Abstract: Method for producing composite components having an undevelopable surface. To be able to maintain the tolerances when manufacturing especially large components in the case of composite components with undevelopable surfaces, it is proposed according to the invention to drape a cut-to-size blank on a molding tool and to determine the deviation of the cut-to-size blank edge from the setpoint cut-to-size edge. Then, on the basis of the deviation, a new cut-to-size blank edge is calculated, and a new cut-to-size blank is created and re-draped for examination purposes. The method is repeated until the deviations are below a tolerable threshold value. The method is furthermore carried out for each textile ply of the composite component.

Abstract: An improved tool for use with a potter's wheel is provided, and the tool configured to attach to the spinning potter's wheel and hold a workpiece in the center thereof. The tool comprises an upper plate and a lower plate that are rotatable with respect to each other. A holding arm can extend through an arm slot in the upper plate to engage a spiral ridge of the lower plate. Relative rotation between the upper plate and the lower plate causes the holding arm to move inward or outward in a radial direction to engage a workpiece. The lower plate comprises fish-shaped apertures to engage fasteners on the potter's wheel in a manner to reduce chatter and improve the longevity of the tool.

Abstract: Methods for extruding a ceramic-forming mixture through a honeycomb extrusion die (10), methods for forming a green honeycomb extrudate from a ceramic-forming mixture, methods of preparation of a honeycomb extrusion die (10) that extrudes a ceramic-forming mixture, and systems including a honeycomb extrusion die (10), ceramic-forming mixture, and abrasive flow media. The method of extruding a ceramic-forming mixture through a honeycomb extrusion die (10) includes conditioning the honeycomb extrusion die (10) by extruding an abrasive flow media through the slots (20) of the die (10) prior to extruding the ceramic-forming mixture through the slots (20) of the die (10). The abrasive flow media includes abrasive inorganic particles dispersed in a flowable carrier. The ceramic-forming mixture includes one or more types of inorganic ceramic-forming particles.

Abstract: The present provides an electrospinning apparatus for fabricating a nanofiber of core-shell structure, including a high-voltage electrostatic generator, a frame and a liquid brusher. A horizontally moving means is connected to the frame, and the horizontally moving means is connected with the liquid brusher. A chain-drive mechanism and a first reservoir are provided below the liquid brusher, the chain-drive mechanism includes a first sprocket and a second sprocket, and a chain is connected between the first sprocket and the second sprocket. The chain is engaged with a spray sprocket, and the spray sprocket is connected with a first motor via a revolving shaft. A core solution is contained in the first reservoir, and the lower portion of the spray sprocket is immersed in the core solution. The horizontally moving means drives the liquid brusher to move along the chain, and the liquid brusher brushes the shell solution over the chain.

Abstract: In a food dough forming device according to the present invention, a dough forming flow path is formed to be enclosed between at least two rotatable rollers and between two wall plates. At least one of the at least two rotatable rollers is at least one long rotatable roller (31A, 32A). At least one remaining rotatable roller is at least one short rotatable roller (33A, 31B, 32B, 33B). A far-side wall plate (53) of the two wall plates has a fitting recess (53A, 53B) into which an arc portion of a periphery of the long rotatable roller is fitted, and a recessed cutout (53C, 53D, 53E, 53F) at the rotational shaft for the short rotatable roller. The short rotatable roller is fitted onto the rotational shaft for the short rotatable roller to abut the far-side wall plate. The nearside wall plate is disposed to abut the short rotatable roller. An axial movement of the short rotatable roller is limited by the two wall plates.

Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional object includes: providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, irradiating the build region with light through the optically transparent member to form a solid polymer from the polymerizable liquid, and advancing said carrier away from said build surface to form said three-dimensional object from said solid polymer. The irradiating step includes projecting focused light at the build region, and the advancing step is carried out at a rate that is dependent on an average light intensity of the focused light.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a display includes coupling light from at least one light source into a front illumination film-based lightguide comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive layer between a core polymer film layer and a diffusely reflective release liner such that light from the at least one light source propagates by total internal reflection through the core polymer film layer, is extracted from the core polymer film layer, passes through the pressure sensitive adhesive layer, diffusely reflects from the diffusely reflective release liner and passes back through the pressure sensitive adhesive layer and core polymer film layer out of the front illumination film-based lightguide; analyzing the light exiting front illumination film-based lightguide from the at least one light source for defects; removing the diffusely reflective release liner from the front illumination film-based lightguide after analyzing; and laminating the front illumination film-based lightguide to a reflective spatial light modula

Abstract: Thermoformed polymeric foam articles and methods of forming the same are described. In some embodiments, thermoformed articles are produced from multi-layer foamed sheet where the formed article has a density equal to or less than the precursor multi-layer sheet. One of the layers of the thermoformed article may be a polymer foam layer having a density reduction between 5% and 50% as compared to the solid polymer. Such polymer foam layers can be referred to as “medium density” or “high density” foams. Advantageously, the methods described herein are practical for commercial use and, for example, can be used to produce a variety of thermoformed articles suitable for use in many different applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a casting apparatus for the production of a cast sheet of homogenized tobacco material, said casting system comprising a casting box adapted to contain a slurry of the homogenized tobacco material; a movable support; a casting system adapted to deposit the slurry contained in the casting box onto the movable support so as to form the cast sheet; a sensor to detect a thickness of the cast sheet; wherein the sensor includes a slider comprising a planar surface adapted to be in contact to a top surface of the cast sheet and a height detector adapted to measure the height of the planar surface so as to derive the thickness of the cast sheet. The invention also relates to a method to measure the thickness of a homogenized tobacco sheet.

Abstract: A sockliner for a shoe may be formed to include an integral fabric skirt. The fabric skirt may remain loose from the sockliner along at least a portion of the periphery of the sockliner. The loose periphery of the fabric skirt may be used to join the sockliner to other shoe components, as in a strobel-type seam.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes an additive manufacturing unit that includes a housing for additively processing a powder material along a build direction into a build assembly. The additive manufacturing system further includes a rotator assembly for rotating the build assembly within the housing. The rotator assembly includes a frame including a first frame arm and a second frame arm and a carriage rotatably coupled to the first frame arm and to the second frame arm. The carriage includes at least one coupling mechanism for removably coupling the carriage to the build assembly. The rotator assembly further includes a drive assembly coupled to the carriage for selectively rotating the carriage about a rotational axis that is generally perpendicular to the build direction.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping device includes: a dispensing unit including a nozzle; a stage having a shaping surface on which a shaping material is to be laminated; a position changing unit configured to change a relative position between the nozzle and the stage; a control unit configured to control the position changing unit; and a measurement module used to measure a difference of the nozzle from a reference position in the shaping surface based on a first position of the nozzle in the shaping surface and a second position of the nozzle in the shaping surface. The first position is a position in which the nozzle is assumed to be positioned by the control unit controlling the position changing unit. The second position is a position changed by the control unit controlling the position changing unit.

Abstract: A method for making reconstituted limestone blocks includes using a batching plant to make a mixture comprising crushed limestone and cement. The mixture may additionally include water and an additive, such as a plasticizer. The batching plant has been modified to be compatible with the mixture. Next, the mixture is transferred from the batching plant to a mobile stamping machine having a mold box, a hopper, and a feed apparatus configured for transferring the mixture from the hopper to the mold box. Finally, the mobile stamping machine is activated so that the mobile stamping machine forms a construction block by transferring the mixture from the hopper to the mold box, depositing the construction block out of the mold box, and then moving to a next location. The mobile stamping machine is configured to produce approximately 100 construction blocks per hour.

Abstract: A honeycomb extrusion die (120) includes a die body (342) including an inlet face (315) and an outlet face (341). A plurality of pins (330) extend from the die body (342), wherein the pins (330) are arranged to define primary (312P) and secondary slots (312S). Primary slots (312P) include primary slot inlets (320P) and primary slot outlets (3120) and the secondary slots (312S) include secondary slot inlets (312SI) and secondary slot outlets (312SO). Feedholes (317) extend within the die body (342), the feedholes (317) including feedhole outlets (319), wherein the feedhole outlets (319) intersect only with the primary slot inlets (320P). First surface indentation features (345) extend into side surfaces (332) of the plurality of pins (330) defining the primary slots (312P). The first surface indentation features (345) are spaced from the primary slot outlets (3120). The secondary slots (312S) are devoid of surface indentation features. Other die bodies, extruders, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A multi-fluid kit for three-dimensional printing can include a fusing agent comprising water and a radiation absorber, wherein the radiation absorber absorbs radiation energy and converts the radiation energy to heat. The multi-fluid kit can also include a detailing agent including an aqueous liquid vehicle and from about 1 wt % to about 12 wt % polyelectrolyte solubilized in the aqueous liquid vehicle at from about 90 wt % to 100 wt %. The polyelectrolyte can have a weight average molecular weight from about 1,000 Mw to about 12,000 Mw and can be water-absorbent at a water to polyelectrolyte weight ratio from about 2:1 to about 1,000:1.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus and method for the additive manufacturing of 3D objects. The apparatus includes a 3D object material deposition module configured to deposit a portion of material forming at least a layer of a 3D object, a 3D object material solidifying module configured to solidify at least the portion of material forming at least a layer of the 3D object and a control computer. The control computer includes a module configured to analyze the slope or curvature change ratio and operate material deposition module to deposit the 3D object material across the cross-section of the 3D object with at least one of a plurality of layers forming the 3D object that has different from other layers characteristics.

Abstract: A pressing method for pressing ceramic slabs, comprising the following steps: spreading a layer (1) of granular or powdered material onto a pressing plane (2), wherein the layer (1) comprises at least a first zone (11), with a prefixed area and border, made of a granular or powdered primary material, and at least a second zone (12), with a prefixed area and border, made of a granular or powdered secondary material different from the primary material; pressing the layer (1) using a press (P); separating at least a main portion (10) of the first zone (11) from the second zone (12).

Abstract: A substrate processing system including a processing chamber, a substrate holder configured to hold and rotate a substrate about an axis perpendicular to a working surface of the substrate; an electron emitter adapted to emit a first electron beam directed at a first surface of a peripheral region of the substrate, the first electron beam having a first beam energy and a first beam current sufficient to vaporize material from the first surface of the peripheral region of the substrate; an airflow system configured to direct a flow of gas across the working surface of the substrate; and an exhaust system configured to collect the gas comprising the material vaporized from the peripheral region.

Abstract: In order to reduce oscillations in process variables of an injection molding process, an injection molding machine may be operatively connected to a model database that stores models of injection molding machines and molds. A tuning controller may set initial gain values of a variable-gain proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller. To set the initial gains, the tuning controller may be configured to obtain, from the model database, a model for a first and second injection molding machines and a model for a mold. The tuning controller may analyze the models to determine a correlation between injection molding machine parameters and mold cycle performance for the mold. Accordingly, the tuning controller may apply the correlation to determine an initial gain value for a least one of the first, second, and third gains of the PID controller. The tuning controller may then set the initial gain values for the PID controller.

Abstract: A system and methods for solid freeform fabrication of an object is disclosed. The system comprises a solid freeform fabrication apparatus having a plurality of dispensing heads, a building material supply apparatus configured to supply a plurality of building materials to the fabrication apparatus, and a control unit configured for controlling the fabrication apparatus and the supply apparatus based on an operation mode selected from a plurality of predetermined operation modes.