Abstract: A method for joining two objects by anchoring an insert portion provided on one of the objects in an opening provided on the other one of the objects. The anchorage is achieved by liquefaction of a thermoplastic material and interpenetration of the liquefied material and a penetrable material, the two materials being arranged on opposite surfaces of the insert portion and the wall of the opening. Before such liquefaction and interpenetration, an interference fit is established in which such opposite surfaces are pressed against each other, and, for the anchoring, mechanical vibration energy and possibly a shearing force are applied, wherein the shearing force puts a shear stress on the interference fit.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a custom cranial remodeling device for correction of cranial deformities in a subject is described. The method comprises generating a three-dimensional head data file for the subject and determining contour lines on the head. The method further comprises automatically generating a modified head shape data file and juxtaposing the modified head shape with the head represented by the three-dimensional head data file having the contour lines thereon. Still further the method includes utilizing the modified head shape data file to generate a shape for a desired custom cranial remodeling device, the shape having an interior surface to contact the head and an outer surface. The method also includes projecting lines outward from the contour lines to the outer surface and utilizing the projected lines to establish cranial remodeling device contour lines for the custom cranial remodeling device.

Abstract: In an injection molding machine, operating state identification codes, a change between which coincides with a change pattern stored in a change pattern storage unit, are replaced with a change pattern-associated identification code associated with the change pattern. This allows even a less-experienced person to easily grasp work contents indicated by an operating state.

Abstract: System and method for in-process cure monitoring of a material utilizes one or more sensors such as fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) or phase-shifted FBGs (PS-FBGs) and at least one optical line fiber connected to the sensor(s). The sensor(s) and the optical line may be embedded in the material prior to curing the material may comprise a fiber reinforced polymer. Waves are excited into the material during curing thereof to form guided waves that propagate through the material. At least one wave metric of the guided waves is measured utilizing the sensor(s).

Abstract: A spatter protection system for an additive manufacturing machine can include a sheet configured to be disposed over a build area of the additive manufacturing machine. The sheet can include an aperture configured to allow a spatter from the build area to eject through the aperture during energy application and to land on a back side of the sheet to prevent the spatter from landing on the build area. The system can include a motive system supporting the sheet and configured to move the sheet to locate the aperture over an energy application area.

Abstract: A plasticizing device that plasticizes at least a part of a material to generate a plasticized material, the plasticizing device includes: a drive motor; a screw configured to rotate around a rotation axis by a drive force of the drive motor and having a groove forming surface in which a groove is formed; a speed reducer disposed between the drive motor and the screw and configured to transmit the drive force of the drive motor to the screw; a barrel having a facing surface facing the groove forming surface and having a through hole into which the plasticized material flows; a first heater configured to heat the material supplied between the screw and the barrel; a first cooling unit configured to cool the drive motor; and a heat insulating unit disposed between the first cooling unit and the speed reducer. At least a part of the heat insulating unit overlaps the first cooling unit when viewed along the rotation axis of the screw.

Abstract: An unpacking device (4) for unpacking an additively manufactured three-dimensional object (2) from the unsolidified construction material (3) surrounding it after completion of an additive construction process, wherein the unpacking device (4) is formed as a robot (7) having at least three robot axes (A1-A6), especially an industrial robot, wherein at least one unpacking tool (10) is arranged or formed on a robot axis (A6), which is provided for unpacking an additively manufactured three-dimensional object (2) from the unsolidified construction material (3) surrounding it after completion of an additive construction process, or the unpacking device (4) comprises at least one such robot (7).

Abstract: An injection molding device includes: a material storage unit storing a material; a drive motor; a plasticization unit including a rotor that rotates by rotation of the drive motor, a barrel facing the rotor, and a heater, and configured to plasticize and flow out the material supplied from the material storage unit; a nozzle through which the material after plasticization is injected toward a mold from the plasticization unit; and a material drying unit configured to collect waste heat of the drive motor and dry the material in the material storage unit.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects (2) by means of successive layerwise selective consolidation of layers of a build material, comprising a build material removal device (3) with at least one build material removal unit (4) adapted to remove non-consolidated build material (5) surrounding an additively built object (2), wherein the build material removal device (3) comprises a build material removal chamber (6) delimiting a build material removal volume (7), wherein the build material removal chamber (6) is arranged or arrangeable above the object (2), wherein the object (2) is successively moveable into the build material removal chamber (6), wherein the at least one build material removal unit (4) is adapted to remove non-consolidated build material (5).

Abstract: An image processing system acquires a first three-dimensional model of an object. The image processing system includes a processor and storage medium encoded with instructions executable by the processor. The instructions include instructions to define a material potential function for a material. The material potential function is a function of a three-dimensional origin point of the material in the object, a three-dimensional propagation limit of the material in the object, and a three-dimensional propagation function of the material in the object. The instructions include instructions to generate a second three-dimensional model of the object based in part on the material potential function and the first model. The second model illustrates propagation of the material through an interior volume of the object at a unit level. A controller generates control signals based on the second model, and a fluid ejection engine performs an additive manufacturing process based on the control signals.

Abstract: An inspection system for in situ evaluation of an additive manufacturing (AM) build part is provided. The inspection system comprises a build plane induction coil sensor configured and positionable so that during construction of the build part, the sensor's magnetization and sensor coils surround at least the last-produced layer of the AM build part in the build plane. The inspection system further comprises an energization circuit and a central processing system. The central processing system comprises a communication processor configured for sending command signals to the energization circuit and receiving impedance data from the build plane induction coil sensor, and energization controller configured for determining energization commands for transmission to the energization circuit, and an induction data analyzer configured for processing build part impedance data using complex impedance plane analysis and for identifying anomalies in the AM build part.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a three-dimensional article includes a controller configured to: receive an input file defining a geometry of the three-dimensional article; receive information specifying an interface surface of the article over which the article will fit against a three-dimensional body; slice the geometry; identify intersecting slices that intersect the interface surface; and for the intersecting slices, alter a halftone range along the interface surface. Along the interface surface, the article slidingly engages the three-dimensional body. The sliding engagement can be sufficient to provide a fluid seal along the interface surface.

Abstract: A quick release hotend is disclosed. The hotend includes a base having an input portion and an engaging recess, an engaging member having a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion, and a body having a protruding ring and a feeding inlet. The base has a through-hole penetrating the input portion and communicating with the engaging recess, and the base has a chamber in which an elastic element is disposed. The first engaging portion is separably coupled to the base and abut against the elastic element. The protruding ring is engaged with the engaging recess to communicate the feeding inlet with the through-hole. The body has a concave portion to which the second engaging portion is separably coupled. The body has a nozzle to which the raw material imported from the feeding inlet is guided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of filling different two-kinds of multiple inks into an ink extruding member for a three-dimensional print and a method of three-dimensional printing using the filled ink, and relates to a three-dimensional printing method using multiple inks comprising a step of applying pressure to the retained multiple inks and extruding it into a single extruding port of the extruding part to prepare an ink extruded product and printing the ink extruded product.

Abstract: A cooling plate for an injection molding machine includes a plate body, a plurality of sockets in the plate body for receiving respective spigot portions of a plurality of cooling tubes, and a cooling fluid conduit system in the plate body for cooling the cooling tubes. The cooling plate further includes an air conduit system in the plate body for providing air flow communication with the cooling tubes. Each socket forms a blockable flow passage between the cooling fluid conduit system and the air conduit system.

Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus includes an acquisition unit and an elimination unit. The acquisition unit is configured to acquire information relating to an accumulation amount of a twisting force generated in a linear manufacturing material during applying. The elimination unit is configured to eliminate the twisting force based on the information relating to the accumulation amount.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes a plasticizing section that includes a drive motor, a heater, and a screw rotated by the drive motor and that plasticizes a material to form a shaping material, a moving mechanism section that changes a relative position of an ejection section that ejects the shaping material toward a stage to the stage, a state observation section that observes a state of the drive motor or the heater, a prediction section that predicts a service life arrival time of the drive motor or the heater from an observation result of the state observation section, a notification section, and a control unit that controls the plasticizing section and the moving mechanism section to shape a three-dimensional shaped article based on shaping data.

Abstract: A method of forming a retaining device with hooks, wherein: a molding strip is provided that presents an inside face and an outside face, and that has a plurality of cavities, each cavity defining a stem extending from the outside face towards the inside face and including an end forming a head that extends from the stem towards the inside face of the molding strip; the molding strip is positioned on rotary drive means, the inside face of the molding strip being arranged to bear against the drive means; and molding material is dispensed against the outside face of the molding strip.

Abstract: A build material management system for a 3D printing system is described in which one or more input ports of a housing of the build material management system is to connect to one or more respective transportable containers. The transportable containers contain a volume of build material comprising 3D printed parts and a portion of non-fused build material. A pump also comprised within the housing is operable to provide a pressure differential across a conduit network of the build material management system. The pump is connected to the input port(s) by the conduit network. An air-flow caused through at least one of the one or more input ports is controlled by processing circuitry also comprised within the housing. The air-flow causes cooling within the respective transportable container. In one alternative, the housing comprises at least two input ports.

Abstract: A configurable build volume system for a powder bed fusion manufacturing process includes a chamber wall defining a chamber, the chamber wall extending in the X-, Y-, and Z-axis directions, a plurality of build platforms enclosed within the chamber, a plurality of adjustment mechanisms coupled to the plurality of build platforms such that each build platform is coupled to a separate adjustment mechanism, a sensor mounted within the chamber and configured to capture data regarding a Z-axis position of each of the plurality of build platforms, and a controller in electronic communication with the plurality of adjustment mechanisms and the sensor. The controller receives the Z-axis position data and generates a plurality of control signals to adjust a Z-axis position of each of the plurality of build platforms and each of the plurality of build platforms is actively and independently controlled by the controller.