Abstract: There is provided a method for forming a three-dimensional object having a desired decoration. The method using an apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object configured to form a three-dimensional object includes: a head for reflective ink configured to form a light reflection layer, a head for decorative ink, a head for transparent ink, a main scanning driving unit and a sub-scanning driving unit. At least the head for decorative ink and the head for transparent ink are arranged to be positionally offset in a sub-scanning direction, the head for reflective ink, the head for decorative ink and the head for transparent ink are configured to form a transparent layer between the light reflection layer and a decorative layer, thereby forming the decorative layer, the transparent layer and the light reflection layer in corresponding order from a surface layer-side of the three-dimensional object towards an inner side of the three-dimensional object.

Abstract: A plastic product having magnetic properties and a method for making the same is provided. The method comprises creating a mixture of a nylon and a metal, melting the mixture to create a melted mixture of the metal suspended in the nylon, injecting the melted mixture into a mold to harden the melted mixture and shape the melted mixture into the product's shape, applying an electrical current to the mold while the mixture is in a viscous state to align the poles of the metal suspended in the nylon in the mixture in a single direction before the mixture has hardened, and applying a magnetic field to the hardened mixture to provide the product with magnetic properties.

Abstract: A method of shaping the profile of a fan casing having an inside surface, the method including placing the casing around a surface of revolution of a drum of shaping tooling; interposing at least one bladder that is inflatable under the action of a fluid under pressure between a portion of the inside surface of the casing and the drum, the bladder extending over all or part of the surface of revolution of the drum; stoving the assembly including the casing, the tooling, and the at least one bladder at a predetermined temperature; and during the stoving, applying isostatic pressure via the at least one bladder so as to impart a cylindrical profile to the portion of the inside surface of the casing facing the at least one bladder.

Abstract: A compression device, means for controlling the compression device, a drum having an inner chamber, means for rotating the drum, and first and second delivery devices for delivering first and second materials into the inner chamber of the drum while the drum is rotating. The compression device compresses the first and second material in the inner chamber of the drum while the drum is rotating about the center of the drum in response to the means for controlling the compression device. The apparatus may include a stirring device; and a means for controlling the stirring device; wherein the stirring device is configured with respect to the drum so that the stirring device can be moved up and down to a desired depth within the drum and rotates within the inner chamber of the drum to stir the first and second materials in the drum while the drum is rotating.

Abstract: A method for laser processing a transparent workpiece includes forming a contour line that includes defects, by directing a pulsed laser beam output by a beam source through an aspheric optical element positioned offset in a radial direction from the beam pathway and into the transparent workpiece such that the portion of the pulsed laser beam directed into the transparent workpiece generates an induced absorption within the transparent workpiece that produces a defect within the transparent workpiece. The portion of the pulsed laser beam directed into the transparent workpiece includes a wavelength ?, an effective spot size wo,eff, and a non-axisymmetric beam cross section having a minimum Rayleigh range ZRx,min in an x-direction and a minimum Rayleigh range ZRy,min in a y-direction. Further, the smaller of ZRx,min and ZRy,min is greater than F D ? ? ? ? w 0 , eff 2 ? , where FD is a dimensionless divergence factor comprising a value of 10 or greater.

Abstract: According to one example, there is provided a system for generating a three-dimensional object. The system comprises a carriage to move bi-directionally along a first axis relative to a support platform. The carriage is to receive, or have installed thereon, a plurality of modules each to perform an operation from a set of operations to generate a layer of a three-dimensional object. The system further comprises a controller to cause relative movement between the carriage and the support platform along the first axis, and to control, during the relative movement, operation of the modules to perform the set of operations in a predefined order.

Abstract: Items such as fabric-based items may include magnetic strands. Magnetic strands may be formed using extrusion equipment. To form single component magnetic strands, first and second feed hoppers may respectively feed a base polymer and a magnet masterbatch to an extruder. The magnet masterbatch may include particles of a rare-earth alloy or other magnetic materials in a polymer blend. The extruder may push the base polymer and magnet masterbatch through a spinneret. To form bicomponent magnetic strands, a first extruder may push a base polymer and magnet masterbatch through a first set of openings in a spinneret, while a second extruder may push an additional polymer through a second set of openings in the spinneret. Bicomponent magnetic strands may have a magnetic core and non-magnetic sheath, may have a non-magnetic core and magnetic sheath, or may have other suitable configurations.

Abstract: An apparatus of adjusting and controlling the stacking-up layer manufacturing comprises a target, a powder providing unit, an energy generating unit, and a magnetism unit. The powder providing unit is coupled on a top of the target. The energy generating unit is also coupled on the top of the target. The powder providing unit provides a powder to a surface of the target. The energy generating unit provides the energy beam to selectively heat the powder on the surface of the target to form a melted or sintered powder layer. The magnetism unit provides a magnetic field to control the solidification of the melted or sintered powder layer.

Abstract: Approaches presented herein enable forming a 3D object with a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), also known as “drones”, configured to carry and deposit 3D printing material, and to fly to a depositing location (e.g., fly, hover, or land) to print a 3D object. Specifically, at a central controller, a set of specifications for a 3D object to be printed are obtained. The central controller directs each of a plurality of UAVs controlled by the central controller to fly to a depositing location where a layer of 3D printer material is to be deposited, the location determined from the set of specifications. In response to a UAV of the plurality reaching the depositing location, the central controller further directs the UAV of the plurality to apply the layer of 3D printer material to the depositing location.

Abstract: A three-dimensional object may be generated. Coalescing agent may be selectively delivered on a portion of a first layer of build material on a support member or previous layer. Energy may be applied to the first layer to cause the portion of the first layer to coalesce and solidify. A second layer of the build material may be provided on the first layer. While the second layer does not have coalescing agent delivered thereon, energy may be applied to the second layer such that energy may propagate through the second layer to the first layer to cause the portion of the first layer to coalesce and further solidify.

Abstract: A blanket assembly for forming a composite charge onto a forming mandrel includes upper and lower heating blankets configured to have a composite charge slidable therebetween during translation along the forming mandrel. The blanket assembly has a pair of wedge elements with tapered sections that are each positionable between the lower heating blanket and the mandrel side surfaces. The wedge element top sides are inclined from the tapered section forward end to the tapered section aft end. The upper heating blanket exerts a blanket forming pressure for progressively forming the composite charge into the cross-sectional shape of the forming mandrel collectively defined by the mandrel side surfaces and wedge element top sides as the composite charge passes over the tapered sections of the blanket assembly. The wedge element top sides maintain the laterally outboard portions of the composite charge in approximately parallel relation to a level tangent to the mandrel top portion.

Abstract: In an example of a three-dimensional printing method, a polymeric build material is applied. A fusing agent is selectively applied on at least a portion of the polymeric build material. The fusing agent includes cesium tungsten oxide nanoparticles, a zwitterionic stabilizer, and an aqueous vehicle. The polymeric build material is exposed to electromagnetic radiation to fuse the portion of the polymeric build material in contact with the fusing agent to form a layer.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for reducing bowing effects on a substrate while the substrate is being transported, for example in an elevator mechanism, from a first travel path to a second travel path, where the first travel path is offset from the second travel path so that the first travel path is not collinear with the second travel path. The substrate can be any substrate that is bowed and for which one wishes to eliminate or reduce the bow. One specific substrate that can benefit from the techniques described herein are personalized documents such as plastic cards including but not limited to financial (e.g. credit and debit) cards, drivers' licenses, national identification cards, gift cards, loyalty cards, employee badges, and other plastic cards which bear personalized data unique to the card holder and/or which bear other card or document information.

Abstract: A machine and method of forming an article generally comprising extruding a molten bead of thermoplastic material along x, y and z axes in forming an article consisting of a strata of such material, and passing a roller over each applied portion of such molten bead to compress such bead portion, enhancing the fusion of engaging plies of such extruded material.

Abstract: In a molding die, movable die elements are respectively received in die element receiving holes formed in a frame plate. An end surface of the frame plate, which faces a cavity at a location that is other than locations of the die element receiving holes, forms a frame portion compression surface. An end surface of each movable die element, which faces the cavity, forms a split compression surface. Die element drive devices respectively drive the split compression surfaces of the movable die elements. A whole compression plate commonly supports an opposite end part of the frame plate and opposite end parts of the movable die elements, which are opposite from the cavity. When the whole compression plate is moved forward, the whole compression plate integrally drives the frame plate and the movable die elements forward. A whole drive device drives the whole compression plate.

Abstract: An imprint apparatus that forms a pattern of an imprint material on a substrate-side pattern region of a substrate by using a mold. The imprint apparatus includes a light irradiation unit configured to irradiate the imprint material with light having a first wavelength for curing, and a heating unit configured to heat a partial region of the substrate, the partial region corresponding to the substrate-side pattern region, by irradiating the substrate with light that has passed through the mold and has a second wavelength different from the light having the first wavelength. The heating unit is configured to heat the partial region to deform the substrate-side pattern region by forming an uneven temperature distribution on the substrate-side pattern region by irradiation of the light having the second wavelength with an uneven illumination distribution.

Abstract: A method of three-dimensional fabrication of an object is disclosed. The method comprises: forming a plurality of layers in a configured pattern corresponding to the shape of the three-dimensional object, at least one layer of the plurality of layers being formed at a predetermined and different thickness selected so as to compensate for post-formation shrinkage of the layer along a vertical direction. In various exemplary embodiments of the invention spread of building material of one or more layers is diluted at least locally such as to maintain a predetermined thickness and a predetermined planar resolution for the layer.

Abstract: A method of and fixture for molding a product with an embedded ring. A system for molding a ring into a product including a rotational molding mold with an opening formed in the rotational molding mold sized to fit a ring. A fixture is removably couplable to the ring, wherein the ring and the fixture when coupled are removably couplable in the opening. The fixture is removed from the ring after the ring is molded into a product. A method of manufacturing a product with an embedded ring includes: coupling a ring to a fixture; clamping the fixture and the ring in an opening in a mold top; clamping the mold top to a mold bottom; rotomolding a product; unclamping the fixture from the mold top; uncoupling the fixture from the ring; unclamping the mold top and the mold bottom; and removing the product from the mold.

Abstract: A three-dimensional object printer is configured to enable the density of material ejected by at least one printhead onto a rotating platen near its circumferential edge to be approximately the same as the density of the material ejected onto the rotating platen near the center of the platen.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for use in additively manufacturing a composite structure. The system may include a head having a nozzle configured to discharge a composite material including a matrix and a reinforcement, and a cure enhancer configured to direct energy to the composite material to enhance curing of the matrix. The system may also include an optic adjustably positioned between the cure enhancer and the nozzle of the head.