing a unidirectionally aligned discontinuous fiber reinforcement composite material comprises discontinuously aligning short fibers on a polymer substrate in one direction by using an air-laid method.

Abstract: In some examples, preheat three-dimensional (3D) printer build material can include a heating plate of a 3D printer to preheat build material from below the build material, where the heating plate is located adjacent to a build platform of the 3D printer, and a heater-spreader carriage of the 3D printer to preheat the build material from above the build material and spread the preheated build material from the heating plate to the build platform.

Abstract: A hydraulic blow molding apparatus having a container forming station with a forming head coupled to a source of liquid blow medium. The container forming station further includes a mold configured to receive a preform and has interior surfaces that define the container shape. The container forming station injects a liquid end product into the preform and expands the preform to simultaneously form and fill a container with the liquid end product. Prior to the container being removed from the container forming station and while it is still full of the liquid end product, a seal is engaged with the container.

Abstract: An undercut processing mechanism is attached to and used in a molding die for forming a molded product having an undercut portion, and allows demolding of the undercut portion. The undercut processing mechanism includes: a holder attached to or formed integrally with the molding die; a sliding piece configured to be slidable relative to the holder such that a mold core is moved so as to demold the undercut portion; a retaining piece configured to retain the sliding piece such that the sliding piece is slidable; and a support wall configured to support the sliding piece so as to prevent the sliding piece from being tilted when the sliding piece slides. The sliding piece forms a part of the mold core for forming the undercut portion.

Abstract: A vulcanised bicycle tyre (2) is retained by exerting a thrust action on the radially inner surface of the tyre directed radially away from the geometric axis of rotation thereof (X). An unloading device (12) provided with at least one frame (18) and at least one support member (19) of the tyre (2) is positioned with respect to the tyre (2) by aligning it with the geometric axis of rotation (X) of the tyre. The support member (19) is handled with respect to the frame (18) towards an operating position in which it is close to the radially outer surface (2b) of the tyre (2). Finally, the radial thrust action on the radially inner surface (2a) of the tyre (2) is interrupted for releasing said tyre (2) with the radially outer surface (2b) thereof on a contact surface (20) of the support member (19).

Abstract: Methods for preparing a footwear article are disclosed herein. An example method may comprise disposing resin adjacent a mold, disposing a lattice structure in at least a portion of the resin disposed adjacent the mold, closing the mold using a lasted upper, injecting foam into the closed mold such that the foam operates to couple the lasted upper and the lattice structure together.

Abstract: A molding element having a molding surface forming a contact face and a groove forming rib portion forming the groove comprising two opposed rib side faces and a rib top face connecting two rib side faces. The groove forming rib portion provides at least one space opening to at least one of the rib side faces and/or to the rib top face. An insert is received in the space. The insert comprises a cavity for forming a closing device in the groove. The cavity has two opposed cavity faces and opens to at least two faces of the insert corresponding to the faces of the groove forming rib portion. The insert comprises at least one cutting means extending and/or projecting in a direction the groove forming rib portion extends for cutting a material filled in the cavity during demolding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a set of mould elements comprising main blades and secondary blades, intended to be added to a mould for vulcanizing a tread of a tire, the mould elements being capable of moulding cuts in the tread, characterized in that a main blade comprises at least one assembly device for assembling a secondary blade, the assembly device comprising two series of at least one protrusion arranged facing one another. It is thus possible to ensure a relative positioning and an assembly that can withstand mechanical stresses over the entire height of the blade during moulding/demoulding, while minimizing the volume of material added. This assembly is barely visible on the tire.

Abstract: Methods of making a weather strip and bright strip assembly for a vehicle door include extruding a weather strip that has a longitudinal shape along an X axis, a sealing body made of at least a first material, and a carrier body made of at least a second material that is harder than the first material. The methods further include cutting at least in part a longitudinal end of the carrier body along the X axis, and removing the longitudinal end; molding a curved or angled end onto the weather strip, in replacement of the longitudinal end, wherein the curved or angled end extends between the X axis and a Y axis; and mounting a bright strip onto the carrier body, the bright strip including a first curved or angled portion covering at least in part the curved or angled end and a second longitudinal portion covering at least in part the carrier body.

Abstract: An undercut processing mechanism is attached to and used in a molding die for forming a molded product having an undercut portion, and allows demolding of the undercut portion. The undercut processing mechanism includes: a holder attached to or formed integrally with the molding die; a sliding piece configured to be slidable relative to the holder such that a mold core is moved so as to demold the undercut portion; a retaining piece configured to retain the sliding piece such that the sliding piece is slidable; and a support wall configured to support the sliding piece so as to prevent the sliding piece from being tilted when the sliding piece slides. The sliding piece forms a part of the mold core for forming the undercut portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods of curing a thermoset composite (TSC) to a target state of cure (SOC) are disclosed herein. The methods include heating the thermoset composite to greater than a threshold temperature. During the heating, the methods further include monitoring an actual temperature of the thermoset composite, determining a maximum temperature achieved by the thermoset composite, and determining an elapsed time that the actual temperature of the thermoset composite is greater than the threshold temperature. The methods further include ceasing the heating based, at least in part, on the maximum temperature of the TSC and the elapsed time. The systems include a heating assembly, a support mandrel, a thermoset composite, a temperature detector, and a controller programmed to perform the methods.

Abstract: A tire vulcanization mold disclosed herein includes sectors 13 divided in a tire circumferential direction and molding a tread portion 1 of a tire, and a pair of upper and lower side plates 11 and 12 molding a sidewall portion 2 of the tire. Mold parting lines 16a and 17a formed by the sectors 13 and a pair of the upper and lower side plates 11 and 12 are located in the tread portion 1 and a distance from a tire equator CL to the mold parting lines 16a and 17a changes periodically in the tire circumferential direction.

Abstract: A printing head of a printing system may include an extruder, a nozzle, a rotation platform, an engine with a drive mechanism, and at least one curing module. The printing head is found in fluid communication with a feeding system to receive a resin material to be extruded out of the nozzle. The rotation platform comprises a rotary system configured for rotation in at least one axis. The engine and drive mechanism drive the rotation of the rotation platform. The curing module is coupled to rotate with the rotation platform. The curing module is configured to assist in the curing of the extruded resin material. The curing module and the rotation platform are operatively connected to a control system for controlling operation of the curing module and the rotation platform.

Abstract: A torpedo for an extruder comprises: longitudinal member (9) which is provided at the periphery thereof with a plurality of thread portions (12) which protrude outwards and which are spaced apart in the circumferential direction; a plurality of sluice blades (19) which are mounted so as to be movable on the longitudinal member and which are partially engaged in apertures (18) of the longitudinal member, the longitudinal member (9) and the sluice blades (19) being provided with complementary radial guiding surfaces (13, 14, 18) which are in contact with each other; and adjustment means (28) for radially displacing the sluice blades relative to the longitudinal member. The sluice blades extend through the spaces between the thread portions, respectively. The thread portions (12) and the sluice blades (19) are provided with complementary radial guiding surfaces (13, 14, 18).

Abstract: A continuous additive fabrication system comprises a bath of photopolymer resin and a light source assembly having a light source and a motorized variable aperture. The light source assembly is operable to generate a focus point in the bath of photopolymer resin, the shape of the focus point at a curing plane within the bath of photopolymer resin corresponding to the shape of the motorized variable aperture. The continuous additive fabrication system further comprises a platform configured to support a build object and a drive mechanism (coupled to at least one of the platform and the light source assembly) configured to continuously move the curing plane through the bath of photopolymer resin. A size and/or shape of the motorized variable aperture is changed while the curing plane in continuously moved through the bath of photopolymer resin.