Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional object (17) includes: providing a carrier (18) and an optically transparent member (15) having a build surface, the carrier (18) and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid (16); irradiating the build region with light (12) through the optically transparent member (15) to form a solid polymer from the polymerizable liquid; and advancing the carrier (18) away from the build surface to form the three-dimensional object (17) from the solid polymer. The carrier (18) includes at least one retain and release (34) feature that is configured to: i) retain the three-dimensional object (17) formed from the solid polymer on the carrier (18) in a first state; and ii) facilitate release of the three-dimensional object (17) formed from the solid polymer from the carrier (18) in a second state.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for refining molten glass. The apparatus includes a porous body having an inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of pores through which molten glass can flow between the inlet and the outlet. The plurality of pores are defined by walls having wall surfaces that are configured to interact with the molten glass as the molten glass flows between the inlet and the outlet to help refine the molten glass.

Abstract: A fining agent for reducing the concentration of seeds or bubbles in a silicate glass. The fining agent includes at least one inorganic compound, such as a hydrate or a hydroxide that acts as a source of water. In one embodiment, the fining agent further includes at least one multivalent metal oxide and, optionally, an oxidizer. A fusion formable and ion exchangeable silicate glass having a seed concentration of less than about 1 seed/cm3 is also provided. Methods of reducing the seed concentration of a silicate glass, and a method of making a silicate glass having a seed concentration of less than about 1 seed/cm3 are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of actuating a parison plunger includes transforming linear force applied to a plunger extension into roto-translational motion of the plunger extension via a cam path between the plunger extension and a piston.

Abstract: Freeform, additive manufacturing equipment, processes and products, including residential, commercial and other buildings. A movable extruder places extrudate that solidifies in open space to create “scaffolding” or “skeletons” of buildings and other products. Elongated extrudate elements are fused to each other or connected by other means to form a cellular structure. Filler material such as polymeric insulating foam may simultaneously or thereafter be placed within the cellular structure to contribute desired strength, rigidity, insulative, barrier or other properties. Finish materials may also be applied.

Abstract: A system for three-dimensional printing is disclosed. The system comprises: a rotary tray configured to rotate about a vertical axis; a printing head, each having a plurality of separated nozzles; and a controller configured for controlling the inkjet printing head to dispense, during the rotation, droplets of building material in layers, such as to print a three-dimensional object on the tray.

Abstract: In the method for manufacturing a glass-fine-particle-deposited body according to the present invention, at least a part of a gas supplying pipe 25 from a temperature controlled booth 24 to a burner 18 for cladding is temperature-controlled so that the temperature at the burner side becomes high and temperature gradient becomes 5° C./m or more. The temperature control is performed so that the temperature gradient becomes preferably 15° C./m or more, more preferably 25° C./m or more. Specifically, the part is controlled to the predetermined temperature gradient by winding a tape heater 26 that is a heating element on the outer circumference of the gas supplying pipe 25 from the temperature controlled booth 24 to the burner 18 for cladding and temperature-controlling the tape heater 26.

Abstract: An additive elastomeric manufactured part having an elongation at break of at least 50% may be made by a method comprising the following. A material comprising a prepolymer and filler is first dispensed through a nozzle to form an extrudate deposited on a base. The base, nozzle or combination thereof is moved while dispensing the material so that there is horizontal displacement between the base and nozzle in a predetermined pattern to form an initial layer of the material on the base. Subsequent layers are then formed on the initial layer by repeating the dispensing and movement on top of the initial layer and layers that follow.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a multicore optical fiber while reducing the mass of a glass block to be connected to a common cladding tube. A production method for a multicore optical fiber includes in order, a preform forming step of forming a common cladding tube having a plurality of holes extending between a first end and a second end, an insertion step of inserting core rods in the holes in a state in which end portions of the core rods are recessed from the first end, a heat shrinkage step of reducing a diameter of the first end by heating, a sealing step of sealing the holes by connecting a glass block to the first end, and a drawing step of depressurizing insides of the holes from the second end and performing spinning from the first end while combining the common cladding tube and the core rods.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing elongated glass components with low bow. The apparatus may include a heating element to heat a bulk glass component where a strand may be drawn from the bulk glass component in a downward direction and a gripper device including a clamping element to support the strand while pulling or drawing it from the bulk glass component in a linear motion, and a low-friction mounting element attached to the clamping element which allows translational movement of the clamping element in an x-y plane. The gripper device may further be used to reduce bow in the strand while it is being drawn by moving the clamping element on the mounting element in a direction opposite the direction of any measured transverse acceleration.

Abstract: A method of producing bi-modal particles includes the steps of igniting a first precursor gas using a primary burner thereby producing a first plurality of particles of a first size, fluidly transporting the first plurality of particles down a particle tube, igniting a second precursor gas using a secondary burner thereby producing a second plurality of particles of a second size, flowing the second plurality of particles into the first plurality of particles, and capturing the first and second plurality of particles.

Abstract: In embodiments, a conveyor apparatus can include a conveyor ribbon having a length, a width, a thickness less than the width, and a plurality of receiving apertures located along the length and extending through the thickness of the conveyor ribbon. The plurality of receiving apertures are dimensioned to receive and hold a plurality of glass articles. A conveyor drive and guidance system directs the conveyor ribbon along a predefined conveyor path. The predefined conveyor path can include an immersion section and a drain section. The immersion section can be oriented to direct the conveyor ribbon into and out of an immersion station and the conveyor ribbon is rotated about a horizontal axis in the drain section after being directed out of the immersion station.

Abstract: The process relates to the manufacture of a plurality of glazings of complex shape from a rectangular sheet of float glass of large dimensions. The process includes at a first station for cutting the glass sheet, scoring at least one cutting line corresponding to at least one ready-to-shape edge of the glazings; a first breaking operation; at a second cutting station, scoring at least one cutting line corresponding to at least one other ready-to-shape edge of the glazings, and a second breaking operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a manufacturing method for a camera window and a camera window manufactured thereby. A conventional camera window is configured such that an etching pattern is provided on a back surface of a glass sheet, and a deposition layer is provided on the etching pattern, thereby improving reflectivity, whereby indirect external recognition of the etching pattern is performed, but in the present invention, a distinctive pattern is provided on a front surface of a glass sheet such that direct external recognition of the pattern is possible, whereby it is possible to recognize a distinctive pattern line.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for producing glass articles by hot-melt processing techniques. The methods involve the use of arsenic-free chalcogenide glasses. Despite the absence of arsenic, the chalcogenide glasses have low characteristic temperatures and are stable against crystallization. The low characteristic temperatures render the glasses capable of being hot-melt processed using conventional equipment. The glasses disclosed herein are suitable for the fabrication of optical devices, including but not limited to IR-transmitting optical devices.

Abstract: The extraction of a three-dimensional (3D) object is facilitated using a printed hint, which includes an additional shape that is printed along with the 3D object in a granular-based printer bed. In example implementations, the hint is indicative of a location of the 3D object. In one example, a hint has a dimension indicative of a depth to the object in the printer bed. In another example, a position of a hint is indicative that the object is below, and a size of the hint is based on a size of the object. Some hints can also protect the object. Examples include plate and shell-shaped hints. The object is located under a plate hint or within a shell hint. Further, an appearance of the object or indications of the sturdiness of different parts of the object can be printed on the hint to facilitate a safe extraction of the object.

Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus comprises at least one nozzle facing a conduit and extending transverse to a travel path defined by the conduit. The at least one nozzle is configured to cool molten material within the interior of the conduit with a stream of cooling fluid forced against an exterior of the conduit along a cooling axis extending transverse to the travel path defined by the conduit. In further examples, methods of processing molten material includes cooling the molten material within an interior of a conduit by forcing a stream of cooling fluid against an exterior of the conduit along a cooling axis extending transverse to a travel path defined by the conduit.

Abstract: The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus is provided with: a first discharge section and a second discharge section, which have multiple discharge nozzles disposed in rows and which discharge molding material from the discharge nozzles toward a fabrication stage; a guide member of a head unit-moving unit, which is equipped with the guide member to guide the movement of the first discharge section and the second discharge section in the main scanning direction (X-direction) that is orthogonal to the direction in which the discharge nozzles are disposed and which moves the first discharge section and the second discharge section relative to the fabrication stage along said guide member; and a stage rotating unit for changing the rotational position of the main scanning direction of the first discharge section and the second discharge section relative to the fabrication stage.

Abstract: A method of forming a 3D glass article from a glass sheet includes locating the glass sheet on a mold assembly including a mold surface with a 3D surface profile corresponding to that of the 3D glass article. The glass sheet is heated to a forming temperature. The forming temperature is greater than a temperature of the mold surface. The heated glass sheet is forced onto the mold surface by applying a pressurized gas to a first surface of the glass sheet opposite the mold surface to conform the glass sheet to the mold surface with the glass sheet at the forming temperature that is greater than the temperature of the mold surface.

Abstract: A porous glass base material sintering method comprising measuring a feeding speed Vf of a porous glass base material and a movement speed Vw of a bottom end of the glass base material; performing a sintering treatment of the porous glass base material presetting, for each feeding distance L of the porous glass base material, a greater-than-1 target value ?S (L) of an elongation rate in a straight body portion of the porous glass base material calculated based on a ratio Vw/Vf, and controlling at least one of a temperature of the heating furnace and a feeding speed of the porous glass base material such that a measured value ? of the elongation rate of the porous glass base material matches with the target value ?S (L).