Abstract: The invention provides a cigarette with a filter element comprising at least one longitudinally extending section of filter material. The section of filter material comprises a smoke-altering material therein that is useful for removing a quantity of vapor phase chemicals from the mainstream smoke. The section of filter material further comprises one or more tubes inserted into and extending through section of filter material. The one or more tubes each define a channel adapted for passage of mainstream smoke through the section of filter material while substantially avoiding contact of the portion of mainstream smoke therein with the smoke-altering material. The provision of a portion of mainstream smoke substantially unaltered by the smoke-altering material can be useful to retain certain desirable taste and other sensory properties of the mainstream smoke.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for improving layer selection in additive manufacturing. In particular, the present disclosure relates to methods and systems for improving layer selection in additive manufacturing using sensor feedback. In some examples, the sensor may be a distance sensor, and design layers may be selected dynamically based on determined part layer heights after layer deposition.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing a plastic container and for filling it with a fill product are described. The methods include introducing a perform into a blow mold, pressuring the preform with a blowing medium, evacuating the interior space of the container to an underpressure, and introducing a fill product in the interior space at an overpressure.

Abstract: In some examples, a method may include injection molding an optical material in a mold defining at least one optical surface to form a molded component, and machining the molded component to form a machined optical component including a machined optical surface. In some examples, a method may include injection molding an optical material in an axially symmetric mold cavity defining at least one optical surface to form a molded component, and machining the molded component to form an optical component that does not possess axial symmetry. Optical component formed by these methods and molds for utilizing in these methods also are described.

Abstract: A spinning forming method includes a first forming step and a second forming step, in each of which a plate fixed to a main shaft is formed while being rotated. In the first forming step, a processing tool is brought into contact with a first main surface of the plate to form a first level-changing portion extending from the first main surface toward a second main surface. In the second forming step, the processing tool is brought into contact with the second main surface at an outer peripheral side of the first level-changing portion to form a second level-changing portion extending in an opposite direction to the first level-changing portion.

Abstract: Provided are a hydraulic transfer film capable of manufacturing a decorated molded product that expresses a design with a concavo-convex feeling by a hydraulic transfer method and having excellent transfer processability and a method for manufacturing a decorated molded product using the same. The hydraulic transfer film includes a water-soluble film having thereon a design layer, wherein the design layer has a low-gloss portion and a high-gloss portion; the low-gloss portion and the high-gloss portion are present at least within a plane on the water-soluble film side of the design layer; the low-gloss portion contains a binder resin and a deglossing agent; and the high-gloss portion is composed of a resin composition containing an acrylic polymer polyol and/or a cured product thereof.

Abstract: A consumable scaffold and technique for supporting an object while it is being manufactured is disclosed. The consumable scaffold comprises a base sheet and an array of pillars that are cantilevered from one side of the sheet. The consumable scaffold resembles a bed of nails. Each pillar in the array of pillars is trimmed to a desired length and the object is manufactured by fusing thermoplastic filaments to the tips of the pillars.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a composite structure includes: providing first mandrels, each first mandrel including a base and a plurality of projections arranged longitudinally along and projecting vertically out from the base; providing second mandrels; providing first ribbon plies, each first ribbon ply including a sheet of fibrous material; arranging each first ribbon ply with a respective first mandrel, the arranging of each first ribbon ply including substantially covering each surface of each of the projections of one of the first mandrels with a respective first ribbon ply; mating each second mandrel with a respective first mandrel such that each first ribbon ply is sandwiched between a respective first mandrel and a respective second mandrel; and curing resin disposed with the first ribbon plies to consolidate the first ribbon plies together and form a fiber-reinforced composite core structure of an acoustic panel.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed methods for manufacturing spar caps for wind turbine rotor blades. In certain embodiments, the method includes forming an outer frame or tray of the spar cap via at least one of three-dimensional (3D) pultrusion, thermoforming, or 3D printing. As such, the outer frame has a varying cross-section that corresponds to a varying cross-section of the rotor blade along a span thereof. The method also includes arranging a plurality of structural materials (e.g. layers of pultruded plates) within the pultruded outer frame of the spar cap and infusing the structural materials and the outer frame together via a resin material so as to form the spar cap. The resulting spar cap can then be easily incorporated into conventional rotor blade manufacturing processes and/or welded or bonded to an existing rotor blade.

Abstract: There is provided a manufacturing method for molding a liquid supply member by using a first mold and a second mold. The method includes a first molding step of performing injection molding to form a first component part of the liquid supply member and a plurality of component parts of the liquid supply member other than the first component part at different positions from each other, with the first and the second mold closed relative to each other, a contacting step of moving each of the formed plurality of component parts relatively to the first component part to bring the formed first component part into contact with the formed plurality of component parts, with the first and the second mold opened relative to each other, and a second molding step of performing injection molding to join the first component part and the plurality of component parts.

Abstract: A printing apparatus including a manifold shaped as a rectangular parallelepiped having three pairs of parallel faces and including (i) a body thereof defining a plurality of fluidic channels, (ii) a bottom portion thereof defining a slot configured to accommodate insertion of a printing element; and (iii) at least one face defining a plurality of fluidic connections in fluidic communication with the fluidic channels. A method for manufacturing a printing apparatus includes the steps of a) manufacturing a manifold by manufacturing a parallelepiped and defining a slot therein configured to hold a printing element; b) machining features into the manifold for mechanical mounting, electronic connection, and fluid connection; and (c) assembling the manifold with the printing element and a gasket to form the printing apparatus.

Abstract: A vehicle interior panel includes a fabric layer with a sculpted feature in the visible decorative surface. The sculpted feature is formed in a cold-forming process, which can produce sharp features in the fabric layer similar to sharp features formed in polymer films by thermoforming. The cold-forming process includes pressing a flat sheet of decorative material that includes the fabric layer onto a curable adhesive before the adhesive cures. After curing, the adhesive holds the decorative sheet of material in a new three-dimensional shape, which can have features that are not attainable by traditional wrapping methods.

Abstract: A mandrel wheel for producing packages is illustrated and described, including: a mandrel wheel shaft having a central axis, a plurality of mandrels attached to the mandrel wheel shaft, an inflow for a coolant and an outflow for the coolant. The mandrels form at least one mandrel group, the mandrels of which are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the mandrel wheel shaft. Each mandrel has a hollow space for the coolant, which is connected to an inlet and to an outlet separate from it. At least one distribution element is provided, which connects all inlets of a mandrel group to the inflow and which connects all outlets of the same mandrel group to the outflow, so that the mandrels can be cooled more effectively.

Abstract: A solid object shaping apparatus includes a head unit, and a curing unit, in which a model indicating a shape and a color of a solid object to be shaped is approximated with a set of voxels each having a predetermined rectangular parallelepiped shape, a unit shaping body formed by a single dot or a plurality of dots is formed in the voxel, and the solid object is shaped by using the plurality of unit shaping bodies, and in which the plurality of unit shaping bodies constituting the solid object include a first and second unit shaping body. In the second unit shaping body, two or more faces forming a surface of the second unit shaping body correspond to a surface of the solid object, and a proportion of an inner portion of the model occupying the second unit shaping body is equal to or less than a reference value.

Abstract: Provided is a three-dimensional object formation apparatus including: a head unit which discharges a plurality of types of liquid including first liquid and second liquid and forms dots with the discharged liquid; and a curing unit which cures the dots, in which the three-dimensional object formation apparatus forms a three-dimensional object with the cured dots, and the three-dimensional object is formed in a plurality of formation modes including a first formation mode of forming an inner portion of the three-dimensional object with a plurality of dots formed of the first liquid, and a second formation mode of forming the inner portion of the three-dimensional object with a plurality of dots not including dots formed of the first liquid and including dots formed of the second liquid.

Abstract: A method of producing a transdermal absorption sheet includes: filling needle-like recessed portions on a mold having the needle-like recessed portions with a polymer solution; drying the filled polymer solution to form a polymer layer; and peeling off the polymer layer, wherein, in drying the polymer solution, low rate drying conditions are set in a concentration range in which an average solid content concentration of the polymer solution is 70 wt % to 80 wt %. When a constant drying rate of water is used as an index, in the concentration range in which the average solid content concentration of the polymer solution is 70 wt % to 80 wt %, and the constant drying rate is lower than a maximum value of a constant drying rate under a drying condition where the average solid content concentration of the polymer solution is less than 70 wt % and more than 80 wt %.

Abstract: A composite piece tool used to create a composite piece. The tool includes a substrate having a substrate surface, walls disposed on the substrate and extending from the substrate surface in a thickness direction of the composite piece to define opposite locations of longitudinal composite piece ends and composite piece sides, a tooling surface disposed to occupy an entirety of a space delimited by the walls and on which the composite piece formed and a servo controller coupled to the tooling surface and configured to move the tooling surface upwardly and downwardly relative to the substrate surface and walls to form the composite piece.

Abstract: A resin molding method includes a first molding step of molding a first molded part and a second molded part in a mold and a second molding step of joining the first molded part and the second molded part. In the first molding step, the second molded part is formed by injecting resin into an area where a first core movable in the first direction and a second core movable in a second direction are engaged. In the second molding step, the second molded part is joined to the first molded part by injecting the resin while the first core is in contact with the second molded part and the second core is removed from the second molded part. Areas where the first core and the second core are located in the first molding step become hollow areas connected to each other and part of ends of the first core in the first direction is not in contact with the second core.

Abstract: Thermoplastic laminates are fabricated in a continuous compression molding production line. A lay-up of laminate plies is placed in a recess on a carrying tool, and the tool is moved through successive forming operations on the line, including preforming and consolidation operations. The tool is separated from the fully formed part at the end of the line and may be reused. Use of the carrying tool reduces material scrap.

Abstract: A device for thermoforming containers, the device having mold blocks mounted to move in translation. An example embodiment may include at least first and second analogous mold blocks, a counter-mold, means for causing a thermoplastic material to advance along an advance axis, and two labeling blocks. The mold blocks can be moved in a first movement between a thermoforming level and a disengagement level. The mold blocks can also be moved in a second movement along an axis transverse to the advance axis so as to place each mold facing in succession the counter-mold and one of the labeling blocks.