Abstract: A method for making an article for application to the human body. Data from measurement of pressures across an area of a person's body is obtained, which is then corresponded to a two-dimensional pressure map of a model of an article for application to that body area and identifying pressure-point locations and a pressure value for identified pressure-point location within the pressure map. Each different pressure value has a compression unit structure corresponding to that pressure value. The article is formed by generating the assigned respective structures in an integrated one-piece construct through layerwise build up in an additive manufacture system, where the build up includes a process that forms a joinder in an interface between adjacent contiguous structures which differ in geometry from one another so as to bond those contiguous structures together across the interface.

Abstract: A static battery with a non-conductive elastomeric or thermoplastic housing. The, battery housing is adapted to receive at least one anode assembly, at least one cathode assembly, and at least one bipolar electrode assembly. At least the bipolar electrode assembly is formed from a conductive plastic resin that is formed as a CPE sheet. A carbon material is affixed to the CPE sheet to form the bipolar electrode. The at least one cathode assembly, the at least one anode assembly and the at least one bipolar electrode assembly are received into the battery box such that a liquid, and/or gas seal is formed, between electrode assemblies. The battery housing has slots into which the electrode assemblies are received. When the electrode assemblies are received into the housing, cells are formed by the cooperation of the electrode assemblies and the battery housing. The cells are then filled with electrolyte such as zinc bromide and a lid is placed on the battery box.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a layer-by-layer solidification of building material at the points corresponding to the cross-section of the object to be manufactured in a respective layer. The apparatus includes a process chamber in which the object is to be built up layer by layer by selectively solidifying layers of a building material in a build area, a gas supply device, and a recirculating air filter device, wherein the apparatus comprises a pressure stabilization device configured to keep the pressure in the process chamber substantially constant.

Abstract: A method for generating productivity maps is provided. The method includes receiving a user input including boundaries of a geographical area and a date range; selecting, from databases of earth observation providers, based on a first criterion concerning a cloud amount, a first plurality of first images corresponding to the date range and covering at least partially the geographical area; selecting, from the first plurality of first images, based on a second criterion concerning the cloud amount, a second plurality of second images; determining, based on the second plurality of second images and a statistical criterion, a value of a vegetation index for a pixel in the geographical area to generate a plurality of values of the vegetation index; dividing, based on the plurality of values of the vegetation index, the geographical area into a set of clusters; and generating a map featuring the set of clusters.

Abstract: Disclosed is an additive manufacture material made from polymers and designed to be biodegradeable in a landfill or oceanic environment. The material may be made of bio-based polymers made from caster beans, cellulose, corn, starch, sugarcane, etc., such as nylon 11, bio-based polyethylene, polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanote, polyvinyl acetate, etc., to which is added microorganism, such as a bacteria, an enzyme or other additive to facilitate/accelerate the decomposition of the polymer in an environment where the object made through AM has been disposed, e.g., discarded after useful life. The microorganism or other additives that facilitate/accelerate the decomposition of polymers can also be added to petroleum-based, non bio-based polymers.

Abstract: A face mask including a base model of a mask body having a front side and a back side and defining an interior. The back side includes a face opening within which a portion of a user face including a nose and mouth can be inserted and encompassed. The face opening is defined by a perimeter and is modified to substantially correspond to contours of the user face based on scan of topographical facial features of the user face.

Abstract: A passivation device for passivating filter residues of a filter device arranged in a process gas circuit of an additive manufacturing apparatus includes a reaction unit having an inlet suitable for supplying an oxidant, a coupling unit adapted to be coupled to the filter device for introducing filter residues into the reaction unit, a discharge unit suitable for discharging passivated filter residues from the reaction unit, and an energy supply unit suitable for effecting a reaction between the filter residues and the oxidant in the reaction unit.

Abstract: The present invention concerns nickel alloys in powder form comprising at least 40 wt.-% Ni, about 20.0 to 25.0 wt.-% Cr, about 5.0 to 25.0 wt.-% Co and about 1.5 to 5.0 wt.-% Ti, which have a content of B in an amount of less than 40 ppmw. Corresponding alloys have the advantage of providing minimal or no micro-cracks as well as an improved ductility in creep conditions compared to similar alloys having a higher content of B, when the alloys are processed by additive manufacturing to prepare three-dimensional objects. The present invention further concerns processes and devices for the preparation of three-dimensional objects from such nickel alloy powders, processes for the preparation of corresponding nickel alloy powders, three-dimensional objects which are prepared from such nickel alloy powders and the use of such nickel alloy powders to minimize and/or suppress micro-crack formation and/or to provide improved creep ductility.

Abstract: A method for making a three-dimensional object by means of layer-wise application and selective solidification of a pulverulent building material The method includes applying a layer of the pulverulent building material onto a build area by an application device The application device includes a recoating unit movable across the build area in an application direction. The method further includes solidification of the applied powder layer at positions corresponding to a cross-section of the object to be made, and repeating the steps of applying and selective solidification until the object is completed. The pulverulent building material to be applied onto the build area is heated locally by a radiant heater before being applied.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to mechanical-chemical energy storage. In particular, the invention relates to a mechanical-chemical energy storage system that stores energy by simultaneously compressing a gas to a higher enthalpy state and recovering the heat of compression by driving a somewhat reversible chemical reaction. The heat energy in the chemical reaction is then recovered while the gas is expanding to a lower enthalpy state.

Abstract: Provided is an electrolyte for use in a secondary zinc halide electrochemical cell comprising: from about 20 wt. % to about 70 wt. % of a zinc halide of formula ZnY2 or any combination of zinc halides of formula ZnY2, wherein Y is a halide selected from fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, or any combination thereof; from about 10 wt. % to about 79 wt. % of H2O; and from about 0.5 wt. % to about 20 wt. % of one or more zinc additives. The one or more zinc additives comprises a first zinc additive, wherein the first zinc additive is a salt that is not a zinc halide and comprises an anion with a van der Waals volume of greater than about 65 ?3. Also provided is a secondary zinc halide battery comprising at least one electrochemical cell comprising at least one bipolar electrode and the zinc halide electrolyte. Also provided is a secondary zinc halide battery comprising a zinc metal reservoir.

Abstract: A method for determining a distance in an additive manufacturing device includes emitting a number of directed beams using a number of beam sources, detecting at least one of the directed beams from a first beam source using a first detector and generating a signal in dependence on the at least one beam impinging on the least one detector, wherein a recoating element is spatially arranged between the first beam source and the first detector, and determining a distance between a boundary of the recoating element and a surface of a building base and/or an article placed on the building base, based on the signal generated by the detector and using an evaluation unit.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing visual impairment detection for free-space optical communication (“FSOC”) systems. In various embodiments, a computing system might receive, either from a camera or from a database, images (and/or videos) of an optical field of view (“FOV”) of the camera, the optical FOV comprising an optical beam(s) of a first FSOC system; might autonomously analyze the captured images (and/or videos) to determine whether an object(s) is moving within proximity to an optical beam(s) of the first FSOC system, to perform at least one of reactive learning or proactive learning regarding potential interruption of the optical beam(s) of the first FSOC system, and/or to determine one or more preventative measures to prevent interruption of the optical beam(s) of the first FSOC system; and might autonomously initiate one or more first tasks and/or the one or more preventative measures, based on the analysis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling an energy input device of an additive manufacturing device. A beam bundle deflection center is assigned to each of the number of beam bundles from which this beam bundle is directed onto the build plane. Each beam bundle deflection center is assigned a projection center corresponding to a perpendicular projection of the position of the beam bundle deflection center onto the build plane. The directions of the movement vectors of the number of beam bundles when scanning the trajectories are defined such that at each of the solidification points in this section the movement vector has an angle with respect to a connection vector from this solidification point to the projection center of the beam bundle used, which angle is smaller than a predetermined maximum angle ?1.

Abstract: A method for producing a three-dimensional object on a support by applying layer by layer and selectively solidifying a building material in powder form. The method includes lowering the support to a predetermined height below a working plane, applying a layer of the building material in powder form in the working plane, selectively solidifying the applied powder layer at positions corresponding to a cross-section of the object to be produced and repeating the steps of lowering, applying and selectively solidifying until the object is completed. By doing so, the quantity of applied building material in powder form is reduced in a section in an actively controlled way or substantially no building material in powder form is applied in a section in an actively controlled way.

Abstract: Method for moderating a reaction of metal particles, in particular metal condensates, preferably from an additive manufacturing process, in particular a laser sintering or laser melting process, wherein the metal particles are combined, in particular mixed, with an at least partially meltable inerting material, wherein the inerting material comprises particles with a particle size of less than or equal to 100 µm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of providing control data for an additive manufacturing device. The method includes accessing computer-based model data of at least a portion of the object to be manufactured, generating at least one data model of a region of a building material layer to be selectively solidified for manufacturing the at least one object portion. The data model specifies solidification of the building material, and the end point of the at least one solidification path a set of energy introduction parameter values is specified which generates a reference value for the radiation power per unit area in the radiation impact area of the beam bundle on the building material which is lower than the reference value for the radiation power per unit area at other locations of the solidification path, and providing control data corresponding to the generated at least one data model for generating a control data set for the additive manufacturing device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an additive manufacture material made from polymers and designed to be biodegradable in a landfill or oceanic environment. The material may be made of bio-based polymers made from caster beans, cellulose, corn, starch, sugarcane, etc., such as nylon 11, bio-based polyethylene, polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanote, polyvinyl acetate, etc., to which is added microorganism, such as a bacteria, an enzyme or other additive to facilitate/accelerate the decomposition of the polymer in an environment where the object made through AM has been disposed, e.g., discarded after useful life. The microorganism or other additives that facilitate/accelerate the decomposition of polymers can also be added to petroleum-based, non bio-based polymers.

Abstract: A powder discharge unit for equipping and/or upgrading a device for generatively manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a selective layer-by-layer solidification of building material in powder form includes a powder container for receiving building material in powder form and a filling chamber for filling in building material in powder form into the powder container. The powder discharge unit is configured to fluidise the building material in powder form in the powder container and the building material in powder form in the filling chamber independently of one another.

Abstract: An interchangeable chamber is provided for a 3D printing device, wherein the interchangeable chamber includes a building space for receiving a building platform on which a three-dimensional object can be produced, which building space is designed to be temporarily open in the direction of a top of the interchangeable chamber, as well as optionally a storage container for storing building material and wherein the interchangeable chamber comprises a side wall and a cover, wherein the cover is adapted to close the interchangeable chamber at the top such that building material cannot get through the cover out of nor into the interchangeable chamber and the cover is coupled with the side wall.