Abstract: A system for forming injection molded articles includes a turret, a first mold unit, and a second mold unit. In an embodiment, the turret includes a plurality of core plates and each core plate includes a plurality of core pins. The first mold unit may be configured to form an inner injection molded layer, and the second mold unit may be configured to form an outer injection molded layer over the inner injection molded layer. In an embodiment, the first mold unit and the second mold unit are configured to mold at the same time, and to provide opposing clamping forces. Processes involving over-molded articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a breast implant includes producing an elastic filler material including foam, by applying a source of gas bubbles to a silicone monomer to create a mixture. The mixture is inserted into a sealed chamber. After inserting the mixture, a pressure inside the sealed chamber is set to a first pressure, and a temperature of the mixture inside the sealed chamber is set to a first temperature. Then, following a preset time duration, the pressure is lowered to a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure, and after a given time, the temperature is lowered to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. A flexible shell, configured for implantation within a breast of a human subject, is filled with the elastic filler material.

Abstract: A 3D printing device includes a printing substrate, a movable printing head configured for additively producing from a modelling material a component on the printing substrate, and a flexible printing space cover which, proceeding from the printing head, spans the printing substrate such that a closed printing space is formed between the printing head and the printing substrate, wherein a printing nozzle of the printing head for applying the modelling material protrudes into the printing space. A support structure of the device includes flexible support rods which run from the printing head to the printing substrate and which hold the printing space cover above the printing substrate.

Abstract: A printing machine for fabricating high performance 3D integrated composite structures, where the machine includes a robot having a base portion, a robot arm and an end joint secured to the arm opposite to the base portion, a plurality of sources of extrudable material, and an end-effector mounted to the end joint. The end-effector includes a multiple-extruder module having a first extruder and a second extruder each including a separate nozzle assembly, wherein the first extruder receives one extrudable material and the second extruder receives another extrudable material.

Abstract: A stereolithography machine includes a support structure arranged resting on a substantially horizontal support plane having a reference direction, a tank, having a bottom, coupled with the support structure, a support group coupled with the support structure for the movement above the tank of a modelling plate so that the modelling surface of the modelling plate faces the bottom in a substantially parallel position. The tank includes a recirculation circuit configured to move a photosensitive liquid substance contained in the tank from a first end to a second end of the tank, both defined along the reference direction, to carry out inside the tank a continuous recirculation of the resin that, by gravity, flows out from the first end at a greater height, to the second end at a lower height, and the same resin is returned by the recirculation circuit from the second end to the first end.

Abstract: During the manufacture of slabs with a veined effect a liquid or powder colouring agent is deposited on the surface of a thin layer of starting mixture by means of at least one dispensing device and the resultant mixture is supplied, falling freely, from one end of an extractor belt forming the bottom of a mixture metering/distributor unit, following which the mixture is transferred, falling freely, onto a temporary moulding support. This results in the production of slabs provided with veining extending through the entire thickness of the slabs and also visible along the whole edge of the slab, even after it has been machined.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing an object by means of additive manufacturing, comprising: a process chamber for receiving on a build surface of a build plate a bath of powdered material which can be solidified; a support for positioning said build plate in relation to a surface level of said bath of powdered material; a solidifying device for solidifying a selective part of said material; and a homing device for moving said build surface, by said support, to a home position such that said object can be build on said build surface of said build plate, wherein said homing device comprises a homing member which can be displaced along said build surface of said build plate, wherein said homing device is designed for moving said build surface to said home position until a measured force for displacing said homing member is within a pre-determined range. Method for producing an object by means of additive manufacturing.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a powder delivery system, an area scanning laser, a build chamber, and a controller. The powder delivery system provides a predetermined amount of powder material to the build chamber, and includes a material dispenser, a dispensing head, and a scraper. The scanning laser selectively sinters the powder material, and includes a mirror galvanometer for raster scanning. The build chamber has an annular configuration, and includes an inner annular wall that defines a central portion disposed inward of the build chamber. A portion of the delivery system and the laser are located in the central portion. The chamber continuously rotates under the head and under a sintering zone generated by the laser as the delivery system continuously dispenses the material. The laser continuously raster scans the material at the sintering zone in a raster pattern to sinter a layer of material directly to a preceding layer.

Abstract: A mold changing apparatus includes a conveyance unit that is configured to generate a driving force for positioning the mold in addition to loading and unloading the mold into and from an injection molding machine, and a fluid pressure cylinder to assist acceleration and deceleration of the mold in cooperation with the conveyance unit.

Abstract: A dual roller powder spreader assembly for use in layerwise manufacture in a powder bed fusion additive manufacture process utilizes in an embodiment tilting of the dual roller assembly such that a lead roller is raised upwardly relative to the powder bed in a sweep. This is accomplished using a mechanical cam-like engagement initiated at each end of the assembly's travel, causing what will then be the lead roller to rise as a whole relative to the now following roller, the latter pushing the powder pile across the powder bed. The tilt process is reversed at each end of travel.

Abstract: Vaporizer cartridges are provided. In some implementations, a cartridge includes a body having a base region sized to be inserted into a receptacle on a device, a mouthpiece at a proximal end of the body, a reservoir configured to hold a vaporizable material, a wick positioned to contact the vaporizable material, a resistive heating element having a pair of heating element ends, and a pair of plates away from the distal end. The plates are in contact with the pair of heating element ends, have a contact end exposed on an outer surface of a distal end of the body, and are configured to complete a circuit with the device when the base region is inserted into the receptacle, the exposed contact ends disposed in a first plane on the distal end. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.

Abstract: Vaporizer cartridges are provided. In some implementations, a cartridge includes a storage compartment having a longitudinal and two transverse dimensions, a mouthpiece at a proximal end of the storage compartment, exposed contact surfaces proximate to and accessible from a distal end of the storage compartment, and a heater proximate to the distal end. The heater includes extended plate contacts, a wick disposed between the plate contacts, and a heating element in contact with the plate contacts and the wick. Two opposed ends of the wick are disposed within the storage compartment and configured to contact the vaporizable material. The plate contact are electrically connected to the contact surfaces. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.

Abstract: A high-precision manufacturing machine used in precision manufacturing processes, such as a 3-D printer, is described. The machine has a frame, a movable platform supported by and movable relative to the frame, on which are mounted one or more platform tool holders for holding one or more tools such as an extruder, a base station that may include one or more bays, each of the bays having a number of base station tool holders, for storing tools that are not in use, and a supporting base, which may be movable relative to the frame, for holding one or more work items to be processed by the tool or tools selected and held by the movable platform.

Abstract: A system, a method, a device, and a computer program for detecting, monitoring and logging smoking activity related data. The device can comprise a housing, a power supply located within the housing, an atomizer electrically coupled to the power supply, a liquid solution fluidly coupled to the atomizer, and a data logging device configured to be located within the housing and that can comprise a microcontroller, a memory, and a data interface. The data logging device can be configured to detect, monitor, and log smoking activity data, and a data logging device that can comprise a microcontroller, a memory, and a data interface. The data logging device can be configured to detect, monitor, and log smoking activity data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing a drawing force in a forming process of a photocurable material by adding a radical scavenger capable of terminating free radical polymerization into a substrate for carrying the photocurable material. The method comprises: providing a mold release composition at least comprising a radical scavenger and a molding agent; and forming a mold release film from the mold release composition by curing forming or by combining with an upper surface of a plate, thereby preparing the substrate. In this way, during the light curing reaction of the photocurable material by irradiation with a light source, the radical scavenger in the upper surface of the substrate contacting with the photocurable material can react with free radicals in the photocurable material, such that the photocurable material forms an uncured layer for which light curing does not occur on the upper surface of the substrate.

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.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for electromagnetic support tooling for use in composite part curing are described. In one example, a support tooling, such as a mandrel, includes an elastomeric housing that has ferromagnetic components. The mandrel also has electro-magnetic coils positioned within the elastomeric housing and operable to generate magnetic fields to repel or attract the ferromagnetic components of the elastomeric housing to the electro-magnetic coils. When the ferromagnetic components of the elastomeric housing are repelled by the electro-magnetic coils, the elastomeric housing has a rigid surface state. When the ferromagnetic components of the elastomeric housing are attracted to the electro-magnetic coils, the elastomeric housing is collapsed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for providing a dough piece on a movable substrate, comprising a substrate, movable in a transport direction for dough pieces with a substrate speed, at least one dough supplier, configured for continuously supplying a dough stream in a supply direction with a supply speed to at least one dispensing opening, arranged above a movable substrate; wherein the plane of the dispensing opening has a directional component perpendicular to the transport direction, a knife, arranged movable with respect to the dispensing opening, with a directional component parallel to the plane of the opening for cutting the dough stream into pieces and a directional component in the supply direction of the dough for moving along with the dough, a controller, for controlling the movement of the knife, and configured to repeatedly move a cutting edge of the knife along the dispensing opening for cutting the dough stream into pieces; and move the knife with a directional component in the supply

Abstract: An electrically operated aerosol-generating system is provided, including an aerosol-generating device including an electrically powered heating element; and a heated aerosol-generating article including an aerosol-forming substrate radially encircled by a sheet of thermally-conductive material, which is a thermally conducting flame barrier configured to spread heat and to mitigate against a risk of igniting the substrate by application of a flame to the article, and a plurality of elements, assembled together with the substrate within a wrapper to form a rod having a mouth end and a distal end upstream from the mouth end, the substrate being disposed at the distal end of the rod, the elements including a spacer element disposed within the rod downstream of the substrate and a mouthpiece element extending upstream from the mouth end of the rod, the device being configured to receive the article and the heating element is configured to heat the substrate of the article.

Abstract: Vaporization devices and methods of operating them are described. In particular, apparatuses with a resistive heating element, electrical circuitry for measuring a voltage between the resistive heating element and a reference resistor, and a microcontroller for controlling a temperature of the resistive heating element in response to a determined resistance are described. The electrical circuitry may comprise the reference resistor, a first switch operable to interrupt the flow of current from the power source through the resistive heating element, a second switch operable to add the reference resistor in series with the resistive heating element when the flow of current from the power source through the resistive heating element is interrupted by operation of the first switch, and a voltage divider configured to measure a voltage between the resistive heating element and the reference resistor.