Abstract: A sealed linear encoder apparatus provides a measure of relative displacement of two relatively movable members. The sealed linear encoder apparatus includes at least one elongate sealing lip wherein at least a sealing portion of the elongate sealing lip is held in tension along its length.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a contact probe having a deflectable stylus and configured to provide at least one signal which is indicative of the extent of deflection of the stylus, the contact probe being mounted on a coordinate positioning machine which facilitates reorientation of the contact probe about at least one axis. The method includes: taking measurement data obtained with the contact probe positioned at a plurality of different orientations about the at least one axis; and determining from the measurement data at least one gain variation model which models any apparent variation in the gain of the at least one probe signal dependent on the orientation of the contact probe about the at least one axis.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article, comprising taking an article formed in an initial state via an additive manufacturing process and performing a second manufacturing process to transform the article into a second state, which comprises mounting the article in a holding device, processing at least one first feature on the article, which comprises processing at least one set of mounting features on the article, re-mounting the article via the at least one set of mounting features, and then processing at least one second feature on the article.

Abstract: Selective laser solidification apparatus is described that includes a powder bed onto which a powder layer can be deposited and a gas flow unit for passing a flow of gas over the powder bed along a predefined gas flow direction. A laser scanning unit is provided for scanning a laser beam over the powder layer to selectively solidify at least part of the powder layer to form a required pattern. The required pattern is formed from a plurality of stripes or stripe segments that are formed by advancing the laser beam along the stripe or stripe segment in a stripe formation direction. The stripe formation direction is arranged so that it always at least partially opposes the predefined gas flow direction. A corresponding method is also described.

Abstract: A powder bed fusion apparatus for building an object in a layer-by-layer manner includes a build platform movable within a build sleeve to define a build volume, a layer formation device for forming layers of powder across the build volume in a working plane and an irradiation device for irradiating powder in the working plane to selectively fuse the powder. The powder bed fusion apparatus further includes a mechanical manipulator arranged to engage with the object and/or a build substrate, to which the object is attached, to tilt the object in a raised position above the working plane such that powder is freed from the object and deposited at a location above the working plane and/or into the build volume.

Abstract: A shadow-cast encoder apparatus includes a scale and a readhead. The readhead includes at least one electromagnetic radiation source for illuminating the scale in order to produce a shadow-cast fringe pattern at a detector configured to detect the shadow-cast fringe pattern. The encoder apparatus can be configured so as to suppress the total harmonic distortion of the fringe pattern, e.g. such that the total harmonic distortion of the fringe pattern is not more than 6%.

Abstract: An electro-magnetic brake which is switched between an operative braking position and an inoperative position by transient pulses of current. It is held passively in the operative and inoperative positions with little or no current. This prevents the generation of heat, which would affect the accuracy of measurements where the brake is used in dimensional measuring equipment. In one form, permanent and semi-permanent magnets are arranged in parallel, and the magnetic polarity of the arrangement is flipped by transient current pulses in a surrounding coil. A capacitor may provide a reservoir of current to activate the brake in the event of a power supply failure.

Abstract: A method for delivering fluid to a brain of a subject is disclosed. This method includes the steps of: making one or more incisions in a subject; implanting one or more catheters in the brain of the subject; subcutaneously implanting a first part of a modular fluid delivery apparatus in the subject, the first part of the modular fluid delivery apparatus comprising a first length of tubing having a first end and a second end, the first end having a first fluid connector portion attached thereto and the second end being connected to the one or more catheters; and closing the one or more incisions such that the first part of the modular fluid delivery apparatus and the one or more catheters are entirely subcutaneously implanted within the subject.

Abstract: An implantable fluid router is described that includes one or more inlets, one or more outlets and at least one gas vent for removing gas from liquid routed from the one or more inlets to the one or more outlets, The implantable router may be used with implantable drug delivery apparatus. A catheter device including such a fluid router is also described.

Abstract: A touch trigger probe interface for a machine tool is described that includes a probe communication portion for receiving probe event information from a touch trigger probe. A machine tool communication portion is also provided for outputting probe event information to a numerical controller of the machine tool. The machine tool communication portion outputs the probe event information as digital data packets, for example over a digital data bus. The digital data packets may include a time stamp and/or the touch trigger probe interface may receive timing information from the machine tool. A touch trigger probing system and a machine tool system including the probe interface are also described.

Abstract: An ultrasound inspection apparatus for use with coordinate positioning apparatus is described. The apparatus includes a base module that is attachable to the moveable member of the coordinate positioning apparatus. The base module comprises an ultrasound transducer and a first connector portion. A plurality of coupling modules are also provided that each include a second connector portion that is releasably attachable to the first connector portion of the base module. The coupling modules also include a coupling element, which may be a sphere of self-lubricating material such as a hydro-gel, for contacting and acoustically coupling to an object to be inspected. This allows different coupling modules to be attached to the base module to perform different ultrasound inspection tasks.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus including a build chamber, build platform lowerable in the chamber so layers of flowable material can successively form across the platform, laser for generating a laser beam, scanning unit for directing the laser beam onto each layer to selectively solidify the material and a processor for controlling the scanning unit. The processor controls the scanning unit directs the laser beam to solidify a selected area of material by advancing the laser beam many times along a scan path. On each pass, the laser beam solidifies spaced apart sections of the scan path, each subsequent pass solidifying sections that are located between sections solidified on a previous pass. The processor controls the scanning unit to direct the laser beam to solidify selected area of material by solidifying sub-millimetre sized sections of non-continuously area and in an order such that consecutively solidified sections are spaced apart.

Abstract: Selective laser solidification apparatus is described that includes a powder bed onto which a powder layer can be deposited and a gas flow unit for passing a flow of gas over the powder bed along a predefined gas flow direction. A laser scanning unit is provided for scanning a laser beam over the powder layer to selectively solidify at least part of the powder layer to form a required pattern. The required pattern is formed from a plurality of stripes or stripe segments that are formed by advancing the laser beam along the stripe or stripe segment in a stripe formation direction. The stripe formation direction is arranged so that it always at least partially opposes the predefined gas flow direction. A corresponding method is also described.

Abstract: An optical device includes a unitary substrate of optically transparent material. The unitary substrate has formed therein at least one collection lens and channel, the channel for receiving an optical fibre and arranged to align the optical fibre inserted therein such that the collection lens couples light collected by the collection lens into the optical fibre.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus including a scanner for directing a laser beam on to layers of flowable material to selectively solidify the material to form an object in a layer-by-layer manner. The scanner includes an optical component operable under the control of a first actuator to reflect the laser beam over a first range of angles in a first dimension and the or a further optical component operable under the control of a second actuator to reflect the laser beam over a second range of angles in the first dimension, wherein the second actuator provides a faster dynamic response but a smaller range of movement of the laser beam than the first actuator.

Abstract: This invention concerns an additive manufacturing apparatus for building objects by layerwise consolidation of material. The apparatus comprises a build chamber 101 containing a working area, a plurality of high energy beams 133, 233 for consolidating material deposited in the working area in layers and an optical unit 135 for controlling transmission of the high energy beams onto material in the working area. The optical unit 135 comprises a plurality of independently controllable optical elements 141, 241 each optical element 141, 241 for controlling transmission of at least one of the high energy beams onto the material in the working area, the optical unit 135 movable in the build chamber 101.

Abstract: The invention concerns a cranial drill system comprising one or more surgical drill elements for drilling into the brain. The invention also concerns a cranial drilling system comprising a surgical drill element for drilling into the skull and an element for penetrating the dura. The surgical drill element may comprise a profile that forms an opening in the skull having a narrower diameter portion and a wider diameter portion and the piercing element may be arranged to be a close fit in the narrower diameter portion of the opening. The invention also concerns a cranial drill system comprising a guiding element to be located in a hole formed through the skull and a piercing element for piercing the dura. The guiding element may have a passageway or channel therein for receiving the piercing element such that the piercing element is movable relative to the guide element to pierce the dura.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article comprising: (a) performing an additive manufacturing process to firm an article in an initial state, the article comprising mounting features and being supported during the additive manufacturing process by support structures; and (h) performing a second manufacturing process to transform the article into a second state, which second manufacturing process is a subtractive process comprising: (i) mounting, via the mounting features formed during the additive manufacturing process, the article in a holding device of a machine for operating on the article, with the support structures or at least remnants thereof remaining on the article, and (ii) with the article so mounted in the holding device, processing at least one feature on a surface of the article on which the support structures were provided to remove material on the at least one feature provided by the support structures.

Abstract: A method for delivering fluid to the brain of a subject using an intraparenchymal catheter, the method comprising the step of inserting the catheter 5 into the brain using a posterior to anterior approach and methods of treating neurodegenerative disorders using this delivery method, as well as methods for delivering fluid to an elongate structure of the brain using an intraparenchymal catheter, the method comprising the step of inserting a catheter into the brain along an insertion axis that is substantially aligned with a long axis of the elongate structure.

Abstract: An encoder apparatus comprising a readhead moveable relative to a scale, configured to produce a position signal, as well as to produce a reference mark signal when the readhead passes over a reference mark on the scale, configured such that the process for producing the reference mark signal adapts automatically in response to a change in circumstance so as to at least pursue maintenance of a given relationship between the position and reference mark signals.