Abstract: A method for designing and manufacturing a building system in regards to environmental factors including, acquiring a visual image for determining topographic characteristics of a surface, generating a set of architectural geometries in a computing system, creating design models representing an architectural design of the building system, geometric comparison and evaluation of the topographic characteristics with the architectural geometries, selecting a design model for manufacturing the building system, manufacturing a plurality of interlockable building bricks, obtaining a plurality of interlockable modular structure by combining the interlockable building bricks, each of said bricks having a shell portion formed on the inner core of the interlockable building bricks so that the modular structure has common outer surface formed from said shell portion of each brick.

Abstract: In one aspect, inks for use with a three-dimensional (3D) printing system are described herein. In some embodiments, an ink described herein comprise 10-70 wt. % or 20-40 wt. % of a cyclopolymerizable monomer, based on the total weight of the ink. The cyclopolymerizable monomer comprises an acrylate moiety and an ethenyl or ethynyl moiety, and the ?-carbon of the acrylate moiety and the ?-carbon of the ethenyl or ethynyl moiety may have a 1,5-, 1,6-, 1,7-, or 1,8-relationship. Additionally, an ink described herein can have a viscosity of 1600 centipoise (cP) or less at 30° C., or of 500 cP or less at 30° C. and can be used to print a desired 3D article having mechanical properties similar to those of articles formed from thermoplastic materials.

Abstract: Described herein is a process for the production of a pultrudate by mixing (a) di- or polyisocyanates, (b) compounds having at least two groups reactive toward isocyanates, (c) catalyst, (d) mold-release agent, and optionally, (e) other auxiliaries and additional substances, to give a pultrusion resin system, and wetting and hardening a fiber material therewith, where the di- and polyisocyanates (a) are mixed with a polyol component (B) including compounds (b) having at least two groups reactive toward isocyanates, catalysts (c) mold-release agents (d) and optionally other auxiliaries and additional substances (e), and the pH of the polyol component (B) is in the range from 6.5 to 8.5. Also described herein is a pultrudate obtainable by this process.

Abstract: This disclosure provides economical and effective methods and apparatus for repairing scratches and scuffs on refillable bottle surfaces that minimally contaminates the bottle during the refurbishing process. In one aspect, the method comprises the steps of: a) adding at least one fluid into the polymeric packaging material such as a bottle to form at least a partially filled packaging material; and b) applying at least one heat source to an exterior surface of the at least partially filled packaging material to form a repaired polymeric packaging material. Apparatus and recycling systems that incorporate this method are also disclosed.

Abstract: Expandable components for aerial vehicles may include an outer structure formed of carbon fiber, an adhesive bladder disposed within the outer structure, and expanding foam materials inserted into the adhesive bladder. The expandable components may be configured to transform from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration upon application of heat and/or pressure. For example, in the compressed configuration, the outer structure, adhesive bladder, and expanding foam materials may be folded, rolled, or compressed for storage or transport. In the expanded configuration, the expanding foam materials may expand and cure within the adhesive bladder, the adhesive bladder may expand, bond, and cure inside the outer structure, and the outer structure may expand and cure to a desired shape or size.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a blown plastic film using an extruder, the method comprising extruding a tube of polymer resin; cooling air from a temperature of greater than 55° F. down to a temperature between about 35° F. about 50° F., to produce an intermediate cooled air stream; dehumidifying the intermediate cooled air stream to less than about 15% humidity, to produce a dehumidified intermediate cooled air stream; cooling the dehumidified intermediate cooled air stream to less than 35° F., to produce a super-cooled air stream; and directing the super-cooled air stream at the extruded tube of polymer resin.

Abstract: A novel process is disclosed for extruding an absorbable glycolide/lactide block copolymer into multifilament suture fibers. The block copolymer preferably consists of about 50/50 mole % of Glycolide/Lactide in the center segment and the overall composition of the copolymer is about 90/10 mole % Glycolide/Lactide. The novel extrusion process comprises the steps of maintaining the temperatures of at least two, preferably three or more, of the extrusion zones in the range of about 5-50° C. below the polymer melting point. The multifilament suture made with the invention process from the segmented, glycolide-rich, poly(glycolide-co-lactide) copolymers of A-B-A type, where the B-segment is an amorphous prepolymer of glycolide and lactide in the molar ratio of about 50/50 glycolide/lactide, exhibit exceptionally high breaking strength retention (BSR) at 42 days post-implantation.

Abstract: A stent and method of making incorporating flexible, preferably polymeric, connecting elements into the stent wherein these elements connect element(s) across an intervening space. The polymeric connecting elements are designed to fold within the space between the outer diameter of the stent and the inner diameter of the stent.

Abstract: A method of producing a product utilizing a liner. The method comprises securing, at an injection molding manufacturing system, a liner to a first half of a mold. The method further comprises clamping, at an injection molding manufacturing system, the first half of the mold to a second half of the mold, wherein clamping the first half of the mold to a second half of the mold generates a total mold. The method further comprises generating, at an injection molding manufacturing system, a formed product, wherein generating the formed product further comprises filling an opening of the total mold with a molten material. The method further comprises ejecting, at an injection molding manufacturing system, the formed product, and the liner from a completed first half of the mold and releasing, at an injection molding manufacturing system, the formed product from the liner.

Abstract: A method of making a barbed microcatheter having fluid egress openings includes obtaining a barbed microcatheter blank having a hollow tube with a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongated lumen that extends between the proximal and distal ends of the hollow tube, and first and second flattened regions that extend along opposite sides of the hollow tube. The method includes removing material from the first and second flattened regions of the barbed microcatheter blank to form barbs projecting outwardly from the opposite sides of the hollow tube, and using cutting elements for forming fluid egress openings in a wall of the hollow tube that are in fluid communication with the elongated lumen of the hollow tube. The method includes forming a tissue anchor that is connected with the proximal end of the hollow tube, and securing a surgical needle with the distal end of the hollow tube.

Abstract: There is provided a three-dimensional manufacturing apparatus which is characterized by comprising: a container configured to hold a liquid photocurable resin; a base configured to support a solid manufactured object obtained by curing the liquid photocurable resin; a moving unit configured to move the base; and a light source unit configured to irradiate light for curing the liquid photocurable resin. The container comprises a light transmission portion which is provided between the light source unit and the base, and is in contact with the liquid photocurable resin. The three-dimensional manufacturing apparatus further comprises a flow facilitating unit configured to facilitate a flow of the photocurable resin which is in contact with the light transmission portion, the flow being attended by the movement of the base.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program for additive manufacturing. The additive manufacturing device includes a positioning mechanism configured to provide independent movement of at least one build unit in at least two dimensions. The build unit may further include a gasflow device for providing a flow zone along a first direction with relation to the build unit. The build unit may further include a powder delivery mechanism and an irradiation beam directing unit. The irradiation bean unit may follow a first irradiation path, wherein the first irradiation path forms at least a first solidification line and at least a second solidification line formed at an angle other than 0° and 180° with respect to the first solidification line. During the formation of the first solidification line, the build unit may be positioned in a first orientation such that the first direction of the flow zone is substantially perpendicular to the first solidification line.

Abstract: Process and systems for molding or forming products from thermosetting plastics. The system utilizes a deformable container that is placed within the cavity of the housing of the mold with the resins and initiator mixed therein. As a piston slides into the cavity, the upper edges of the container engage between the housing and the piston to seal the housing form leakage. The pressure of the piston along with heat on the housing enable the curing process to be controlled to minimize shrinkage and porosity.

Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional object can be carried out by: (a) providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; (b) filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, the polymerizable liquid comprising: (i) a polymerizable component; (ii) upconverting particles that are excited by light at a first wavelength and upon excitation emit light at a second wavelength that is shorter than the first wavelength; and (iii) a photoiniator that catalyzes polymerization of the polymerizable component upon excitation by light at the second wavelength; (c) irradiating the build region through the optically transparent member with an excitation light at the first wavelength, and optionally but in some embodiments preferably also advancing the carrier away from the build surface, wherein the excitation light is temporally and/or spatially modulated, to thereby form the three-dimensional object from the polymer

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a particulate-binder composite article including a mold defining a mold cavity, a first opening into the mold cavity, and a second opening into the mold cavity, a mass of a particulate material received in the mold cavity, a binder source in selective fluid communication with the mold cavity by way of the first opening, the binder source including a binder material, a first filter disposed across the first opening, the first filter being permeable to the binder material and substantially impermeable to the particulate material, and a second filter disposed across the second opening, the second filter being permeable to air and substantially impermeable to the particulate material.

Abstract: Provided are a manufacturing method and a manufacturing device for an extruded rubber member. The manufacturing method for an extruded rubber member includes extruding at least one type of rubber from a die, the method including the steps of inserting at least one thread into a flow channel of the at least one type of rubber, and embedding the at least one thread in a longitudinal direction of the extruded rubber member.

Abstract: There is provided a light curing molding ink set used for a manufacturing method for light curing molding using an ink-jet scheme, comprising a combination of a resin composition for a modeling material used for shaping the modeling material and a resin composition for a supporting material used for shaping the supporting material, wherein surface tension Mt (mN/m) of the resin composition for a modeling material is greater than surface tension St (mN/m) of the resin composition for a supporting material, and the surface tension Mt and the surface tension St satisfy the [0<Mt ?St<5] expression, and this light curing molding ink set can afford a light cured article having the good dimensional accuracy.

Abstract: Tooling assemblies and methods for using a tooling assembly to shape an article are provided. For example, a tooling assembly has a forward end and an aft end and comprises a first tool segment, a second tool segment, a forward cam portion near the forward end, and an aft cam portion near the aft end. The forward cam portion defines a follower surface, and at least a portion of the follower surface has a curvilinear profile. The aft cam portion defines a first surface extending at a first angle and a second surface extending at a second angle. The first and second tool segments define a cavity for shaping an article. An exemplary method comprises positioning an article preform within the cavity and inserting a fastener within the aft end of the tooling assembly until the fastener is fully inserted within the tooling assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an object includes an extrusion head having an extrusion needle for extruding thermoplastic material associated with one or more fiber strands. The apparatus may further include a turn-table, a more robotic arm for moving the extrusion head and needle, thermoplastic filament and fiber strand spools and thermoplastic filament and fiber strands. A controller is provided for directing the robotic arm, extrusion head and the turn-table. Further, a method for manufacturing an object includes generating a design for the object that substantially satisfies desired structural properties of the object and generating a sequence for extruding one or more beads of thermoplastic material to manufacture the object according to the design, in which the one or more beads of thermoplastic material are associated with one or more fiber strands. The one or more beads of thermoplastic material and the associated one or more fiber strands are then extruded according to the sequence.

Abstract: A method for making a thermoinsulating padding, particularly for the cloth article and furniture fields, comprises the steps of: providing a lap by carding in bulk fibers comprising at least a thermobinding fiber; applying, by spraying or spreading, a low glass transition temperature resin, or a mixture of resins comprising at least a low glass transition temperature resin at least on a side of said lap only to the surface layers of said side; drying the resin coated lap in a drying oven to start a cross linking of said resins; actuating said low glass transition temperature resin (previously applied either individually or in a mixture with other resins) by pressure calendering under a controlled temperature, thereby providing a dynamically operating padding.