Abstract: A mask is provided for an additively manufactured part including a plurality of openings in a surface of the part. The mask is made with the part and includes an attachment ligament configured to integrally couple to the part adjacent the plurality of openings. A cover member include a proximal end integrally coupled to the attachment ligament and distal end extending at least partially over the plurality of openings. A detachment member may optionally extend from adjacent the cover member. The attachment ligament is the sole connection to the part. The mask may have an L-shape in cross-section.

Abstract: Methods of rapidly debonding encapsulant in solar modules and disassembling the modules for reuse or recycling of components. Electromagnetic radiation is applied to a solar module in a temperature and humidity-controlled environment to debond the encapsulant layers. Peel blocks are used to separate the front layer and back sheet of the module from the solar cells. The components are then sorted for reuse or recycling of valuable materials. The embodiments described also include a system of performing the methods that can be arranged in one or more shipping containers to be delivered to a solar module decommissioning site.

Abstract: A mask is provided for an additively manufactured part including a plurality of spaced openings in a surface of the part. The mask is made with the part and includes an attachment ligament configured to integrally couple to the part between the openings in a cantilever fashion. First and second cover members include a proximal ends integrally coupled to the attachment ligament and distal ends extending at least partially over a respective portions of the plurality of openings. A detachment member extends from each of the first and second cover members. The attachment ligament is the sole connection to the part. The mask may have an umbrella shape in cross-section.

Abstract: A method (1000) of additively manufacturing an object (200) from a powder material (202) comprises discharging the powder material (202) from a powder-deposition opening (126) in a hollow body (122) of a powder-supply arm (108) while rotating the powder-supply arm (108) and an energy-supply arm (112) about a vertical axis A1. Method (1000) also comprises, while rotating the powder-supply arm (108) and the energy-supply arm (112) about the vertical axis A1, distributing the powder material (202) within a powder-bed volume (204) using a powder-distribution blade (128) that is coupled to the hollow body (122) and extends along the powder-deposition opening (126). The method (1000) further comprises, while rotating the powder-supply arm (108) and the energy-supply arm (112) about vertical axis A1, consolidating at least a portion of the powder material (202) in the powder-bed volume (204) using the energy emitters (114), coupled to the energy-supply arm (112).

Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system includes a resin vessel containing resin, an imaging bar, a movement mechanism coupled to the imaging bar, and a controller. The imaging bar includes an arrangement of light emitting devices that selectively emit radiation from an exit surface of the imaging bar to define a build plane in the resin. The exit surface of the imaging bar is preferably less than 10 millimeters from the build plane. The controller is configured to scan the imaging bar along a scan axis and, concurrent with scanning, operate the imaging bar to selectively image a layer of resin at the build plane.

Abstract: This utility invention is to replace some of the parts of current vehicles and robotic machines with intelligent graphene-based fibers and nanocomposites to achieve significantly weight-decreasing and energy-savings. This invention also is related to the formation of new generation vehicles, machine parts including robotics, which include but not limited to all kinds of cars, trailers, trucks, vehicles on roads and in the sky, ships on the ocean, and intelligent robotics for Human, as well as computer parts, bicycles, and sports supplies.

Abstract: The present application relates to a linear light source using ultraviolet light emitting diodes (LEDs), and a photopolymer 3D printer comprising the linear light source. The linear light source may include a substrate distanced from a polymer case of the photopolymer 3D printer and an ultraviolet LED array in which a plurality of ultraviolet LEDs, which project ultraviolet rays toward the polymer case, are arranged on the substrate in multiple rows in the X-axis direction. The arrangement of the multiple columns in the Y-axis direction is at an oblique angle to the multiple rows.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for forming pellets in a non-ambient environment such as a strong magnetic field. The apparatus includes a die body, a die bottom, a short push pin, a long push pin, a press tube, and an extended push pin. A powder is loaded into the die body, which is then positioned in the non-ambient environment, and the powder allowed to equilibrate. A pellet is then formed by pressing on the extended push pin while the powder is in the non-ambient environment.

Abstract: A method for roughening a surface of a body by a laser, the laser acting on the surface of a body and thereby creating recesses in the surface, and the laser thereby being directed and guided onto the surface and set in terms of its power output in such a way that recesses with at least two substantially different depths are created in the surface of the body.

Abstract: A component is fabricated in an additive manufacturing process. Only a portion of a first layer of a first material is at least partially melted to define a first component layer of the component. Only a portion of the second layer of a second material is at least partially melted to define a second component layer of the component in which the entirety of the second component layer is formed simultaneously, and the second component layer is attached to the first component layer.

Abstract: An additive-manufacturing apparatus (100) comprises a support (102) and a powder-material source (106). The additive-manufacturing apparatus (100) further comprises a powder-supply arm (108), which comprises a hollow body (122), having an interior volume (124) that is in communication with the powder-material source (106), a powder-deposition opening (126) in the hollow body (122), and a powder-distribution blade (128), coupled to the hollow body (122) and extending along the powder-deposition opening (126). The additive-manufacturing apparatus (100) also comprises an energy source (110), an energy-supply arm (112), and energy emitters (114), coupled to the energy-supply arm (112). The additive-manufacturing apparatus (100) further comprises a rotary drive (116), configured to rotate the powder-supply arm (108) and the energy-supply arm (112) about a vertical axis A1, passing through the support (102), and intersecting a powder-supply-arm central axis A2 and an energy-supply-arm central axis A3.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) inkjet printer is configured to build up an object by printing a series of layers and stacking them to form the object. In order to speed printing, drying of each layer is accelerated by using a pressure differential to extract liquid vehicle from the ink, and by moving the printed layer away from the inkjet print heads before drying so that the inkjet print heads may print the next layer. The dried printed layer may also be conditioned and/or cured. Dried printed layers are stacked at a build station to assemble the finished object.

Abstract: A bonding apparatus includes adhesive sheet that includes a central adhesive portion adhered to a central portion of a first substrate and a bendable adhesive portion that surrounds the central adhesive portion in a plan view and that is adhered to an edge portion of the first substrate that extends from the central portion, a molding member that includes a top surface that overlaps the central portion and a side surface bent from the top surface and that has a curved shape and that supports the adhesive sheet through the top surface, a magnet member disposed on a first display surface of a second substrate that covers the central portion of the first substrate, and pressing balls disposed in the molding member. The pressing balls press fife central adhesive portion and the bendable adhesive portion by forming attractive force with magnet member.

Abstract: A mold which can improve an appearance of a molded body is provided. A mold includes a cavity, the mold being capable of subjecting a resin sheet under reduced pressure suction via a plurality of reduced pressure suction holes thereby shaping the resin sheet to follow a shape of an inner surface of the cavity; wherein: the inner surface includes a base surface and a plurality of island-like concave portions provided in the base surface; and a concave portion reduced pressure suction hole index defined by an in-concave reduced pressure suction hole ratio divided by a concave portion area ratio is 0.5 or lower.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) inkjet printer is configured to build up an object by printing a series of layers and stacking them to form the object. In order to speed printing, drying of each layer is accelerated by using a pressure differential to extract liquid vehicle from the ink, and by moving the printed layer away from the inkjet print heads before drying so that the inkjet print heads may print the next layer. The dried printed layer may also be conditioned and/or cured. Dried printed layers are stacked at a build station to assemble the finished object.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adhesive resin composition that is used for adhesion of a fluorine-based resin and is aimed at adhesion between fluorine-based resins or between a fluorine-based resin and a material other than a fluorine-based resin. More specifically, the present invention relates to an adhesive resin composition for use in adhesion of a fluorine-based resin, the composition including a polyethylene-based resin, an elastomer component, and a component having an epoxy group and a vinyl group, wherein a content of the polyethylene-based resin is 55 parts by mass or more and 90 parts by mass or less, a content of the elastomer component is 10 parts by mass or more and 45 parts by mass or less, the elastomer component and the component having an epoxy group and a vinyl group have a common repetition unit, and a content of the component having an epoxy group and a vinyl group based on a total amount of 100 parts by mass of the polyethylene-based resin and the elastomer component is 0.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printer with improved adjustment mechanisms for calibrating the orientation of the build platform and an extrusion assembly to optimize the accuracy of models deposited on the build platform. The printer includes a frame carrying an extrusion assembly proximate the top, and a carriage within. A build platform is mounted on the top of the carriage. Carriage adjustment mechanisms are provided at at least two corners of the carriage for calibrating the orientation of the build platform with respect to the X-Y plane. An extrusion assembly adjustment mechanism is provided at at least one end of the extrusion mechanism for calibrating the orientation of the extrusion mechanism with respect to the Y-axis. A height adjustment mechanism is provided for translating the carriage within the frame along the Z-axis.

Abstract: A device and method for printing 3D articles including electronic and functional elements including 3D printer and a plasma jet printer based on a dielectric barrier atmospheric pressure plasma jet system in which both printing and in-situ treatment and post-deposition treatment can be carried out to tailor the materials characteristics. Plasma jet printer comprising of electrodes in the nozzle/print head for applying electric field and generating atmospheric plasma that could be used for non-gravity based highly directional printing in any direction. Integration of dielectric barrier plasma printer and plasma treatment jets with the 3D printer increases the capability of embedding high performance electronics in a 3D printed structure aiding in additive manufacturing of functional devices. Ability to use a range of materials for print head assembly including micro machined silicon increases the resolution of the plasma jet printer to sub-micron level.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system for fabricating multi-sided printed composite sheet structures includes a roll fed duplex architecture that prints polymer images on both sides of a substrate sheet to form two-sided 3D composite layers. A substrate web is fed into the machine, and a top side is printed with a wetting agent, powdered, and the excess powder is removed. The image may be pinned to the substrate in a fusing step so that the web can be inverted to print a second image on the other side. The inversion architecture could include inverting rollers, tubes or a Mobius strip that may flip the substrate for backside printing using a single imaging station. The resulting two-side powdered and pinned substrate would then be cut, stacked, heated and compressed to create a 3-D object with more polymer in the stack, resulting in better adhesive binding characteristics at a much higher production speed.

Abstract: A method for producing a component from two or more sub-components includes the steps of: producing each of the sub-components using an additive manufacturing process in which a resin, which is radiant-energy-curable, is partially cured using a selective application of radiant energy, wherein each sub-component includes a joint surface in which the resin is partially cured which is cured to a lesser degree than the remainder of the respective sub-component, so as to leave the joint surfaces in a condition suitable for bonding; assembling the sub-components with their respective joint surfaces in mutual contact; and performing a secondary cure of the partially-cured resin at the joint surfaces using an application of radiant energy, so as to further cure the partially-cured resin and bond the sub-components to each other, thereby forming the component.