Abstract: An atomizer for applying a coating includes a nozzle plate, an actuator, and an acoustic focusing device. The nozzle plate defines at least one aperture. The actuator is configured to oscillate to form pressure waves within a fluid to eject the fluid from the nozzle plate. The acoustic focusing device focuses the pressure waves toward the apertures.

Abstract: A method of controlling application of material onto a substrate is provided. The method includes ejecting an ultraviolet (UV) curable material through a plurality of micro-applicators in the form of atomized droplets. At least one UV light source is positioned adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators and the atomized droplets are irradiated with UV light by the at least one UV light source and curing of the atomized droplets is initiated. The atomized droplets are deposited onto a surface of the substrate and a UV cured coating on the surface is formed thereon. The UV curable material may include a photolatent base catalyst such that the atomized droplets deposited onto the surface continue to cure after being irradiated with the at least one UV light source. The at least one UV light source can include a UV light ring, a UV light emitting diode, and the like.

Abstract: A nozzle for an atomizer includes a plate, a piezoelectric actuator, a body, and a connector. The plate defines an aperture. The actuator is configured to oscillate the plate. The body supports the plate. The connector is configured to reversibly mount the body to the atomizer in a first orientation and in a second orientation. In the first orientation, fluid exits the nozzle along a first axial direction through the aperture. In the second orientation, fluid exits the nozzle along an opposite axial direction through the aperture.

Abstract: A method of forming a part includes extruding a billet through a die, forming a round, closed geometry tube from the billet, and hydroforming the round, closed geometry tube. The extrusion die contains an orifice with a central mandrel, a plurality of bridges, and a corresponding plurality of portholes between the bridges. A spacing of the bridges around the mandrel is non-equiangular. As a result, the round, closed geometry tube has non-equiangular welds after emerging from the die.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a coating to a substrate includes a base, an applicator, and a quick-connect connector. The base includes a fluid conduit. The applicator includes at least one actuator and an array of nozzle plates. Each nozzle plate defines at least one aperture. The at least one actuator is configured to oscillate the nozzle plates to eject fluid from the apertures. The quick-connect connector couples the fluid conduit to the applicator for fluid communication therebetween.

Abstract: A method of controlling application of material onto a substrate includes ejecting atomized droplets from an array of micro-applicators while the array of micro-applicators cyclically moves about at least one axis. The atomized droplets from each of the plurality of micro-applicators overlap with atomized droplets from adjacent micro-applicators and a diffuse overlap of deposited atomized droplets from adjacent micro-applicators is provided on a surface of the substrate. The array of micro-applicators cyclically rotates back and forth around the at least one axis and/or moves back and forth parallel to the at least one axis. For example, the at least one axis can be a central axis of the array of micro-applicators, a length axis of the array of micro-applicators, a width axis of the array of micro-applicators, and the like. Also, the array of micro-applicators can be part of an ultrasonic material applicator used to paint vehicles.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a motor vehicle with a mobile vehicle seat. The seat includes a frame that forms a seating surface and a backrest. An energy source is arranged in the frame. A drive motor is arranged in the frame and connected to the energy source. At least one wheel is arranged on the frame and in drive connection with the drive motor. A control device controls the drive motor, and a first coupling is arranged on the frame to releasably fix the frame to the motor vehicle. A second coupling corresponding to the first coupling of the vehicle seat is arranged on an inside of a vehicle door, which is mounted pivotably on a vehicle superstructure. The second coupling can be brought into releasable engagement with the first coupling of the vehicle seat.

Abstract: A method for forming a product having cast-in components provides an insulating barrier of solidified sand formed next to the insider diameter of the cast-in component. The center of the solidified sand is hollow. Before pouring the molten metal into the primary runner/riser system that feeds the portion of the mold that will create the actual part, the molten material is poured into the hollow portion of the solidified sand through a separate runner/riser system. This molten metal provides the energy necessary to heat the cast-in part to an acceptable temperature. The temperature can be controlled by the shape, thickness and material of the insulating member. This controlled time/temperature profile enables the creation of a final cast product that demonstrates good quality properties at the cast/insert interface. The method of the disclosed inventive concept has the added benefit of not altering the resulting part itself.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally describes a method for processing a workpiece in a machine, where the method determines an offset of the machine and adjusts for the offset during production operation. In one form, the method includes logging offset data of the machine over a period of operational time having varying thermal conditions, and comparing the logged offset data against a thermal model, where the thermal model is generated based on a probing routine and dry cycling for a plurality of test cycles on a calibration artifact. Based on the comparing, the method estimates offsets for the machine and adjusts offsets of the machine during operation.

Abstract: Provided is an electrode catalyst layer excellent in gas transportability by using an electrode catalyst layer for fuel cell comprising a catalyst containing a catalyst carrier and a catalytic metal carried on the catalyst carrier and an electrolyte, wherein the catalyst partially is coated with the electrolyte, and a specific surface area of the catalytic metal which gas can reach without passing through an electrolyte is 50% or more, with respect to the total specific surface area of the catalytic metal.

Abstract: The present discloser is directed toward a method for detecting misalignment of a belt for a front end accessory drive system. The method includes acquiring, by a plurality of optical sensors, multiple images of the belt arranged on a series of pulleys of the drive system. The belt includes a contrast element that is detectable by the optical sensors system and is visually distinct from a color of the belt. The method further includes analyzing, by way of a controller, data indicative of the acquired images to determine whether the contrast element is present in the captured images, and identifying the belt as being misaligned in response to the contrast element being in at least one of the acquired images.

Abstract: A headlamp aiming method for a vehicle includes measuring, by a height measurement instrument, at least two reference heights of at least two reference areas along a body of the vehicle. The height measurement instrument is positioned external of the vehicle, and one of the at least two reference heights is indicative of a height of a headlamp of the vehicle. The method further includes determining a vehicle pitch and a headlamp height variation of the vehicle based on the measured reference heights, calculating a modified headlamp position based on the vehicle pitch, the headlamp height variation, and a standard headlamp position, and aiming a headlamp of the vehicle based on the modified headlamp position.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a method for measuring a true concentricity of a rotating shaft. The method includes simultaneously measuring, with diametrically opposed position sensors, opposite sides of the rotating shaft at an initial state to acquire a first measurement data and at a 180-degree rotation to acquire a second measurement data. The method further determines a rotational centerline and a shaft centerline based on the first and second measurement data, and calculates a concentricity error of the rotating shaft based on the determined rotational centerline and the shaft centerline.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a tooling assembly for a machine having an automatic tool changing system. The tooling assembly includes a holder, a tool body, and an internal passage defined within and extending through the holder and the tool body. The holder includes a machine interface configured to engage with a spindle of the machine. The internal passage is operable to have a coolant fluid flow within, and has a stem channel and a curved channel extending from the stem channel.

Abstract: A method of casting an assembly is provided that includes forming a structural insert, over-molding the structural insert with a temporary core, and positioning the over-molded structural insert within a cavity of a casting die. The over-molded structural insert is cast within a part, to form the assembly, and the temporary core is removed. The method may also include a temporary core configured to define an alloy flash trim location or locating features to position the structural insert within the cavity of the casting die. Further, the temporary core may define shared features with the structural insert. The part and structural insert may be dissimilar materials such as a part of an aluminum alloy material and a structural insert of a steel alloy material.

Abstract: Milling tools and methods are disclosed. The method may include moving a milling tool having at least two axially spaced apart sets of cutting inserts to an axial position within a bore in a material and rotating the milling tool about a longitudinal axis. Contact between the milling tool and a wall of the bore may be initiated in a region of the wall having a least amount of material at the axial position. The milling tool may include a tool shaft having a longitudinal axis, a first set of radially spaced cutting inserts coupled to the tool shaft, and a directly adjacent second set of radially spaced cutting inserts coupled to the tool shaft and spaced from the first set of cutting inserts along the longitudinal axis. The first and second sets of cutting inserts may be staggered from each other by at least 10 degrees.

Abstract: A composition for the manufacture of temperature resistant and sound attenuating automotive parts includes polyethylene terephthalate resin, basalt fibers, and mica. The basalt fibers and mica may be between 35 and 40% of the composition by weight of the total composition. The basalt fibers may be between 20 and 30% of the composition by weight and the mica may be between 5 and 15% of the composition by weight. The basalt fibers may be 25% of the composition by weight and the mica may be 10% of the composition by weight. A method is disclosed for molding a temperature resistant and sound attenuating part by blending a foaming agent with a thermoplastic olefin, basalt fibers and mica to form a resin mixture. The resin mixture is injected under pressure into a die to fill the die. The pressure is reduced to allow the foaming agent to form a microcellular core.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a shielding device is provided to shield a bore of a shaft against surface treatment, the shielding device including a sleeve to be at least partially received within the bore, the sleeve defining on its side wall a through-aperture and being of a first cross-sectional dimension when the through-aperture is at a rest position, and a pin to be at least partially received within the sleeve, the sleeve being of a second cross-sectional dimension greater than the first cross-sectional dimension when the through-aperture is at an expanded position with the pin being at least partially received within the sleeve.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a method for aligning a radiation head of a terahertz sensor system with a target surface. The method includes: scanning a selected area of the target surface with a terahertz radiation beam emitted by the radiation head; sensing a peak amplitude for each reflected radiation signal from a plurality of reflected radiation signals received by the radiation head during the scanning of the selected area; and identifying a normal position of the radiation head with respect to the target surface based on a maximum peak amplitude from among the peak amplitudes of the reflected radiation signals.

Abstract: A system is provided with memory and a processor. The memory is configured to store data representative of a multi-valued decision diagram (MDD). The processor is in communication with the memory and is programmed to receive a current selection of one or more of the features, and to determine a feature state for each of the one or more features, based on the current selection and the possible configurations defined by the MDD. The processor is further programmed to calculate an availability bitset indicative of which features as available for further selection, consistent with the valid configurations and without violating existing constraints of the current selection.