Abstract: A mold for in-mold foam-molding of a polyolefin-based resin for producing a molded article includes a first mold part, a second mold part, and a divided mold that holds an insert material, wherein the insert material has a protrusion part, the divided mold is formed on the first and the second mold parts in correspondence with the protrusion part of the insert material, the first mold part has a first holding surface, the second mold part has a divided mold member having a second holding surface and a biasing part that guides the divided mold member movably in the mold opening/closing direction and constantly biases the divided mold member toward the first holding surface, and the base portion of the protrusion part of the insert material is configured for being held between the first and second holding surfaces by the divided mold.

Abstract: A preform molding system is disclosed that includes a cavity half that is mountable to a stationary platen of an injection molding machine and a core half that is mountable to a moving platen of the injection molding machine. The preform molding system includes a mold stack assembly having a cavity portion and a core portion. The cavity portion is coupled to the cavity half and includes a cavity insert, and the core portion is coupled to the core half and includes a core insert, a pair of neck rings, and a stripper ring. The core insert has an undercut that defines an annular protrusion on an internal surface of a preform that is created in the mold stack assembly. The preform molding system is configured to permit in sequence, retraction of the pair of neck rings away from the core insert and ejection of the preform from the core insert via the stripper ring.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides improved stripfilm based pharmaceutical products (e.g., for enhancing dissolution and bioavailability). More particularly, the present disclosure provides improved systems/methods for fabricating stripfilm based pharmaceutical products by utilizing higher viscosity film forming precursors and drying methods that accomplish improved/faster drying and provide improved/excellent content uniformity of active pharmaceutical agents in the stripfilm based pharmaceutical products. Exemplary systems/methods advantageously use high viscosity, bio-compatible polymeric precursors, (optional use of surface modified drug powders), and convective drying for fabrication of thin films loaded with nano and/or micro sized particles of poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to achieve improved active content uniformity and very fast dissolution from poorly water soluble actives, while accomplishing fast drying during the fabrication process.

Abstract: A molding process includes the operation of placing insulation material comprising fibers and binder on the fibers in a mold cavity. The molding process further includes the operation of transferring heat to the insulation material to cause the binder to cure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wet press process and admixture components for making concrete slabs (flags) (16), curb (kerb) units, panels, boards, and other flat shapes, whereby colloidal silica and at least one alkanolamine and optional rheology control components are employed to provide an ideal combination of pressing time, green strength, surface definition, stack-ability, final concrete strength, and permeability. Stack-ability can be expressed in terms of minimum deflection or non-eccentricity of the units while standing on thickness edges at distances apart less than width or standing height. A wet press process typically involves introducing a highly fluid concrete mix into a mold (10,12), applying hydraulic pressure to consolidate the concrete (e.g.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for volumetric manufacture of three-dimensional physical objects from a precursor material based on plans, specifications, or virtual models. A build domain is provided comprising an enclosed three-dimensional wire grid in which the wires are connected to one or more electric power sources configured to controllably and addressably apply power to one or more individual wires to cause the wires to dissipate heat produced by Joule heating to the surrounding precursor material situated within the build domain, and to further allow for the control of the three-dimensional heat distribution and accordingly temperature distribution within the build domain. By activating and deactivating one or more predetermined subsets of the wires in the build domain, the precursor can be caused to melt and/or solidify so as to form a three-dimensional object within the build domain.

Abstract: There is provided a method which includes: plasticizing and melting a thermoplastic resin to provide a molten resin in a plasticization zone of a plasticizing cylinder; allowing the molten resin to be in a starved state in a starvation zone of the plasticizing cylinder; introducing a pressurized fluid containing a physical foaming agent having a fixed pressure into the starvation zone to retain the starvation zone at the fixed pressure; bringing the molten resin in the starved state in contact with the pressurized fluid containing the physical foaming agent having the fixed pressure in the starvation zone in a state in which the starvation zone is retained at the fixed pressure; and molding the molten resin having been brought in contact with the pressurized fluid containing the physical foaming agent into the foam-molded product.

Abstract: A 3D printing method implemented by swaths is disclosed. When printing swaths of a printing layer, a 3D printer first obtains a default swath-width, and adjusts the default swath-width based on a shift value, then controls a nozzle to print the swaths according to the adjusted swath-width. When printing a final swath of the same printing layer, the 3D printer compensates a remained swath-width of the final swath according to the adjusted shift value(s) of previous printed swath(s), and controls the nozzle to print the final swath according to the compensated remained swath-width. When printing different printing layers, the 3D printer uses different shift values to adjust the swath-width of each printing layer. Because swaths of different printing layers have different widths, the positions of seams between each two swaths of each printing layer are staggered, and thus the strength of printed 3D models is enhanced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an overturning device (10) for overturning a molten material (200) in a melt channel (110) comprising a melt inlet (20) and a melt outlet (30), wherein between the melt inlet (20) and the melt outlet (30) at least a melt guidance means (40) is assembled for a rearrangement of molten material (200) from the centre (22) of the melt inlet (20) to the edge (34) of the melt outlet (30) and for a rearrangement of molten material (200) from the edge (24) of the melt inlet (20) into the centre (32) of the melt outlet (30).

Abstract: A system is configured to form a three dimensional (3D) object having multiple zones within the three dimensional object. The zones differ from each other according to system operational parameters. The system is operable to perform a method including: (1) receiving a solid model file, (2) generating a shell of the 3D object based on the file, (3) dividing the shell into zones, (4) defining or selecting parameters for forming the zones, (5) forming layer data defining layers of the 3D object, and creating a tool path from the layer data including merging layer data for the zones.

Abstract: A corner trim material that is made of a material that will bond with current industry mastics such as all purpose joint compounds, resists impact, resists abrasion, and readily accepts common coatings such as drywall mud, texture and paints. The surface of this material generally does not need to be covered by any secondary fiber based material such as paper to improve bonding or coating on the inside or outside. The material generally consists of a polymer mixed with a fibrous material like pulp or glass fiber. A corner trim piece can be directly extruded from the mix. The corner trim piece can have a center hinge, can be bullnose, and the flanges can optionally have holes or optionally be coated with adhesive.

Abstract: A method of forming a material includes presenting a formable material to a space between opposing forming surfaces of opposed forming tools from whence said material is carried as said opposing forming surfaces advance in a machine direction. The method includes pressurising, as said opposing forming surfaces advance, said material between said opposing forming surfaces in a reduced space between said opposing forming surfaces defining at least in part a pressure forming zone, said reduced space between said opposing forming surfaces being maintained constant until a form of at least one of said opposing forming surfaces is profiled into said material and is retainable thereon. The method also includes releasing the profiled material from between the said opposing forming surfaces, as the space of the pressure forming zone increases between said opposing forming surfaces as the opposing forming surfaces advance.

Abstract: A print head assembly that includes a print head carriage and multiple, replaceable print heads that are configured to be removably retained in receptacles of the print head carriage. The print heads each include a cartridge assembly and a liquefier pump assembly retained by the cartridge assembly.

Abstract: A method for transferring a pattern from a template to a nanoimprint object. A perimeter portion of the nanoimprint object is supported by a perimeter support structure. A gas pressure induced force is applied to the nanoimprint object to facilitate bending of a central portion of the nanoimprint object in a direction toward a surface of the template until the central portion of the nanoimprint object is brought into contact with the surface of the template. While the nanoimprint object is held in contact with the surface of the template, the pattern from the template is transferred to a surface of the nanoimprint object thereby creating a patterned surface on the nanoimprint object.

Abstract: Feedstock material used by an automated fabrication device may provide machine readable information about the feedstock material. In one implementation, the machine readable information may provide quality assurance for a produced object. The feedstock material or the object produced may store encoded machine readable information using one or more of a code, a taggant, a chemical marker, or a physical marker. The encoded machine readable information may be used to authenticate the composition of the produced object.

Abstract: A method for molding or replicating leather samples for inspection, selecting and later using those samples in applications such as automobile interiors with leather surfaces that are laminated or have a loose grain appearance. In one process variant, the main steps include choosing original samples for replication, the original samples including a characteristic to be replicated; making a replication tool from the approved samples; and producing replicated molded samples with the replication tool that emulate the original samples, thereby enabling the replicated molded samples to be compared with the original sample.

Abstract: There is provided a sheet manufacturing apparatus, including: a supplying unit configured to supply a cut-form material including fibers; a detection unit configured to detect information related to a weight of the material which is processed to be supplied by the supplying unit; a defibrating unit configured to defibrate the material; and a forming unit configured to form a sheet by using at least a part of a defibrated material defibrated by the defibrating unit, in which a supply interval of at least one material among a plurality of materials to be supplied later increases in a case where the weight of the material which is supplied at a unit time is heavy rather than in a case where the weight is light.

Abstract: The present invention involves laser machining polymer substrates to form a stent with laser parameters that minimize damage to the substrate in a surface region adjacent to the machined edge surface. The wavelength and pulse width are selected for this unique application and they can be controlled to minimize the surface modifications (such as voids, cracks which are induced by the laser-material interaction) which contribute to the variation in mechanical properties with distance from the edge surface, bulk mechanical properties, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Systems are disclosed for curing composite parts within a container, wherein a pressurized environment may be created via a body of water. Disclosed systems may include the container, a heating system, and a mechanism for raising and/or lowering the container within the body of water. The container may include one or more rigid walls, one or more non-rigid walls, and/or one or more port holes extending through one or more of the rigid walls and/or non-rigid walls. Methods of curing composite parts using such systems are also disclosed. Methods may include providing a container having a cavity configured to receive a composite part, thermally coupling a heating system to the container, inserting the composite part into the cavity, submerging the container under a depth of external liquid, flowing a volume of fluid into the cavity, heating the volume of fluid, thereby curing the composite part.

Abstract: A lid for a disposable beverage container. A sheet of plastic is passed through an offset printing process to directly print images at multiple discrete locations on the sheet. During printing, registration marks are printed on the sheet. These marks are used to align the sheet correctly for subsequent printing runs in which additional colors are added to the images. The registration marks are also used to correctly position the printed sheet on a mold. Multiple lids are thermoformed into the printed plastic sheet. The registration marks are subsequently used to correctly position the thermoformed printed sheet with a die-cutter to separate the multiple printed and formed lids from the sheet. The images are printed in non-heat sensitive inks as these will resist distortion of the printed images during the thermoforming process. Preferably each image is printed so that it ends up in a depression on the eventually formed lids.