Abstract: An injection molding apparatus (10) comprising: an actuator (940, 941, 942) comprised of a rotor (940r, 941r, 942r) having a drive axis (Y) and a driver (940dr, 941dr, 942dr) receiving electrical energy or power from an electrical drive (940d, 941d, 942d), the electrical drive (940d, 941d, 942d) comprising an interface that receives and controllably distributes electrical energy or power in controllably varied amounts to the driver (940dr, 941dr, 942dr), the actuator including a housing (940h, 941h, 942h) within, on or to which the electrical drive (940d, 941d, 942d) is mounted, the housing (940h, 941h, 942h) being mounted in proximity or disposition relative to the heated manifold (40) such that one or the other or both of the housing (940h, 941h, 942h) and the electrical drive (940d, 941d, 942d) are in substantial heat communication or contact with the heated manifold (40).

Abstract: A method of fabricating a casting, the method including applying a substrate to a sacrificial mold, the sacrificial mold including a shaped non-planar receiving surface to receive the substrate and provide a casting of the substrate having a shaped structure corresponding to the receiving surface; and subjecting the sacrificial mold and casting to freeze drying conditions and sublimating the sacrificial mold from the casting to form a cast article including the shaped non-planar structure.

Abstract: A hot runner nozzle includes a nozzle body configured to define a flow path of molten resin, and a cover member arranged at a circumference of a tip portion of the nozzle body. The cover member includes a first engagement portion being arranged on a part of an outer periphery and configured to engage with a mold and/or a second engagement portion being arranged on a part of an inner periphery and configured to engage with the nozzle body.

Abstract: A hot-runner injection molding apparatus that facilitates use of electric actuators in a compact design includes a hot-runner manifold defining resin channels for conveying resin to nozzles that serve as conduits for introducing liquid resin into a mold cavity, a valve pin configured for linear movement along a longitudinal axis of the nozzle to control flow of liquid resin through the nozzle, and an electric actuator having a body containing an electric motor, wherein the electric actuator body includes channels for circulating a coolant.

Abstract: A method of extruding filament comprises the steps of cutting a bulk source material into pieces having size S1, performing a first extrusion pass comprising the steps of melting the pieces in an extruding device at a temperature T1 and extruding a first filament at an extrusion speed V1, and performing at least one additional extrusion pass k comprising the steps of cutting the first filament into pieces having size Sk, melting the pieces in an extruding device at temperature Tk, and extruding a final filament at an extrusion speed Vk. A system for extruding filament is also described.

Abstract: A resin composition, containing an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (A); and 15 to 30 mass parts of a bromine-based flame retardant (B), 5 to 15 mass parts of antimony trioxide (C), 6 to 12 mass parts of a benzimidazole-based aging retardant (D), 2 to 4 mass parts of a phenol-based aging retardant (E), 2 to 4 mass parts of a thioether-based aging retardant (F), 0.5 to 2 mass parts of a copper inhibitor (G), and 3 to 6 mass parts of a crosslinking aid (H), with respect to 90 to 100 mass parts of the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (A); a vehicle wire harness; and, a method of producing a vehicle wire harness.

Abstract: A method of making an ink for use in additive manufacturing of a self-healable and shape-memorizable product includes mixing a diol with isophorone diisocyanate, dimethylacetamide, and dibutyltin dilaurate to form a first solution. The method further includes mixing the first solution with 2-Hydroxyethyl disulfide to form a second solution. The method further includes mixing the second solution with 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate to form a third solution. The method further includes mixing the third solution with a tributylphosphine, a photoinitiator, and a photoabsorber to facilitate additive manufacturing of the ink.

Abstract: A capsule 2 for HIPing comprises a rigid, self-supporting additive manufactured (AM) component 3 which is welded to inner and outer cylindrical liners 4, 6 through which cooling channel tubes 8, 10 extend. A solid end plate 11 is welded to ends of the liners 4, 6 and tubes 8, 10 extend through the end plate 11 and open to the outside. A fill tube 12 communicates with an annular void 14 defined between liners 4, 6 which is filled with powder 16. In use, the capsule 2 is subjected to Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP). Thereafter, the inner and outer liners 4, 6 are removed to define a valve seat assembly comprising the AM component 3, tubes 8, 10, HIPed powder 16 and end plate 11.

Abstract: Low permeation fuel hose is provided comprising an outer cover layer prepared from a composition comprising a polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a thermoplastic copolyester elastomer and, optionally, a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), wherein the hose exhibits improved low and high temperature performance compared to conventional fuel hoses having an outer layer consisting of industrial grade PVC.

Abstract: A method for preparing a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer material with micro air holes is provided. The method comprises the following steps: (1) is feeding liquid raw materials such as diisocyanate molecules and solid additives into a double-screw reactor to trigger a polymerization type chain extension reaction and then obtain a macromolecular weight hot melt. (2) is pushing the macromolecular weight hot melt into a mixing extruder and allowing the reaction to continue to obtain a macromolecular thermoplastic polyurethane melt. (3) is continuously adding the obtained macromolecular thermoplastic polyurethane melt together with polymer particles into a foaming extruder, and extruding the high-pressure hot melt from a mold head into an underwater granulation chamber. (4) is delivering the particles obtained after granulation into a separator by process water via a multi-stage pressure-release process water pipeline, separating, screening and drying the required particles to obtain the target product.

Abstract: An apparatus for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object by successive layer-by-layer selective illumination and thus selective solidification of construction material layers formed in a construction plane, consisting of a solidifiable construction material by at least one energy beam, comprising a housing structure, and a combined coating and illumination assembly firmly arranged or formed on the housing structure of the apparatus, comprising a coating device provided for applying the construction material into the construction plane and for forming construction material layers to be solidified in the construction plane, and an illumination device provided for the selective illumination of respective construction material layers formed in the construction plane by the coating device, and a carrying device.

Abstract: A polymer injection molding system in one embodiment includes a manifold comprising internal flow conduits configured for conveying polymer in a fluidic state. The manifold may be part of a hot or cold runner type molding unit. An injection nozzle fluidly coupled to the flow conduits interfaces with a mold cavity and is configured to inject polymer therein to form a molded article. The nozzle has a tubular valve body defining a central axial passage which receives a movable elongated valve pin. The valve pin is linearly movable to change the nozzle between open and closed positions for discharging or stopping polymer flow therefrom. The valve pin is further rotatable about its axis to induce shear on the polymer. This maintains the polymer in its flowable fluidic state between molding cycles to prevent polymer cold slug formation within the nozzle which can disrupt the flow resulting in incompletely formed articles.

Abstract: An ice cube tray assembly having an insulating box, a lower chamber and an upper chamber. The insulating box having a base and an upstanding structure, with a cavity. A top surface has an inner and outer perimeter, with the inner perimeter defining the opening of the cavity. The lower chamber includes an upper deck portion and container structure depending therefrom. The upper chamber includes a top wall and an inner container structure depending from the top wall. The upper and lower chambers are positioned in sealing engagement.

Abstract: Disclosed are functional materials for use in additive manufacturing (AM). The functional material can comprise an elastomeric composition (e.g., a silicone composite) for use in, for example, direct ink writing. The elastomeric composition can include and elastomeric resin, and a magnetic nanorod filler dispersed within the elastomeric resin. Nanorod characteristics (e.g., length, diameter, aspect ratio) can be selected to create 3D-printed constructs with desired mechanical properties along different axes. Furthermore, since nickel nanorods are ferromagnetic, the spatial distribution and orientation of nanorods within the continuous phase can be controlled with an external magnetic field. This level of control over the nanostructure of the material system offers another degree of freedom in the design of functional parts and components with anisotropic properties. Magnetic fields can be used to remotely sense compression of the constructs, or alternatively, control the stiffness of these materials.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reusable molding devices in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a reusable molding device is provided comprising: an array comprising a plurality of pixel pins, which are arranged to form a two-dimensional plane and which are each linearly movable to create an impression of a surface of an object, a first pixel guide plate, a second pixel guide plate, a first clamp pressure plate, a second clamp pressure plate, a first clamp screw, wherein the first clamp screw moves the first clamp pressure plate towards the first side of the array, a second clamp screw which moves the second clamp pressure plate towards the second side of the array, a pressure clamp frame enclosing the first and second pixel guide plates and the first and second clamp pressure plates, and a top pressure plate, which includes an injection entrance bore.

Abstract: An elastomer molded body for a medical device includes an elastomer portion and a filler. The elastomer portion contains a crosslinked fluorine-based elastomer. The filler is formed from a plurality of particles each of which has aspect ratio of 5 or more and specific surface area of 3 m2/g or more and 10 m2/g or less. The aspect ratio is defined as a ratio of a dimension in a long axis direction thereof to a dimension in a short axis direction thereof. The filler has an uneven distribution in a surface layer part of the elastomer portion and is oriented in a direction along a surface of the elastomer molded body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a baking pan (1) for cooking food products in the oven, comprising a plurality of containment structures (3) exhibiting a bottom portion (4), a top portion (5) delimiting an insertion opening (6) and a lateral portion (7) emerging from the bottom portion (4) and connected to the top portion (5). The containment structure (3) is made integrally from a same paper sheet material; a container (8) made of paper sheet material is housed in the containment structure (3) and has a base (9), a lateral wall (10) emerging away from the base (9) and an upper edge (20) emerging from the lateral wall (10); also the container (8) is integrally made starting from a same paper sheet material.

Abstract: A drive cable for actuating a vehicle element movable relative to a vehicle body is provided, the drive cable having a cable body having a cable core around which a coil following a helical line is coiled, the coil serving to engage with a gear wheel, the cable body being provided with a cable sheath. The cable sheath is glued to the coil.

Abstract: A hot channel device for guiding an incoming hot melt, in particular a plastic melt, to a gate opening of a mould insert of a tool, which gate opening can be opened and closed again by a movable needle, wherein the hot channel device has a first hot channel region, with a coolable melt transfer region, and a second hot channel region, which are arranged one behind the other in the flow direction of the melt toward the mould insert, wherein the coolable melt transfer region has a melt transfer chamber, which is penetrated by the needle, said needle being guided displaceably in a needle channel so as to be sealed by a needle seal, and the needle channel continues in an aligned manner in a melt channel of the second hot channel region.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an actuator which actuates an axially displaceable pin valve of an apparatus for injection molding of plastic materials, where the control system includes an electronic control unit of the actuator which adjusts at least one among position, speed and acceleration of the pin valve, and a position sensor which detects a position of a plunger of the actuator and is operatively connected to the electronic control unit. The position sensor indirectly detects the position of the plunger of the actuator.