Abstract: Aqueous formulation with a content of (A) and (B) in the range of 40% to 60%, containing (A) a complexing agent selected from methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA) that is at least partially neutralized with alkali metal, and at least one complexing agent other than MGDA selected from (B) glutamic acid diacetic acid (GLDA) that is at least partially neutralized with alkali metal, and, optionally, (C) a polymer being selected from polyamines, the N atoms being partially or fully substituted with CH2COOH groups, partially or fully neutralized with alkali metal cations, and, optionally, (D) at least one alkali metal salt of an organic acid, said acid being selected from mono- and dicarboxylic acids, wherein the weight ratio of complexing agent (A) to complexing agent (B) is in the range of from 10:1 to 1:10.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards an aqueous solution comprising (i) in the range of from 45 percent by weight to 60 percent by weight based on the total weight of the solution of at least one complexing agent (A), selected from the group consisting of methylglycine diacetic acid and its respective mono-, di-, or trialkali metal and mono-, di-or triammonium salts, and glutamic acid diacetic acid, and its respective mono-, di-, tri-or tetraalkali metal and mono-, di-, tri-or tetraammonium salts, (ii) in the range of from 1 percent by weight to 30 percent by weight based on the weight of component (A) of at least one homo-or copolymer of (meth)acrylic acid (B) that is either partially or fully neutralized, and (iii) water, said aqueous solution being stable for at least one week.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system configured to manufacture a component including scan strategies for efficient utilization of one or more laser arrays. The additive manufacturing system includes at least one laser device, each configured as a laser array, and a build platform. Each laser device is configured to generate a plurality of laser beams. The component is disposed on the build platform. The at least one laser device is configured to sweep across the component and the build platform in at least one of a radial direction, a circumferential direction or a modified zig-zag pattern and simultaneously operate the one or more of the plurality of individually operable laser beams corresponding to a pattern of the layer of a build to generate successive layers of a melted powdered material on the component and the build platform corresponding to the pattern of the layer of the build. A method of manufacturing a component with the additive manufacturing system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A surface roughness measurement device that in one embodiment includes main and auxiliary emitting fibers, multiple collecting fibers, an optical housing, main and auxiliary reflective mirrors, and an external circuit. The optical housing includes the fibers and defines an aperture for optically contacting a surface of an object. The main reflective mirror is arranged in the optical housing, for reflecting light emitted from the main emitting fiber to a detecting point of the aperture and reflected light by the object to the collecting fibers. The auxiliary reflective mirror is arranged in the optical housing, for reflecting light emitted from the auxiliary emitting fiber to the detecting point. The external circuit is for generating a laser beam to the main and auxiliary emitting fibers, collecting the reflected light from the collecting fibers, and calculating the surface roughness of the object based on the collected reflected light.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system is configured to manufacture a component. The additive manufacturing system includes a laser device, a build platform, a first scanning device, and an air knife. The laser device is configured to generate a laser beam. The component is disposed on the build platform. The air knife is configured to channel an inert gas across the build platform. The first scanning device is configured to selectively direct the laser beam across the build platform. The laser beam is configured to generate successive layers of a melted powdered build material on the component and the build platform. The build platform is configured to rotate the component relative to the air knife.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a laser device, a build plate, a first scanning device, and an alignment system. The laser device is configured to generate a laser beam. The build plate has a position relative to the laser device. The first scanning device is configured to selectively direct the laser beam across the build plate. The laser beam generates a melt pool on the build plate. The alignment system includes a fiducial marks projector configured to project a plurality of fiducial marks across the build plate. Each fiducial mark has a location on the build plate. The alignment system also includes an optical detector configured to detect the location of each of the fiducial marks on the build plate. The alignment system is configured to detect the position of the build plate relative to the laser device.

Abstract: A component is fabricated in a powder bed by moving a laser array across the powder bed. The laser array includes a plurality of laser devices. The power output of each laser device of the plurality of laser devices is independently controlled. The laser array emits a plurality of energy beams from a plurality of selected laser devices of the plurality of laser devices to generate a melt pool in the powder bed. A non-uniform energy intensity profile is generated by the plurality of selected laser devices. The non-uniform energy intensity profile facilitates generating a melt pool that has a predetermined characteristic.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for document collaboration and management are disclosed. User devices associated with a user of a document management and collaboration system are identified. Documents associated with the user are downloaded to the user devices from the document management and collaboration system. A targeted denial of access to the downloaded documents is performed.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes at least one imaging device configured to direct electromagnetic radiation towards a build layer of a component positioned within a powder bed of the additive manufacturing system. The additive manufacturing system also includes at least one detector configured to detect the electromagnetic radiation that reflects from the build layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a build in a powder bed includes emitting a plurality of laser beams from selected vertical-cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) of at least one VCSEL array onto the powder bed, the selected VCSELs of the at least one VCSEL array corresponding to a pattern of a layer of the build; and simultaneously melting powder in the powder bed corresponding to the pattern of the layer of the build.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing method includes patterning a laser beam using a mirror array; and reflecting the patterned laser beam from the mirror array onto a powder to melt the powder, wherein the pattern corresponds to a portion of a layer of an article.

Abstract: A system includes a light emitting unit, a front mirror, a rear mirror, an imaging unit and a processor. The light emitting unit is configured to emit a collimated light beam. The front mirror is configured to reflect part of the collimated light beam to produce and project a front focused ring of structured light to an object to obtain a front reflected ring of light, and configured to allow part of the collimated light beam to pass by. The rear mirror is positioned downstream of a light transmitting path of the front mirror. The rear mirror is configured to reflect at least part of the collimated light beam passing by the front mirror to produce and project a rear focused ring of the structured light to the object to obtain a rear reflected ring of light.

Abstract: An example peer-to-peer file sharing and collaboration method includes providing a user of a computing device with access to an electronic file via a sharing application, the electronic file being stored in a memory of the computing device. The method also includes receiving an input from the user indicative of a desire to share the electronic file using the sharing application and via a peer-to-peer communication protocol. The method further includes providing, via the communication protocol, a first transformed file generated by the first computing device based on the electronic file, and receiving, via the communication protocol, a second transformed file generated based on the electronic file. In such a method, the second transformed file is different from the first transformed file.

Abstract: An imaging device for an additive manufacturing system is provided. The additive manufacturing system includes a material. The imaging device includes a high resolution imaging bar including at least one detector array, and an imaging element positioned between the at least one detector array and the material. The high resolution imaging bar is displaced from the material along a first direction and extends along a second direction. The high resolution imaging bar is configured to generate an image of a build layer within the material.

Abstract: In an approach, a secure boot process includes two phases. In the first phase an on premises device generates a data encryption key (DEK) with which to encrypt an operating system image and a key encryption key (KEK) with which to wrap the DEK. The on-premises device then utilizes a key management service to wrap the KEK with an account root key and writes the wrapped DEK and wrapped KEK onto a label of the encrypted operating system image. The encrypted operating system image is then uploaded to a virtual data center and merged with an intermediary guest manager image. When the encrypted machine image is used to generate a virtual machine instance, the intermediary guest manager utilizes the key management service to unwrap the KEK. The unwrapped KEK is then used to unwrap the wrapped DEK which is then used to launch the encrypted guest operating system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for document collaboration and management are disclosed. User devices associated with a user of a document management and collaboration system are identified. Documents associated with the user are downloaded to the user devices from the document management and collaboration system. A targeted denial of access to the downloaded documents is performed.

Abstract: An end effector for the packaging industry comprises has a frame, a bridge on top of the frame, a rack and pinion assembly, actuation rods, carrier assemblies, and vacuum ports. The rack and pinion assembly is configured to be operatively connected to a robot's rotatable shaft, and to the actuation rods. The actuation rods are fixedly connected to one or more of the carrier assemblies. As the robot's shaft rotates, the rack and pinion assembly is actuated, which actuates the actuation rods, which causes the carrier assemblies fixedly connected to the actuation rods to move longitudinally along the frame. Each carrier assembly includes a carrier block and at least one pick-up member. Each carrier block has at least one arm with a grabber to cooperate with an adjacent arm with grabbers of an adjacent carrier block(s) of the same subgroup.

Abstract: A probe system and a method are provided. The probe system includes an emitter unit, a pattern generation system, and an intensity modulator. The emitter unit is for emitting light. The pattern generation system is for projecting at least one reference structured-light pattern onto an object surface to obtain at least one reference projected pattern, and including a mirror scanning unit for reflecting the light to a plurality of directions. The intensity modulator is for modulating intensity of the light according to the at least one reference projected pattern to provide modulated light to the mirror scanning unit to reflect the modulated light to the plurality of directions to project at least one modulated structured-light pattern onto the object surface to obtain at least one modulated projected pattern.

Abstract: A lens system includes a tube lens and a lens assembly, with the tube lens disposed between an optical sensor and the lens assembly. The lens assembly is disposed between the tube lens and an imaged object. In order to solve the problem of some lens systems having focal lengths that are shorter than the working distances of the lens systems, one aspect of the inventive subject matter described herein provides the lens assembly with a negative lens and plural positive lenses. A first positive lens is located between a second positive lens and an imaging plane, the second positive lens is located between the first positive lens and the negative lens, and the negative lens is located between the second positive lens and the tube lens.

Abstract: Aqueous formulation with a content of (A) and (B) in the range of 40% to 60%, containing (A) a complexing agent selected from methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA) that is at least partially neutralized with alkali metal, and at least one complexing agent other than MGDA selected from (B) glutamic acid diacetic acid (GLDA) that is at least partially neutralized with alkali metal, and, optionally, (C) a polymer being selected from polyamines, the N atoms being partially or fully substituted with CH2COOH groups, partially or fully neutralized with alkali metal cations, and, optionally, (D) at least one alkali metal salt of an organic acid, said acid being selected from mono- and dicarboxylic acids, wherein the weight ratio of complexing agent (A) to complexing agent (B) is in the range of from 10:1 to 1:10.