Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fuel tank includes: an introducing process in which a molten resin sheet formed with a tank body is introduced in a forming mold; a shaping process in which a movable member abuts against the molten resin sheet to form a molten resin projection projected in a thickness direction of the molten resin sheet; an arranging process in which the molten resin projection is inserted in an attachment hole provided in an attachment part, and the attachment part is arranged on the molten resin sheet; and a machining process in which the molten resin projection is pressurized by a pressurizing member, so as to bulge out a portion of the molten resin projection to an outer peripheral side.

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: The invention relates to parts having a foamed polymeric material attached to a fabric, and systems and methods for forming same. An example method of attaching foamed polymeric material to a fabric layer includes providing a mold having at least one cavity and at least one material injection channel in fluid communication with the cavity, disposing a fabric over the at least one cavity, closing the mold, injecting unfoamed polymeric material into the at least one cavity through the material injection channel, wherein the unfoamed polymeric material penetrates at least a portion of the fabric proximate the at least one cavity to attach the polymeric material to the fabric layer, and foaming the unfoamed polymeric material.

Abstract: A method of injecting laser-blocking material into a workpiece includes communicating molten laser-blocking material through the workpiece as the workpiece is subjected to at least a partial vacuum within an enclosed environment such that the partial vacuum expands any air bubbles in the laser-blocking material and transports the air bubbles out of the workpiece.

Abstract: A method of making a filled large-format imprinted structure includes providing a substrate, locating a curable layer over the substrate, imprinting the curable layer, and curing the curable layer to form a cured layer including a layer surface having one or more areas. Each area has a plurality of imprinted micro-cavities, wherein each micro-cavity has a micro-cavity width less than or equal to 20 microns. A rib separates each micro-cavity from an adjacent micro-cavity by a rib width that is less than the micro-cavity width, the rib extending from a bottom of the micro-cavity to the layer surface. A common curable material is located in each micro-cavity and cured to form common cured material in each micro-cavity, thereby defining a filled large-format imprinted structure.

Abstract: Porosity causing gas-based defects are detected, located, identified, and/or characterized by the use of defect information generated from gas flow data corresponding to gas flow characteristics measured by one or more sensors on a composite part processing piece such as a mold or membrane used during a composite manufacturing process. The defect information is generated using techniques including one or more of profiling the gas flow data, fingerprinting, line leak detection, analytical triangulation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of blowing and filling a container (120) from a preform, the method comprising: —placing a preform within a mold (140), —stretching the preform —injecting a liquid into the preform after the stretching has started so as to cause expansion of the preform within the mold, thereby obtaining a blown and filled container (120), —capping the blown and filled container (120).

Abstract: Encapsulated solids are made by first encapsulating precursor materials in a polymer shell. The precursors are some combination of solids, liquids, gases, and/or gels. The precursors are then transformed into solids by emplacement of the capsule in an environment where gas or fluid transport into or out of the polymer shell causes transformation into solids.

Abstract: A hybrid rocket solid fuel grain having a cylindrical shape and defining a center port is additive manufactured from a compound of thermoplastic fuel and passivated nanocomposite aluminum additive. The fuel grain comprises a stack of fused layers, each formed as a plurality of fused abutting concentric circular beaded structures of different radii arrayed defining a center port. During operation, an oxidizer is introduced along the center port, with combustion occurring along the exposed port wall. Each circular beaded structure possesses geometry that increases the surface area available for combustion. As each layer ablates the next abutting layer, exhibiting a similar geometry is revealed, undergoes a gas phase change, and ablates. This process repeats and persists until oxidizer flow is terminated or the fuel grain material is exhausted. To safety achieve this construction, a fused deposition additive manufacturing apparatus, modified to shield the nanocomposite material from the atmosphere is used.

Abstract: A method for producing a reinforcement member of composite material. The method includes producing a planar preform by stacking sheets of pre-impregnated fibers, heating the preform, and deforming the preform on a mold surmounted by an upper die whose shape confirms to a central portion of the reinforcement member to be obtained. The reinforcement member wings are in contact with the mold at two opposite lateral sides of the upper die after deformation. The deformed preform is also baked. Prior to deformation of the preform, a coating is applied promoting a sliding between the preform and the mold during the deformation. The coating comprises two tear-off strips superimposed on each other. A first tear-off strip is in the form of a pre-impregnated material in contact with the preform and a second tear-off strip is in the form of a dry material superimposed on the first tear-off strip.

Abstract: A light weight container (1) comprising a base (3), four sidewalls (2) and four corner portions, characterized in that the corner portions are so arranged as to allow flexibility between the sidewalk (2) so that an upper opening area of the container (1) can be made smaller by forcing the sidewalls (2) towards each other (compression) and larger by forcing the sidewalk (2) apart (expansion). The invention also relates to a process for the manufacturing of a container (1).

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: The invention relates to a process for making a medical component such as a medical implant for example a graft or stent-graft, said medical component comprising ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers, a medical component obtainable by said process as well as uses of said process and medical component.

Abstract: A method and system to dry crack-free and high strength skin including an inorganic binder of an average particle size (D50) in a range between 10 nm and 700 nm on a porous ceramic body. The method includes supporting the honeycomb body on an end face such that axial channels and outer periphery are substantially vertical. A gas is flowed past the honeycomb body substantially parallel to the axial channel direction, substantially equally around the outer periphery of the skin, to uniformly dry the skin to form a partially dried skin under mild conditions. Then the partially dried skin may be dried more severely resulting in rapidly dried crack-free and high strength skin.

Abstract: The invention is a method for producing a three-dimensional object in layers through stereolithography, comprising the following operations: moving a supporting surface (6a, 7a) near the bottom (2a) of a container (2) containing a liquid substance (3), so as to arrange it in a predefined operating position (17); selectively irradiating a layer (6) of liquid substance (3) with pre-defined radiation (4), in such a way as to solidify it against the supporting surface (6a, 7a). The approaching movement (11) comprises a plurality of approaching moves (12, 12a, 12b, 12c) having corresponding predefined lengths (13, 13a, 13b, 13c), spaced by corresponding intermediate stops (14, 14a, 14b) for corresponding predefined time intervals (15, 15a, 15b), the intermediate stops (14, 14a, 14b) being carried out when the supporting surface (6a, 7a) is at least partially immersed in the liquid substance (3).

Abstract: Exemplary methods for manufacturing a wire and resultant wires are disclosed herein. The method includes extruding a receptor cross-linkable polymer that is substantially free of curing agent about a conductive core and extruding a donor polymer in association with a curing agent. The method includes disposing the donor polymer about the receptor polymer and conductive core to create a multi-layer wire pre-product. The method also includes heat curing a multi-layer wire pre-product to form a wire.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods for producing a surgical suture having a reduced cross-sectional area portion from monofilaments fibers of various polymeric and metallic materials. Also disclosed are novel sutures having novel tips. Novel suture tipping apparatuses are also disclosed. The monofilament is subjected to the application of thermal treatment coupled with application of mechanical shaping of the fiber element to produce a deformed cross sectional portion of the suture body. The deformed suture body region is subsequently subjected to a trimming operation within a punching/stamping die. The reduced section of the suture body region and is severed to form a suture having a reduced-cross sectional area end portion. Preferably, each reduced region is severed approximately in the center of the trimmed reduced cross sectional area portion to form a suture having both ends of a reduced cross-sectional area.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a three-dimensional (3D) pattern using electrojetting, the apparatus including: a syringe tip having one end from which a polymer jet is discharged; a substrate that is disposed in a direction in which the polymer jet is discharged, and that forms an electric field between the substrate and the syringe tip; and a movement unit that moves the syringe tip or the substrate, wherein the polymer jet discharged from the syringe tip is moved relative to an upper side of the substrate and is stacked on the substrate.

Abstract: Described is a method for chamfering the end of a pipe (2) made from thermoplastic material, comprising the following steps: localized and circumferential heating of an axial portion (3) of the pipe (2) at a predetermined temperature; plastic deformation of the heated axial portion (3) using a tool (4) for forming a chamfer on the axial portion (3).

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.