Abstract: A raft to support a three-dimensional object on a build platform of a three-dimensional printer can be fabricated with a controlled adhesion pattern to improve overall raft performance. For improved raft-to-build platform adhesion, an exterior portion around the perimeter of the raft may be fabricated with greater adhesion (per unit of surface area covered by the exterior portion) than an interior portion. This can be accomplished by varying the volume of build material, varying the printing height, or using different patterns of build material. At the same time, adhesion of the raft to a printed object built thereon can be controlled with a number of techniques such as using specific build patterns for the top layer of the raft or varying printing heights (e.g., z-axis position) between the top of the raft and the bottom of the object.

Abstract: A float glass chamber and related methods include a hot section having an atmosphere in at least the lower plenum with less than 3 percent hydrogen based on volume and a cold section having a different volume percent hydrogen.

Abstract: Thermally cross-linkable photo-hydrolyzable inkjet printable polymers are used to print microfluidic channels layer-by-layer on a substrate. In one embodiment, for each layer, an inkjet head deposits droplets of a mixture of hydrophobic polymer and cross-linking agent in a pattern lying outside a two-dimensional layout of the channels, and another inkjet head deposits droplets of a mixture of poly(tetrahydropyranyl methacrylate) PTHPMA (or another hydrophobic polymer which hydrolyzes to form a hydrophilic material), cross-linking agent, and a photoacid generator (PAG) in a pattern lying inside the two-dimensional layout of the channels. After all layers are printed, flood exposure of the entire substrate to UV radiation releases acid from the PAG which hydrolyzes PTHPMA to form hydrophilic poly(methacrylic acid) PMAA, thereby rendering the PTHPMA regions hydrophilic. The layers of these now-hydrophilic patterned regions together define the microfluidic channels. The cross-linking agent (e.g.

Abstract: A process for reducing the permeability of a paper wrapper used in the construction of a smoking article is disclosed. The paper wrapper is treated with a film-forming composition that forms treated discrete areas on the wrapper. The treated discrete areas have a permeability within a predetermined range sufficient to reduce the ignition proclivity properties of a smoking article made with the wrapper. In accordance with the present invention, the film-forming composition is applied as multiple layers to the paper wrapper. After each application step, the wrapper is dried. Applying the film-forming composition to the paper wrapper in multiple layers minimizes distortion and other adverse affects that may occur to the wrapper.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for cutting and separating interior contours in thin substrates of transparent materials, in particular glass. The method involves the utilization of an ultra-short pulse laser to form perforation or holes in the substrate, that may be followed by use of a CO2 laser beam to promote full separation about the perforated line.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for three dimensional print adhesion reduction using photoinhibition include, in one aspect, a method including: moving a build plate in a vat of liquid including a photoactive resin; creating a photoinhibition layer within the liquid directly adjacent a window of the vat by directing a first light through the window into the liquid, the first light having a first wavelength selected to produce photoinhibition; and creating a solid structure on the build plate from the photoactive resin within a photoinitiation layer of the liquid by directing a second light through the window into the liquid, where the photoinitiation layer resides between the photoinhibition layer and the build plate, and the second light has a second wavelength different than the first wavelength.

Abstract: A three dimensional printing apparatus including a tank containing a liquid forming material, a platform movably disposed in the tank to be immersed in or moved out of the liquid forming material, a curing device disposed next to the tank or the platform, and a controlling device electrically connected to the curing device and at least one of the tank and the platform is provided. An inner bottom of the tank has a first portion and a second portion in step manner, the first portion is higher than the second portion. The controlling device drives the tank and the platform to move relative to each other. A solidified layer is formed by curing the liquid forming material between the platform and the first portion and peeled off by rotating the tank relative to the platform. A three dimensional printing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A material transport assembly for a printer assembly can include a toothed component; a drive for rotation of the toothed component; a material guide; and a biasing component that biases the material guide in a direction toward the toothed component.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for modifying the shape of a hollow structure. The method may comprise steps of providing a hollow structure having a cross-section with first and second diameters defining a first aspect ratio; heating at least a part of the hollow structure to at least its glass transition temperature, forming a malleable hollow structure; maintaining a positive pressure inside the malleable hollow structure to form a pressurized hollow structure; and pressing against a first side and an opposed second side of a heated part of the pressurized hollow structure, forming a hollow tabular structure having first and second opposed generally flat faces and a second aspect ratio greater than the first aspect ratio.

Abstract: Disclosed is a through-hole forming method including a process of forming, by condensing and irradiating a laser beam onto an insulation substrate through a lens, a through-hole that passes through the insulation substrate in a thickness direction of the insulation substrate. A medium between the lens and the insulation substrate is air. A converging half angle ? that is calculated from a focal length f of the lens and a beam diameter d of the laser beam that enters the lens by using expression (1) satisfies expression (2): (d/2)/f=tan ???(1), and 0.16?sin ??0.22??(2).

Abstract: Provided is a glass film ribbon manufacturing device (1), including: a transverse conveyance unit (4), which is configured to convey a glass film ribbon (G) in a transverse direction; and a cleaving unit (5), which is arranged on a conveyance path of the transverse conveyance unit (4), and is configured to cleave the glass film ribbon (G) along a preset cleaving line extending in a longitudinal direction, the transverse conveyance unit (4) including a wrinkle-smoothing unit (14) configured to smooth a wrinkle generated in the glass film ribbon (G) before the glass film ribbon (G) is cleaved by the cleaving unit (5).

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a three-dimensional (3D) printer for building 3D objects with layer based, additive manufacturing techniques. The 3D printer can have an extrusion assembly including a hot end for heating consumable material and depositing the consumable material in layers on a printing bed. The hot end can be moved in a horizontal plane parallel the printing bed while the printing bed can be moved perpendicular to the horizontal plane to print the 3D object.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for implementing a unique electrophotographic layered manufacturing scheme for creating higher fidelity electrophotographic composite laminate layers using tri-level electrophotography or electrostatic imaging scheme as a process for rendering individual laminate layers to be built up to form and/or manufacture three-dimensional objects, parts and components as 3D objects. A multi-stage 3D object forming scheme is described involving steps of multi-component laminate forming in a particularized electrophotographic layer forming process. This process renders a part component and a support component precisely next to one another with a single exposure by an exposing device to form a latent image of variable discharge voltages. Multiple toner product sources are used to dispose part component toner and support component toner in the forming of the multi-component laminate layer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses for adding thermal energy to a glass melt. Apparatuses for generating a thermal plasma disclosed herein comprise an electrode, a grounded electrode, a dielectric plasma confinement vessel extending between the two electrodes, and a magnetic field generator extending around the dielectric plasma confinement vessel. Also disclosed herein are methods for fining molten glass comprising generating a thermal plasma using the apparatuses disclosed herein and contacting the molten glass with the thermal plasma. Glass structures produced according to these methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for three dimensional print adhesion reduction using photoinhibition include, in one aspect, a method including: moving a build plate in a vat of liquid including a photoactive resin; creating a photoinhibition layer within the liquid directly adjacent a window of the vat by directing a first light through the window into the liquid, the first light having a first wavelength selected to produce photoinhibition; and creating a solid structure on the build plate from the photoactive resin within a photoinitiation layer of the liquid by directing a second light through the window into the liquid, where the photoinitiation layer resides between the photoinhibition layer and the build plate, and the second light has a second wavelength different than the first wavelength.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for melting furnaces, conveying paths and conveying means for the melt, the melt product and for any type of discharges from a melting furnace and transportation means for the melt, with an extended service life, which in the case of a complete screen, that is to say in the optimum situation, may also be infinite, and/or with increased purity of the melt. This is achieved by the pushing-through or rotating-through of screens, clinkers, coatings, linings, etc., that is to say solid materials which are situated between the melt or melt product or the discharges and the materials situated behind the same which counteract the pressure of the melt, of the melt product or the discharges, for example walls. Here, new pieces of the screens etc. may be added at one free end, and used or worn pieces of the screens can be removed or withdrawn at another free end.

Abstract: A blow head mounting arrangement for use to facilitate installation and removal of a blow head from a blow head mounting member. The blow head has a first engagement member for removable engagement with a second engagement member to removably attach the blow head to the blow head mounting member. Once engaged, the blow head is retained on the blow head mounting member by rotating the blow head into a locked position in which it is retained until it is rotated in the opposite direction by a locking mechanism.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing three-dimensional fiber fabrics and three-dimensional component preforms include clamping at least two edge regions of an overall convex body made a fiber fabric and then reshaping at least one to-be-reshaped region of the overall convex body into a concave region. Devices for manufacturing three-dimensional fiber fabrics and three-dimensional component preforms include a workpiece carrier for supporting the overall convex body, a clamping device that clamps the at least two edge regions of the overall convex body and a re-molding tool that re-shapes the at least one to-be-reshaped region of the overall convex body into the concave region.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for synthesizing high optical quality multicomponent chalcogenide glasses without refractive index perturbations due to striae, phase separation or crystal formation using a two-zone furnace and multiple fining steps. The top and bottom zones are initially heated to the same temperature, and then a temperature gradient is created between the top zone and the bottom zone. The fining and cooling phase is divided into multiple steps with multiple temperature holds.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to an improved method of strengthening glass substrates (e.g., soda lime silica glass substrates). In certain examples, a glass substrate may be chemically strengthened by creating an electric field within the glass. In certain cases, the chemical tempering may be performed by surrounding the substrate by a plasma including certain ions, such as Li+, K+, Mg2+, and/or the like. In some cases, these ions may be forced into the glass substrate due to the half-cycles of the electric field generated by the electrodes that formed the plasma. This may advantageously chemically strengthen a glass substrate on a substantially reduced time scale. In other example embodiments, an electric field may be set in a float bath such that sodium ions are driven from the molten glass ribbon into the tin bath, which may advantageously result in a stronger glass substrate with reduced sodium content.