Abstract: A consumable assembly for supplying filament to a 3D printer having two or more receptacles having different geometric configurations, the 3D printer builds parts by material extrusion. The consumable assembly includes a container configured to retain a supply of a first filament, and a first filament guide tube having a length, the first filament guide tube having an inlet end attached to the first container and an outlet end, The consumable assembly includes a key having a geometric configuration allowing the key to be plugged into only one receptacle of the two or more receptacles of the 3D printer, the key comprising a conduit having an entrance and an exit, a coupling portion, and an engagement portion, wherein the entrance to the conduit is coupled to the outlet end of the first filament guide tube to thereby form a closed filament path from the first container to the 3D printer.

Abstract: Aspects hereof relate to a multi-part mold assembly for use in manufacturing articles. The mold assembly provides for contouring, shaping and cutting materials to form articles via a continuous single processing operation. The mold assembly includes an upper mold portion with a three-dimensional contouring/shaping portion and a first cutting edge, a lower mold portion with a three-dimensional contouring/shaping portion and a second cutting edge, and a base portion into which the lower mold portion may retract during use. Upon application of a first force, the upper and lower mold portions cooperate to contour/shape a material from which an article is to be formed. Upon application of a second force greater than the first, the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge interact to shear the material that extends beyond the respective cutting edges. The result is an article that is contoured, shaped and cut/trimmed utilizing a single processing operation.

Abstract: Various embodiments related to three dimensional printers, and reinforced filaments, and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, a void free reinforced filament is fed into an extrusion nozzle. The reinforced filament includes a core, which may be continuous or semi-continuous, and a matrix material surrounding the core. The reinforced filament is heated to a temperature greater than a melting temperature of the matrix material and less than a melting temperature of the core prior to extruding the filament from the extrusion nozzle.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printing system for manufacturing a 3D article includes a resin vessel, a build plate, a plate support, a hook subsystem, an elevator subsystem, an imaging subsystem, and a controller. The build plate has an upper surface and extends from a proximal end to a distal end. The hook subsystem includes a hook. The controller is configured to: (a) Operate the elevator subsystem and the imaging subsystem to fabricate the 3D article. (b) Operate the elevator subsystem to raise the 3D article above photocurable resin in the resin vessel. (c) Operate the hook subsystem to configure the hook to be engaged with the proximal end of the build plate. (d) Operate the elevator subsystem to impart a vertical separation distance between the proximal and distal ends of the build plate. The vertical separation distance defines an angular tilt of the 3D article to facilitate draining of residual photocurable.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imprint apparatus for forming a pattern in an imprint material on a substrate using an original, comprising: an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of the substrate; and a processor configured to perform, based on fine-detection marks and rough-detection marks in the image obtained by the image capturing unit, an alignment process of the original and the substrate in forming the pattern in the imprint material, and overlay inspection of the substrate and the pattern formed in the imprint material, wherein the processor is configured to change, between the alignment process and the overlay inspection, a rough-detection mark group to be used to specify positions of fine-detection marks in the image obtained by the image capturing unit.

Abstract: Auxiliary material handling units for additive manufacturing (AM), AM methods, methods of handling auxiliary material of an AM system, active print head cleaning devices, feedstock container modules, and related systems are provided. An auxiliary material handling unit (AMHU) includes a material displacer having at least one entry port through which auxiliary material from an AM system is received, wherein the material displacer displaces the auxiliary material away from the at least one entry port. A method of handling auxiliary material of an AM system includes receiving auxiliary material from the AM system in a material displacer having at least one entry port; and, with the material displacer, displacing the auxiliary material away from the at least one entry port. Displaced auxiliary material may be processed with a material processing unit and/or collected in a collection reservoir. At least one sensor may provide feedback to a controller.

Abstract: Implementations described herein are directed to forming objects including one or more layers of a polymeric material that include a magnetic material. The objects can be produced by forming one or more first layers that include a first polymeric material. The one or more first layers can be free of a magnetic material. Additionally, the object can be produced by forming one or more second layers that include a second polymeric material having a magnetic material. For example, the one or more second layers can include a polymeric material embedded with magnetic particles. The one or more first layers and the one or more second layers can be formed by extruding the first polymeric material and the second polymeric material onto a substrate according to a pattern. A magnetizing device can be used to magnetize the magnetic material included in the one or more second layers.

Abstract: An optical curing system for a large scale 3D printing system may include a light source housing, a light source, a mounting bracket, a light beam focusing subsystem, and a power source. The light source may be coupled to the light source housing. The mounting bracket may secure the light source housing to a rotary system on the 3D printer. The light beam focusing subsystem is attached to the light source housing. The power source may power the light source during its operation.

Abstract: A micro moulding machine and process for forming small plastic parts for the medical device industry. The machine adds heat in two steps to a precision sized plastic pellet and then displaces the entire pellet volume into the mould cavity. A substantial amount of heat is added to the pellet by forcing it through an orifice very near the gate of the mould. The pneumatic pressure to drive the pellet through the orifice is controlled to regulate the amount of heat introduced into the pellet.

Abstract: A forming method of a composite magnetic sheet. The forming method comprises a preparing step, a forming step and a heat-treating step. In the preparing step, magnetic slurry is prepared by mixing at least a soft magnetic powder having a flat shape, a first resin having a solid component and a second resin having a solid component, weight loss of the solid component of the first resin being 4.0% or less at 220° C., weight loss of the solid component of the second resin being 5.0% or more at 220° C. In the forming step, the magnetic slurry is formed into an intermediate body having a sheet-like shape. In the heat-treating step, the intermediate body is heat-treated at a heat-treatment temperature between 220° C. and 400° C. (both inclusive).

Abstract: An optical forming device includes a resin tank that is to retain a photocurable resin containing dichroic polymerization initiator and a light emitter to emit light for causing the photocurable resin to undergo curing. An alignment film for causing the dichroic polymerization initiator to align in a predetermined direction is provided on a bottom portion of the resin tank. The light emitter irradiates the photocurable resin with the light by passing the light through the bottom portion of the resin tank as linearly polarized light having a polarization direction in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the dichroic polymerization initiator is aligned by the alignment film.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes providing support material within which the structure is fabricated, depositing, into the support material, structure material to form the fabricated structure, and removing the support material to release the fabricated structure from the support material. The provided support material is stationary at an applied stress level below a threshold stress level and flows at an applied stress level at or above the threshold stress level during fabrication of the structure. The provided support material is configured to mechanically support at least a portion of the structure and to prevent deformation of the structure during the fabrication of the structure. The deposited structure material is suspended in the support material at a location where the structure material is deposited. The structure material comprises a fluid that transitions to a solid or semi-solid state after deposition of the structure material.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imprint apparatus for forming a pattern in an imprint material on a substrate using an original, comprising: an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of the substrate; and a processor configured to perform, based on fine-detection marks and rough-detection marks in the image obtained by the image capturing unit, an alignment process of the original and the substrate in forming the pattern in the imprint material, and overlay inspection of the substrate and the pattern formed in the imprint material, wherein the processor is configured to change, between the alignment process and the overlay inspection, a rough-detection mark group to be used to specify positions of fine-detection marks in the image obtained by the image capturing unit.

Abstract: In one example, an additive manufacturing process includes: making an object slice by slice, including dispensing a first quantity of each of multiple liquid functional agents on to a layer of fusable build material and then irradiating the layer of build material; while making the object, identifying a deviant region in a slice; and dispensing a second quantity different from the first quantity of at least one of the functional agents into a location corresponding to the deviant region.

Abstract: An example device for building stationary structures on a work surface includes a scaffold, which is arranged around the work surface. In the example, a working head is provided, which, with the help of multiple control cables is held on the scaffold and arranged above the work surface, upper control cables are provided, which run above the working head from the scaffold, lower control cables are provided, which run below the working head from the scaffold, all control cables can be extended out of the scaffold and retracted to the scaffold, in order to change a position of the working head, and a control unit is provided, which is connected with actuators for the extending and retracting of the control cables, and is configured to actuate these actuators to change the position of the working head.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition as well as a method for repairing deep scratches, gouges, etc. and which is particularly useful for aircraft and aerospace transparency repair. The composition is a blend of a polishable two-part, solvent-free, polyurethane coating composition for repairing the transparencies and which, after application, cures to a thermoset polyurethane. An optical grid is emplaced over the area to be repaired prior to applying the blend.

Abstract: In example implementations, a spreading blade is provided. The spreading blade includes a body portion, an ultrasonic vibration source, and a kicker. The ultrasonic vibration source is coupled to a top portion of the body portion to apply a vibration along a cross-sectional length of the body portion. The kicker is coupled to a side facing a process direction at a bottom end of the body portion. The kicker comprises a tip formed by a combination of two angled surfaces that extend from a lateral side of the body portion.

Abstract: A printer unit (100) for a 3D-printing apparatus. The printer unit comprises a printer head (105) comprising a nozzle (110) arranged to deposit printing material from the printer unit, a pressure sensor (120) configured to sense a pressure exerted on the printer head from the printing material, and a control unit (130) coupled to the pressure sensor. The control unit is configured to control the speed of the printer head based on a transfer function from the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor to a desired speed of the printer head, in order to maintain a constant deposition of the amount of printing material per length unit of deposited printing material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of polymer fibers from polymers dissolved in ionic liquids by means of an air gap spinning process, characterized in that a) a spinning solution that contains an ionic liquid and a dissolved polymer is produced; b) said spinning solution is guided through an extruder before it is divided into fibers via a die; and c) the obtained fibers are guided via an air gap through a coagulation bath.

Abstract: A three dimensional printing system includes a light engine having a spatial light modulator for curing individual layers of a photocure resin to form a three dimensional article of manufacture. The light engine is configured to: (1) receive a slice image that defines an array of energy values for curing a layer, (2) process the slice image to define an image frame compatible with the spatial light modulator, (3) receive an on signal, (4) activate the first light source in response to the on signal; (5) repeatedly send the first defined image frame to the first spatial light modulator during a defined cure time for the single layer of resin; (6) receive an off signal; (7) deactivate the first light source in response to the off signal; and (8) repeat steps (1)-(7) until the three dimensional article of manufacture is formed.