Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bicycle component having a component body formed at least partially of a fibrous composite material in a shaping mold. A shaping area of the shaping mold which serves to shape an outer section of the component body is provided with at least one intended surface roughness. At the same time, an intentional surface roughness is provided for the outer section by means of the surface roughness of the shaping area during manufacture of the outer section, to inhibit surface imperfections of the shaped outer section.

Abstract: A conformable apparatus for treating a composite material. The conformable apparatus includes a contact layer that is conformable and includes a plurality of contact elements. Each contact element of the plurality of contact elements includes a first major side, a second major side opposed from said first major side, and at least one side surface extending between said first major side and said second major side. The contact layer further includes a contact surface at least partially defined by the first major sides of the plurality of contact elements and a backing surface at least partially defined by the second major sides of said plurality of contact elements. The conformable apparatus also includes a backing layer positioned against said backing surface of said contact layer.

Abstract: A mold assembly for manufacturing a composite part with a stiffener, the mold assembly includes a bottom mold configured to form a first surface of the composite part, wherein the bottom mold has at least one elongated recess configured to form a stiffener in the composite part; a feeder unit having a shape corresponding to the at least one elongated recess, wherein the feeder unit is configured to fit at least partially into the at least one elongated recess; and a top mold configured to form a second surface of the composite part opposite to the first surface. Also a method of manufacturing a composite part using such a mold assembly, which includes draping a flat laminate over the bottom mold and pushing portions of the laminate into the at least one elongated recess.

Abstract: A method of additive manufacturing a part via vat photopolymerization (VPP) includes irradiating a first material through a first transparent wall of a first material tank and forming a first section of an nth layer of the part on a platform, positioning the platform with the first section of the nth layer in a second material tank with a distance between the first section of the nth layer and a second transparent wall, and irradiating a second material such that a second section of the nth layer of the part is formed on the platform adjacent to the first section of the nth layer. The method repeats forming first and second sections of additional layer until a predetermined number of total layers are formed. Positioning the first and second sections with a distance between the second and first transparent walls, respectively, inhibits crashing during forming of the part.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of stretch-forming material are provided. In one example embodiment, a variable material stretch-forming apparatus comprises a stretch-forming assembly configured to stretch-form at least one section of a sheet of material to a longer length than at least one other section of the sheet of material before the sheet of material is applied to a tool.

Abstract: An installation for moulding of three dimensional products from a mass of pumpable foodstuff material includes a pump having at least one pump chamber, a pump drive, and a moulding device including a mould drum, a mould member drive for moving the mould drum along a path, and a mass feed member. The mass feed member has a chamber with an inlet, a discharge mouth facing the mould member at the fill position along the path of the mould drum, an orificed grinder body and multiple mobile grinder members each arranged at one of the distinct positions of the mold cavities and cooperating with the grinding face of the orificed grinder body. The installation is advantageously employed for the manufacture of meat products from a pumpable meat mass for the manufacture of meat patties.

Abstract: Prior to manufacturing a product by additive manufacturing, a stress relief profile including frequency and amplitude parameters of an ultrasonic input is determined based on physical properties of the product, including resonant frequencies of the product and a material from which the product is manufactured. Successive layers of a material are added and energy is applied to incorporate the material of each layer into the product. A processor accesses stress relief profile parameters for each layer, determines whether a layer requires stress relief and determines a frequency and a power level for the stress relief at the layer. An ultrasonic input is applied with the determined parameters to relieve stress as the product is built up.

Abstract: A production method of a mold having a recessed pattern includes: a plate precursor preparation step of preparing a plate precursor having a pedestal on which a protruding pattern is disposed; a resin plate preparation step of preparing a thermoplastic resin plate having a recessed step portion; and a resin plate precursor production step of producing a thermoplastic resin plate precursor. The plate precursor comprises a substrate having a larger area than the pedestal in a plan view on a side opposite to a surface of the pedestal on which the protruding pattern is disposed. An edge portion where a side surface of the pedestal and the substrate are in contact with each other has a through-hole penetrating the substrate along the side surface of the pedestal.

Abstract: In an example method for forming three-dimensional (3D) printed electronic parts, a build material is applied. An electronic agent is selectively applied in a plurality of passes on a portion of the build material. A fusing agent is also selectively applied on the portion of the build material. The build material is exposed to radiation in a plurality of heating events. During at least one of the plurality of heating events, the portion of the build material in contact with the fusing agent fuses to form a region of a layer. The region of the layer exhibits an electronic property. An order of the plurality of passes, the selective application of the fusing agent, and the plurality of heating events is controlled to control a mechanical property of the layer and the electronic property of the region.

Abstract: An imprint apparatus for forming a pattern of an imprint material on a substrate using a mold, includes a mold holding unit including an actuator for moving mold, a force sensor detecting force generated by actuator, a position sensor measuring a position of mold, and a controlling unit controlling operation of mold holding unit. The controlling unit controls mold holding unit according to either a force imprint profile or a position imprint profile. The force imprint profile is for controlling movement of mold based on force generated by actuator and detected by force sensor. The position imprint profile is for controlling movement of mold based on position of mold measured by position sensor. When pattern of imprint material is formed on substrate, either force imprint profile or position imprint profile is selectable.

Abstract: A mounting fixture of an apparatus for clamping a film includes a platform, a barricade, and fixing members. A surface of the platform includes a first fixing portion, and second and third fixing portions which are opposite to the first fixing portion. The second fixing portion is adjacent to the third fixing portion and located between the first and third fixing portions. The barricade is disposed on the surface between the second and third fixing portions and has channels. The fixing members are disposed on the surface. First, second, and third bars of the apparatus are disposed on the first, second, and third fixing portions, the barricade is located between the second and third bars, and the channels receive elastic elements of the apparatus. Each elastic element has two ends disposed on the second and third bars. The fixing members can fix the first and third bar.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a vacuum insulated refrigerator structure includes positioning a first barrier film in a female mold cavity. Porous filler material is positioned on the barrier film, and a second barrier film is positioned over the porous filler material. A male mold is brought into contact with the second barrier film to deform and compress the porous filler material into a 3D shape. A vacuum is formed between the first and second barrier films, and the first and second peripheral edge portions are sealed together to form a vacuum insulated core. The vacuum insulated core may be positioned between a liner and a wrapper to form an insulated refrigerator cabinet, door, or other vacuum insulated component.

Abstract: A system is proposed, using which a material is dispensed in a web shape to additively produce a component. An in situ material check is performed, wherein if a geometric deviation lying outside a tolerance is established, material dispensing is interrupted to carry out finish compacting of a dispensed material web by way of a compacting unit.

Abstract: Surface material of a mold molding surface and surface treatment method. A molding surface of material including metal and in which the molding surface reaches 50° C. or higher during molding is subjected to rapid thermal processing by injecting a substantially spherical shot with a hardness equal to or greater than the surface hardness of the mold and a size of #220 (JIS R6001-1973) or smaller at an injection pressure of 0.2 MPa or more and bombarding the surface with the shot, causing the temperature to rise locally and instantaneously at a bombarded portion to refine the surface structure of the surface and to form numerous smooth arc-shaped indentations on the entire surface of the surface. Then, powder including titanium having size of #100 or smaller is injected at an injection pressure of 0.2 MPa or more to form a coating of titanium oxide on the surface of the surface.

Abstract: A method for forming filaments that utilizes a die assembly having a single uninterrupted open area and a fluid supplied by a fluid flow path within the die assembly that is divided into at least two different fluid cavities, one of the fluid cavities present between a nozzle plate comprising the plurality of filament forming nozzles and an air plate, and another fluid cavity of the at least two different fluid cavities present between the air plate and an enclosure plate that defines the single uninterrupted open area is provided.

Abstract: A gantry carriage assembly includes a support plate having a first end and a second end. The gantry carriage assembly further includes first guide wheels secured to a first end of the support plate, the first guide wheels including a first pair of guide wheels configured to accommodate a longitudinal member of a gantry truss therebetween, where the first pair of guide wheels are disposed opposite from one another across the longitudinal member. The gantry carriage assembly also includes second guide wheels secured to a second end of the support plate opposite the first end, the second guide wheels including a second pair of guide wheels configured to accommodate the longitudinal member of the gantry truss therebetween, wherein the second pair of guide wheels are disposed opposite from one another across the longitudinal member.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for powder bed fusion additive manufacturing involve a multiple-chamber design achieving a high efficiency and throughput. The multiple-chamber design features concurrent printing of one or more print jobs inside one or more build chambers, side removals of printed objects from build chambers allowing quick exchanges of powdered materials, and capabilities of elevated process temperature controls of build chambers and post processing heat treatments of printed objects. The multiple-chamber design also includes a height-adjustable optical assembly in combination with a fixed build platform method suitable for large and heavy printed objects. A side removal mechanism of the build chambers of the apparatus improves handling and efficiency for printing large and heavy objects. Use of a wide range of sensors in the apparatus and by the method allows various feedback to improve quality, manufacturing throughput, and energy efficiency.

Abstract: An imprint apparatus that forms a curable composition on a substrate using a mold includes a first measurement unit configured to measure a height distribution of the substrate at a contact position where the mold and the curable composition are brought into contact with each other. The first measurement unit measures a height of the substrate by bringing a probe into contact with a surface of the substrate, the probe having a contact surface area smaller than a contact surface area of the mold.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing machine is provided which can smooth out powdered material while preventing mechanical interference between a smoothing plate and a manufacturing box. The additive manufacturing machine has a support stage, a manufacturing box, and a powder feeder mechanism. The powder feeder mechanism feeds powdered material onto the support stage and smooths out the powdered material. The powder feeder mechanism has an arm portion, a guide mechanism, a connective portion, and a drive mechanism. The guide mechanism is secured to the manufacturing box and supports the arm portion such that it can move in a first direction. The connective portion is connected to the arm portion and transmits force to the arm portion only in the first direction. The drive mechanism is secured to a support member different from the manufacturing box and has a drive portion for moving the connective portion in the first direction.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a support plate and a foil supporting an uncured layer of a resin. A stage is configured to hold a component of one or more cured layers of the resin. One or more actuators is operable to move the stage away from the support plate in a Z-axis direction. A radiant energy device is positioned opposite the stage such that the support plate is positioned between the radiant energy device and the stage. A foil interaction device includes a first pneumatic actuation zone and a second pneumatic actuation zone. Each of the first and second pneumatic actuation zones is configured to apply a force on a surface of the foil. The first and second pneumatic actuation zones are fluidly separable and configured to apply varied pressures relative to one another to the surface of the foil.