Abstract: The present disclosure herein relates to a mold for manufacturing a slab. More particularly, the mold includes a first fabric layer, a first rubber layer disposed on the first fabric layer, a second fabric layer disposed on the first rubber layer, and a second rubber layer disposed on the second fabric layer. Here, the second rubber layer includes a base part and a frame part extending from an edge of the base part. Also, the base part and the frame part are integrated with each other.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method using the apparatus provides heated air in an additive manufacturing process for building a three-dimensional part. The method comprises providing a stream of flowable part material at an initial build level, the initial build level being positioned in and defining a horizontal plane wherein the stream of flowable material is being initially disposed on previously deposited part material. Heated air is provided at a selected temperature corresponding to the temperature of the stream of flowable part material such that the stream of flowable part material deposits on previously deposited part material in an adhering fashion thereby forming the three-dimensional part wherein the heated air is provided in the horizontal plane of the initial build level.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize a computer aided design (CAD) model of a part to develop a layer representation of the part. The method includes: determining a build layer thickness of an additive manufacturing apparatus; identifying a feature of the part within the model; determining that the feature is not aligned along the z-axis based on the build layer thickness; and moving the feature within the model along the z-axis by a feature offset such that the feature is aligned along the z-axis.

Abstract: A fabrication process and apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects by depositing a first polymer layer, printing a first ink layer on to the first polymer layer, depositing a second polymer layer on to the first ink layer, and printing a second ink layer on to the second polymer layer. The deposition and printing steps may be repeated until a three-dimensional object is formed. The inks used to form at least one of the first and second ink layers may include dyes or pigments so that the three-dimensional object may be a colored three-dimensional object.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hot runner device comprising at least one needle valve nozzle and a shut-off needle which is movable in the needle valve nozzle by means of a movement means, and comprising an overload protection device for the shut-off needle, characterized in that the overload protection device is implemented as follows: the shut-off needle is connected in at least a first movement direction directly or indirectly to the movement means by at least one frictional connection that can be released when a threshold force is exceeded.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the rate of flow of a fluid mold material comprising: a manifold, an actuator interconnected to a valve pin, a position sensor that senses position of the valve pin, a controller that controls movement of the actuator according to instructions that instruct the actuator to drive the valve pin upstream at one or more selected intermediate velocities in response to receipt by the controller of a signal from the position sensor that the valve pin is disposed in the one or more intermediate upstream gate open positions.

Abstract: The mold steel according to the present invention contains 0.35<C<0.55 mass %, 0.003?Si<0.300 mass %, 0.30<Mn<1.50 mass %, 2.00?Cr<3.50 mass %, 0.003?Cu<1.200 mass %, 0.003?Ni<1.380 mass %, 0.50<Mo<3.29 mass %, 0.55<V<1.13 mass %, and 0.0002?N<0.1200 mass %, with a balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities, and satisfies 0.55<Cu+Ni+Mo<3.29 mass %, and the molding tool according to the present invention contains a mold and/or a mold component formed of the mold steel.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of recycling additively manufactured articles or recovered coating material that comprises a crosslinked polymer formed from a single-cure resin comprising a reactive blocked prepolymer, into a regenerated resin useful for additive manufacturing. Recyclable light-polymerizable resins, methods of making a recyclable objects from such resins, and methods for sustainable manufacturing are also provided.

Abstract: Die and counter-die systems, polymeric rule dies for such systems, and polymeric formulations suitable for producing such rule dies using digital rule writing. There is provided a rule die for pressure-contacting of a cardboard workpiece surface, including: (a) a die body; and (b) at least one elongate polymeric rule, each rule having: (i) a first elongate base surface adhesively attached to a surface of the die body; and (ii) an elongate protrusion, distally protruding from the die body, the elongate protrusion having an elongate die surface, the elongate die surface including a polymeric material, the elongate die surface having a contact surface adapted to contact the workpiece surface; the contact surface having a length of at least 5 mm and a first width (W) within a range of 0.4 to 1.0 mm, the rule having a height (H) within a range of 1.0 to 4.5 mm; wherein, over a total length of the contact surface, the contact surface having at most 5 surface pocks/meter, the pocks having a diameter above 0.1 mm.

Abstract: A snowman making apparatus having a hemispherical bowl element, wherein the bowl element has an open top, and an aperture at a base of the bowl element to facilitate collection of snow in the bowl element, via dragging the bowl element over a surface of snow. In a preferred embodiment, the snowman making apparatus comprises three bowl elements of differing sizes, for making a snowman comprising a base segment; a mid-section segment; and a head segment, of different sizes.

Abstract: A method of making personal protective equipment, such as a push-in earplug, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of covering a substrate with an outer layer that includes an unactivated foaming agent, positioning at least a portion of the outer layer in a mold, and activating the foaming agent such that a portion of the outer layer expands.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system (1) includes: a head (2) to which a first continuous material (FL) including a resin and a second continuous material (FB) including fibers are fed; a platform (3) on which a printing material based on the first and second continuous materials from the head is stacked; a cutting device (10) which is capable of cutting at least fibers; and a controller (5) which controls an operation device including at least one of the head, the platform, and the cutting device.

Abstract: A process for continuously preparing a polyolefin composition made from or containing a polyolefin and carbon black in an extruder device. The process includes the steps of supplying polyolefin in form of a polyolefin powder and carbon black to a mixing device; alternatively, (a) measuring the flow rate of the polyolefin powder supplied to the mixing device or (b) measuring the flow rate of the polyolefin pellets prepared in the extruder device; adjusting the flow rate of the carbon black to the mixing device in response to the measured flow rate of the polyolefin powder or adjusting the flow rate of the polyolefin powder to the mixing device in response to the measured flow rate of the polyolefin pellets; melting and homogenizing the mixture within the extruder device; and pelletizing the polyolefin composition into the polyolefin pellets.

Abstract: A mold apparatus is provided for manufacturing a coil component. The mold apparatus includes a support plate, a die on the support plate, a lid, and a press member that presses the lid toward the support plate. The die has a peripheral side wall defining an opening opposite the support plate. The coil component is placeable in an inner space of the die interior of the side wall. The lid is insertable via the opening into the inner space with an outer peripheral edge of the lid slidably received by the side wall of the die.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing an injection molding cycle comprising drivably interconnecting a valve pin to an electric motor actuator and controllably operating the electric motor to drive the valve pin at one or more reduced rates of upstream or downstream travel based on either detection of the position of the pin or actuator or on a preselected length of time at which to drive the valve pin.

Abstract: Injection molding apparatuses and methods wherein a valve pin is controllably driven upstream and downstream along an axis between a first closed position where the tip end of the valve pin obstructs the gate to prevent the injection fluid from flowing into the cavity, a full open position and one or more intermediate positions, wherein the valve pin is drivable to be disposed or held in a selected intermediate position for a selected period of time during the course of an injection cycle where the tip end of the valve pin restricts flow of injection fluid through the gate to the mold cavity.

Abstract: A horizontal molding system and method can include: an ice pop stick, the ice pop stick including: an ice pop stick key, the ice pop stick key including a key top side, a key bottom side and key edges, an inner portion having a top side, the inner portion vertically below the ice pop stick key, and an external portion coupled to the ice pop stick key, the external portion having a curve extended vertically down and horizontally away from the ice pop stick key and extended below a horizontal plane defined by the top side of the inner portion; and a mold including a notch and a mold upper lip, the notch configured to seal around the key edges and the key bottom side, and the key top side being co-planar with the mold upper lip.

Abstract: Injection molding apparatuses and methods wherein a valve pin is controllably driven upstream and downstream along an axis between a first closed position where the tip end of the valve pin obstructs the gate to prevent the injection fluid from flowing into the cavity, a full open position and one or more intermediate positions, wherein the valve pin is drivable to be disposed or held in a selected intermediate position for a selected period of time during the course of an injection cycle where the tip end of the valve pin restricts flow of injection fluid through the gate to the mold cavity.

Abstract: A drilling system includes a single robotic drilling unit having a drill end effector positioned inside a barrel section configured as a composite sandwich structure having an inner face sheet. The robotic drilling unit is operable to drill a plurality of perforations into the inner face sheet using the drill end effector. The robotic drilling unit is configured to index a hole pattern of the perforations to one or more cell walls of a honeycomb core of the composite sandwich structure. The robotic drilling unit is configured to form the hole pattern in the inner face sheet such that the perforations are located at a spaced distance from the cell walls of the honeycomb core.

Abstract: A biomaterial printing apparatus includes a support base, a movement device, a printing device, a first optical-detection device, and a second optical-detection device. The carrier is configured for a culture container to be put thereon. The movement device is connected to the support base. The printing device is connected to the movement device. The first optical-detection device is configured to detect the position of the injection needle of the printing device. The second optical-detection device is configured to detect the position of the culture container. According to the detection of the first optical-detection device and the second optical-detection device, the biological material printing device can accurately move the injection needle to the injection position relative to the culture container, thereby improving the accuracy of printing the biological material.