Abstract: A system and method for reducing draw resonance of a plastic material in molten state, so-called melt, leaving an extrusion group of a plant for the production of plastic film, includes at least one thermostatically-controlled cylinder, having an embracement angle of the melt on the cylinder that is adjustable on the basis of the process rate, i.e., the linear movement speed of the plastic film, and/or on the basis of the temperature measured in the proximity of or in correspondence with the clamping area of the melt in a thermoforming, calibration and cooling group included in the plant and positioned downstream of the system.

Abstract: A clamping apparatus of a soft film and a mounting fixture thereof are described. The clamping apparatus includes a first bar, a second bar, a third bar, and at least one elastic element. The first bar and second bar are respectively configured to fix a first side portion and a second side portion of a soft film. The third bar is adjacent and connected to the second bar. The third bar and the first bar are respectively located on two opposite sides of the second bar. The third bar is configured to pull the soft film from the second side portion of the soft film through the second bar. The elastic element has a first end and a second end opposite to each other and respectively disposed on the second bar and the third bar. The elastic element is configured to provide the soft film with pull buffer.

Abstract: A kit for the calibration of a head system of a power radiation source of an additive manufacturing device comprises: a calibration plate having a plurality of reference marks, and a firing support made from at least one material sensitive to the radiation of the source, this support leaving the reference marks of the calibration plate visible when it is in place thereon, characterized in that the firing support comprises a plurality of windows distributed in such a way as to become superposed with the various reference marks of the calibration plate and leave them visible when the firing support is in place on the calibration plate. There is also a method for calibrating such a system.

Abstract: A process for layer-by-layer manufacturing a three-dimensional object from a powder and objects made from the same is described. The process includes the step of applying a layer of a powder on a bed of a laser sintering machine. The powder includes polyetherketoneketone. The process further includes the step of solidifying selected points of the applied layer of powder by irradiation using heat energy introduced by a laser having a power L and successively repeating the step of applying the powder and the step of solidifying the applied layer of powder until all cross sections of a three-dimensional object are solidified. L is between 1 W and 20 W. In some embodiments L is between 1 and 10 W. In some embodiments, the powder is recycled PEKK powder. In some embodiments, the powder includes carbon fiber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a print head (10) for a 3D printer (1), comprising a feed zone (11) with a feed (12) for feedstock (20) with variable viscosity, a melting zone (14) comprising a heating element (15) and an outlet opening (16) for the liquid phase (22) of said feedstock (20), as well as a conveyor device (30) for conveying the feedstock (20) from the feed zone (11) into the melting zone (14), said conveyor device (30) comprising a plunger (31) that can be inserted into said feed zone (11).

Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing under generated force includes a mechanical arm, a build platform, a build platform controller, a material delivery system controller, a laser scan system, a laser scan system controller, a motor controller and a master controller. The master controller determines a location of the material delivered to the build platform. The master controller further calculates a rate of rotation of the build platform as a function of the location of the material delivered and a desired centrifugal acceleration. The master controller further calculates an adjustment factor to correlate a rotation of the laser scan system to a rotation of the mechanical arm as a function of the location of the material delivered and a calculated rate of rotation of the build platform.

Abstract: Methods for additive manufacturing using a three-dimensional printer including at least one linear feed mechanism and a print head positioned proximate a build platen are disclosed. The methods include a step of providing and/or feeding an unmelted fiber reinforced composite filament at a feed rate by the at least one linear feed mechanism. The methods include heating the filament to a temperature at which a matrix material therein flows within at least one rounded outlet of the print head. The methods include moving the print head and the build platen relative to one another at a printing rate. The methods include applying a spreading force to the filament between the at least one rounded outlet of the print head and the build platen. The methods include a step of controlling a differential in the feed rate and printing rate using the at least one linear feed mechanism so that the feed rate and the printing rate are substantially the same.

Abstract: An imprint apparatus for performing an imprint process of forming a pattern of an imprint material on a substrate using a mold is disclosed. The imprint apparatus includes an adjustment unit configured to adjust a shape of the mold and a control unit configured to control the imprint process. The control unit obtains information indicating a tendency concerning a change of the shape of the mold corresponding to a use count of the mold used for the imprint process and controls the adjustment unit to correct the shape of the mold in accordance with the obtained information and a present use count of the mold. The control unit also controls the imprint apparatus to perform the imprint process after the shape of the mold has been corrected by the adjustment unit.

Abstract: A method is described for utilizing NIL materials with switchable mechanical properties. The method comprises applying an imprint mask to a nano-imprint lithography (NIL) material layer. The NIL material layer is comprised of a NIL material with a modulus level below a flexibility threshold. The NIL material layer has an internal property, that when changed, causes a change in the modulus level of the NIL material. The method further comprises detaching the imprinted NIL material layer from the imprint mask, with the low modulus level of the NIL material causing a shape of the imprinted NIL material layer to remain unchanged after detachment. A modulus level of the NIL material is increased by changing an internal property of the NIL material, with the modulus level increased beyond a strength threshold to create a first imprint layer that has a structure that remains unaffected by a subsequent process.

Abstract: A device (100) for compacting a layer (MT) of powder material; the device (100) comprises a movable surface (12), which is designed to convey the layer (MT) of powder material in a predefined feeding direction (F); a compacting belt (22) positioned over the transport surface (12); a pressing station (40, 45, 50, 55), which is designed to press the compacting belt (22) towards the transport surface (12), so as to press the layer (MT) of powder material; and an expansion countering station (80), which is designed to counter the expansion of the layer (MT) of powder material downstream of the pressing station (40, 45, 50, 55) and comprises a pusher delivering a gas under pressure to create a pushing gas cushion (STR; STR*) on the compacting belt (22).

Abstract: A method for fabricating a composite part using a 3D printing machine. The method includes forming a support structure by depositing consecutive support structure layers including rows of filaments made of a support structure material from the machine on a build plate, smoothing out a top surface of the support structure after it is formed, and forming the part by depositing consecutive part layers including rows of filaments made of a part material from the machine on the support structure.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a platform, a dispenser configured to deliver a plurality of successive layers of feed material onto the platform, at least one energy source to selectively fuse feed material in a layer on the platform, and an air knife assembly. The air knife assembly includes an inlet unit to deliver gas over the platform and an exhaust unit to receive gas from over the platform. The inlet unit includes a multi-chamber plenum, a gas inlet, and a gas distribution module. The multi-chamber plenum has a plurality of vertically stacked chambers that are fluidically connected, with a first chamber of the plurality of vertically stacked chambers positioned at a higher elevation than a collection chamber of the plurality of vertically stacked chambers.

Abstract: A template for imprint comprises a main body having a bottom surface, a middle surface on a portion protruding relative to the bottom surface, and a pattern surface on a portion protruding relative to the middle surface, the pattern surface having an uneven pattern, wherein an outer edge of the pattern surface has a jigsaw shape, wherein a light-shielding member having a light transmittance lower than a light transmittance of the main body is disposed on the middle surface to surround the outer edge of the pattern surface in a plan view as viewed from the pattern surface, and wherein an outer edge of light-shielding member defines four sides having a shape in which a center of each side bulges outward with respect to a rectangle surrounding the outer edge of the pattern surface in the plan view, and wherein the shape of each side bulges outwardly in a stepwise manner from the ends of each side to the center of each side.

Abstract: A tooling assembly for manufacturing a porous composite structure. The tooling assembly includes a first tooling member and a second tooling member. The first tooling member includes a first body that defines a first internal volume and a first inlet. The first inlet is fluidly coupled with the first internal volume. The first tooling member also includes a first tooling surface that defines a plurality of first perforations that are fluidly coupled with the first internal volume. The second tooling member includes a second body that defines a second internal volume and a second inlet. The second inlet is fluidly coupled with the second internal volume. The second tooling member also includes a second tooling surface that defines a plurality of second perforations that are fluidly coupled with the second internal volume.

Abstract: A die assembly suitable for spinning filaments and more particularly to a die assembly having a fluid environment around the die assembly's filament exit holes is provided.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system includes an array of platen sections, a plurality of compressive sheets, a chassis, a plurality of actuators, a powder dispenser, and an energy beam source. The array of platen sections individually have a top surface and a plurality of vertical side surfaces intersecting the top surface. The plurality of platen sections are positioned with adjacent pairs of platen sections having a pair of the vertical side surfaces in facing relation with each other and defining a vertical gap therebetween. Thus they define a plurality of vertical gaps over the array of platen sections. The plurality of compressible sheets fill the plurality of vertical gaps. The chassis supports the array of platen sections. The plurality of actuators is for individually and vertically positioning the platen sections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing spherical cured polymer particles from a curable composition. The method comprises the steps of: dropping a curable composition onto a substrate having a water contact angle of 150° to 170° at 25° C. to form droplets of the curable composition; and curing the droplets to form the polymer particles.

Abstract: A method of extrusion additive manufacturing for veneer applications may include, but is not limited to, loading material into an extruder, generating a mixture from the material, and fabricating the veneer product. Fabricating the veneer product may include depositing a first portion of the mixture on a working surface of the extruder, actuating the working surface, and depositing an additional portion of the mixture on the working surface of the extruder proximate to the first position of the mixture deposited on the working surface. Where the first portion of the mixture and the additional portion of the mixture form a first layer of the veneer product, fabricating the veneer product may include actuating a nozzle of the extruder and depositing an additional layer of the mixture on the first layer of the veneer product. The material may include wood product and a binder.

Abstract: An electronic cigarette (“e-Cig”) may include functionality for monitoring and controlling the thermal properties of the e-Cig. The system and method described herein may monitor a temperature based on a resistor (i.e. hot wire) near the wick and model the thermal cycle of an e-Cig. The model can be used for controlling the temperature of the e-Cig and preventing burning. The temperature control may dictate optimal conditions for atomization and smoke generation in an e-Cig while avoiding hotspots and burning to the atomizer or cartomizer.

Abstract: A processing method for molding a foamed polymer, which includes molding a mixture of a polymer material and a foaming agent in a space of a mould chamber into a molded article having a predetermined shape. The shape of the entire space of the mould chamber is an injection molding shape that is different from the shape of the molded article before the mould chamber is fully filled with the mixture, and a shape of at least one local part of the mould chamber is changed after the space of the mould chamber is fully filled with the mixture. An exterior peripheral surface of a substrate of a movable portion and an adjustment end face are located in a center portion of a first mould surface and are spaced apart from all outer edges of the first mould surface.