Abstract: Misalignments of a 3d printing device may be detected by providing a reference pattern in a print zone of the 3d printing device, wherein the reference pattern comprises a plurality of reference marks, printing a test pattern on the reference pattern by means of the 3d printing device, and comparing the test pattern with the reference marks.

Abstract: Provided is a metal 3D printer provided with a powder layer formation device for uniformly distributing a metal powder and forming a powder layer for each of a plurality of division layers obtained by horizontally dividing a three-dimensional object, a hermetically sealed chamber, a laser irradiation device for irradiating laser light to a predetermined irradiation region on each of the powder layers and forming a sintered layer, an inert gas supplying device for supplying an inert gas to the chamber and discharging fumes to the outside of the chamber, and a control device for issuing a command to start irradiation of the laser light to the laser light irradiation device after a standby time has elapsed that corresponds to a residual amount of fumes in the chamber, such that irradiation by the laser light at the necessary energy is unaffected.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of stretch-forming pre-preg 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 pre-preg material to a longer length than at least one other section of the sheet of pre-preg material before the sheet of pre-preg material is applied to a tool.

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: An apparatus for feeding a screw-type extruder with material strips made of rubber mixtures or plastics mixtures, which strips are arranged in a folded zig-zag shape and can be supplied by means of at least one conveyor belt to a supply region of a supply element that is funnel-shaped, at least in portions, and an extruder. A motor-driven conveyor device for the material strip is arranged within the supply region, which device comprises a pressure surface that can abut the surface of the material strip and can be moved in a reversing manner. Said pressure surface only abuts the surface of the material strip in the conveying direction and, in the direction opposite the conveying direction, it adopts a return position in which it is spaced from the surface of the material strip.

Abstract: A drape forming apparatus for use in forming a composite structure. The apparatus includes a forming tool including an upper forming surface and at least one side forming surface that extends from the upper forming surface. The forming tool receives at least one layer of composite material over the upper forming surface. The apparatus also includes a flange forming device including a tray coplanarly aligned with the upper forming surface when in a first operating position. The tray is configured to receive a flange portion of the at least one layer of composite material. A pressurized bladder extends over the forming tool and the tray. The pressurized bladder is configured to induce a first force against the tray such that the tray rotates about a pivot line, and such that the flange portion is withdrawn from the tray and draped over the at least one side forming surface.

Abstract: A spinneret (1) for electrostatic spinning is configured from a structure of an electrically conductive metal material. The structure is provided with a long-axis direction (X), a short-axis direction (Z), and a thickness direction (Y). An inflow port (10) for a spinning starting material fluid is provided to one surface of the structure. A plurality of protrusions (5) are formed on another surface of the structure so as to be aligned along the long-axis direction (X). Each of the plurality of protrusion (5) extends so as to protrude from the structure. The protrusions (5) have, provided to apexes (2) thereof, discharge holes (4) for discharging the starting material fluid. The pitch of the discharge holes (4) exceeds 1 mm.

Abstract: A method for tempering preforms in a blowing machine, wherein at least one heating box is arranged along a transport path for the preforms. The heating box has reflective walls and forms a heating channel through which the preforms are guided. The heating box also has a heater for heating the preforms in the heating channel, and a cooling device, having a blower, for cooling the reflective walls. The walls are cooled by a quantity of air flowing along the walls outside the heating channel. The heating output of the heater is adjustable. A control device provides open-loop and closed-loop control of the cooling output produced by the cooling device, in particular the supplied quantity of air, depending on the respective heating output of the heater, depending on a measurement of the heating output.

Abstract: An injection moulding machine comprising a fixed tool clamping plate, a movable tool clamping plate and a protection device comprising lateral frame elements or lateral covers, wherein the clamping plates are arranged between the lateral frame elements or the lateral covers and the movable tool clamping plate can travel along a closing axis which runs parallel to the lateral frame elements or the lateral covers in relation to the fixed tool clamping plate, wherein the protection device further comprises first cover elements arranged on the top side of the machine, both on an operator side and on the operator opposite side, which first cover elements extend parallel to the closing axis, the first cover elements being configured for a radial movement, and wherein the protection device further comprises second cover elements on the top side of the machine which extend perpendicularly to the closing axis, wherein the second cover elements being configured for radial movement.

Abstract: A method of producing a transdermal absorption sheet including: preparing a mold having needle-like recessed portions including tapered inlet portions; preparing a liquid feeder including an opening portion and a lip land portion; filling the needle-like recessed portions with a solution by feeding the solution to the mold and moving the liquid feeder in a traveling direction while bringing an upstream end of the lip land portion on an upstream side of the liquid feeder in the traveling direction into contact with the mold; and forming needle portions and a sheet portion using a polymer solution. In the filling of the solution, when the upstream end of the lip land portion on the upstream side aligns with an upstream side inlet surface of one of the needle-like recessed portions, the shortest distance from a downstream side inlet surface of the needle-like recessed portion to a surface of the lip land portion on the upstream side is 220 ?m or less.

Abstract: A method for producing a foam body for a pressure or hydraulic accumulator has a bubble- or diaphragm-shaped, elastically flexible separating layer (12) separating gas and liquid chambers from each other within an accumulator housing. The production method includes introducing a flowable, preferably liquid, foam material into the pressure accumulator with the foam material being at least partially surrounded by the separating layer (12), curing the foam material in the hydraulic accumulator, and building up a pressure gradient in which the visibly curing foam material expands the separating layer (12) from an originally partially filled starting state in the direction of an end state in which the accumulator is finally filled with the cured foam (38).

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: An applicator assembly for applying pressure to a composite structure includes an external frame, an applicator casing disposed substantially within the external frame, and an applicator disposed substantially within the applicator casing. The applicator casing includes a first membrane, and a first jamming material disposed within the first membrane. The applicator includes a second membrane, and a second jamming material disposed within said second membrane.

Abstract: An injection molding system includes: an injection molding machine; a physical quantity acquisition unit configured to obtain a physical quantity regarding the injection molding; a molded product image acquisition unit configured to obtain an image of a molded product; a molded product image storage unit configured to store an image of a molded product; an image storage condition setting unit configured to set a condition used for determining whether to store an image of a molded product corresponding to the physical quantity obtained by the physical quantity acquisition unit; and an image storage determination unit configured to determine whether to store the image of the molded product corresponding to the physical quantity, according to the physical quantity obtained by the physical quantity acquisition unit and the condition set by the image storage condition setting unit, and store the image in accordance with the determination result.

Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments herein provide a 3-D printer comprising a composite filament supply, a build platen, a print head comprising a composite filament ironing tip and a heater, a plurality of actuators that move the print head and the build platen relative to one another in three degrees of freedom at a printing rate, at least one linear feed mechanism that advances the composite filament at a feed rate and drives the composite filament into the print head to deposit the composite filament, and a controller configured to operate the heater to heat the composite filament ironing tip to flow matrix material among axial fiber strands within the composite filament and operate the plurality of actuators to press the composite filament ironing tip against the composite filament and reshape the composite filament against one of the build platen and a composite filament previously deposited upon the build platen.

Abstract: In a method for operating an apparatus for transforming plastic preforms into plastic containers, the apparatus acts upon a flowable medium to plastic preforms in order to expand these plastic preforms to form the plastic containers, and the apparatus carries out this transforming operation while taking account of a plurality of process parameters. The plurality of process parameters is determined on the basis of a machine model, wherein a predefined number of input parameters are transferred to this machine model and at least one processor unit determines the process parameters and/or values characteristic of these process parameters on the basis of these input parameters.

Abstract: A thermoforming apparatus is described herein. The apparatus may include a pressure mechanism, a thermal device, a plurality of individually actuatable pins, and/or a pin actuation mechanism. The pressure mechanism may create a force against a die surface. The thermal device may change a thermal state of a material forced by the pressure mechanism against the die surface. The plurality of individually actuatable pins may form the die surface. The pin actuation mechanism may be connected to the plurality of actuatable pins and/or may actuate the pins. This apparatus improves on prior solutions in many ways. For example, embodiments of the thermoforming apparatus may require significantly less time between different molds than previous thermoforming machines and 3D printers.

Abstract: A 3D printing system is disclosed. The 3D printing system has a print head and a positioning platform. The positioning platform supports and positions a product printed by the print head. The positioning platform is movable with respect to the print head in a first direction, a second direction, and a third direction perpendicular to each other. The positioning platform is also rotatable with respect to the print head about at least two of the first, second, and third directions.

Abstract: An injection molding device has a first mold half, an index plate that in a molding position is at least partly received in the first mold half, and an index plate axle connected with the index plate. The index plate axle is arranged for linear movement along its longitudinal axis relative to the first mold half so that the index plate can be moved between the molding position and a turning position in which the index plate can be rotated with respect to the first mold half. An adaptor plate, connected to the first mold half, has a drive and a first coupling element coupled with the drive. The first coupling element is arranged eccentric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the index plate axle.

Abstract: A method and system of producing a digitally printed iris structure for an artificial eye by using suitable digital graphics software, the appearance of a dilating pupil/collarette is created within the combined center portion/inner ring area of a prosthetic eye—in that a pupil appears to dilate from a small diameter in bright light to a comparatively large diameter in dimmer or darker light. The process of creating such effect is a unique extension of the knowledge that certain colors and pigments in bright light are most apparent, and in dark light tend to appear grey to black.