Abstract: Multi-material membranes for use in vat polymerization printers. The membranes include a fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) or polyolefin polymer film bonded to a layer of silicone rubber. The layer of silicone rubber is coated to reduce its surface energy. Coatings such as a silicone elastomer or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-based material may be used. The coatings are preferably sprayed on and allowed to cure or dry after the FEP or other film has been bonded to the layer of silicone rubber.

Abstract: A tire tread extractor used in the manufacture of treads includes a frame, a first nip roller rotatably associated with the frame, and a second nip roller rotatably associated with the frame. The first and second nip rollers are adapted to engage a tire tread at least partially resident in a mold. A driving mechanism associated with the first and/or second nip rollers operates to impart rotational motion thereto. The frame is configured for longitudinal movement along a substantial portion of a longitudinal length of the mold while maintaining the first and second nip rollers in a spaced relation to the mold.

Abstract: In the context of a system that uses a pellet-type extruder head to form solid objects by moving the extruder relative to a build surface while melting and extruding pellets of raw material, systems and methods are provided which comprise cooling at least a portion of a pathway by which the pellets of raw material are conveyed to a rotating extruder lead screw of the extruder head.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for creating a vacuum forming mold assembly. The method includes forming a plurality of support plates. Each support plate includes a surface defining a shape corresponding to a cross-section of at least a portion of the mold cavity. The method also includes removably coupling a mold body to the plurality of support plates to form the mold assembly. The mold body conforms to the shape of the surface of each support plate after being removably coupled to the plurality of support plates such that the mold body defines at least a portion of a mold cavity of the mold assembly. The mold body defines at least one of one or more vacuum manifolds or one or more fluid passages.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of creating a lustrous surface in opaque materials using ridge angles, and valleys of varying depths cut, imprinted or pressed into the opaque material. The combination of the light reflecting ridges, angles to reflect more or less light, and a shadow effect arising from a combination of the valley depths and the angle of the ridges allows one to use light and shadow to create a pattern or series of patterns in the opaque materials. These patterns are created using a process whereby a design is first created, then cut into a master blank using some type of manual or computer-aided method. Next, this pattern is inlaid, pressed, or imprinted into a blank panel composed of the opaque material. In some embodiments, this opaque material is allowed to set, thus creating a finished article of manufacture in the form of a panel.

Abstract: An example method to determine an excess of build material in 3D printing includes providing an amount of build material, spreading the amount of build material to form a layer of build material on a build platform and to leave any excess build material on an excess zone having visible marks thereon and analyzing the marks on the excess zone to determine an excess of build material at the excess zone.

Abstract: In one example, a platform lift includes a rotationally stationary leadscrew to support a platform, a rotatable nut to drive the leadscrew up and down through a range of motion, a first spring to apply a continuous downward force to the leadscrew throughout the range of motion, and a second spring to apply a continuous upward force to the leadscrew throughout the range of motion.

Abstract: An acoustic panel includes a first skin, a second skin and a cellular core vertically between and connected to the first skin and the second skin. The cellular core includes a plurality of cavities, a plurality of sidewalls and a plurality of septums. Each of the plurality of cavities extends vertically through the cellular core between the first skin and the second skin. Each of the plurality of cavities extends laterally within the cellular core between a respective laterally adjacent pair of the plurality of sidewalls. Each of the plurality of septums vertically divides a respective one of the plurality of cavities into a set of fluidly coupled sub-cavities. A set of the plurality of septums is formed by a ply of folded material. Each of the set of the plurality of septums have a four-sided polygonal shape when viewed in a plane that is parallel to the first skin.

Abstract: The mould comprises a base plate and a plurality of forming areas, wherein each forming area comprises a cavity in the base plate and a forming sleeve placed in the cavity. Each forming area further comprises first heat means for heating or keeping heated the forming sleeve relative to the base plate, such that the temperature of the part of the film which lies against the forming sleeve during cooling remains above a glass temperature of the plastic long enough to obtain a product with an at least partially crystalline structure.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating an additive manufacturing system. The method may include wetting a reinforcement with a thermoset matrix inside of a print head, discharging the wetted reinforcement from the print head, and moving the print head in multiple directions during discharging. The method may also include exposing the thermoset matrix wetting the reinforcement to a cure energy to initiate a chemical reaction, and directing a medium onto the wetted reinforcement to regulate a rate of the chemical reaction.

Abstract: A core manufacturing apparatus using an inorganic binder includes a mulling sand feeder that supplies mulling sand comprising sand and the inorganic binder, a mold that receives the mulling sand from the mulling sand feeder and molds the mulling sand into a core, and a mold heating device that heats the mold. The mold includes an upper mold and a lower mold and has a plurality of cavities formed therein in which the mulling sand is deposited. The mold further includes an inner fluid channel through which fluid flows.

Abstract: A system for producing an object from a powder by selective laser sintering. The system includes a chamber and a support platform in the chamber. A spreader applies a layer of powder to a bed surface. An irradiation source irradiates select points in the powdered layer prepared on the support platform. A radiant heater heats at least a portion of the bed surface. A temperature sensor monitors the temperature of select points on the bed surface. A controller adjusts the radiant heater in response to temperature data provided by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: Additive manufacturing systems may include a laser melting apparatus, a sensor device, and a visualization apparatus. A laser melting apparatus may form a three-dimensional component by exposing a powder bed to a beam of radiation based on build coordinates, with the beam of radiation providing an energy influx that generates a melt pool in a melt region of the powder bed. A sensor device may capture sensor values corresponding to the melt pool and/or the melt region. A visualization apparatus may display a representation of the three-dimensional component, with the display including the build coordinates and the sensor values in respect of a capture location thereof in the three-dimensional component. The displayed representation may be based on a display output that includes sensor values correlated with build coordinates.

Abstract: A laser assembly for additive manufacturing which includes a first laser beam aligned in a first direction and a first partial reflecting fixed mirror positioned aligned with the first direction which reflects a first portion of the first laser beam in a second direction and an exponentially reduced remaining second portion of the first laser beam passes through the first partial reflecting fixed mirror in the first direction. The laser beam assembly further includes a first oscillating mirror positioned aligned with the second direction of the first portion of the first laser beam wherein the first portion of the first laser beam is refracted by the first oscillating mirror in a third direction.

Abstract: A metal powder manufacturing apparatus for a metal 3-dimensional (3D) printer includes a driving unit which generates a rotational force, a metal beam connected to the driving unit to receive the rotational force from the driving unit and having one end disposed in a vacuum chamber, and a shaft support which supports an outer circumference of the metal beam using a magnetic force for relative movement of the metal beam in a lengthwise direction of the metal beam, wherein the shaft support is disposed such that an inner side is spaced apart a predetermined distance from the outer circumference of the metal beam, and can support the metal beam at an adjusted relative distance from the metal beam.

Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising partially crystalline polycarbonate particulate having an average cross-sectional dimension of from about 1 ??? to about 200 ????, having from about 10% crystallinity to about 50% crystallinity, and having a weight-average molecular weight, per polystyrene standards, of from about 17,000 to about 40,000 Daltons. The composition exhibits a zero-shear viscosity of less than about 104 Pa s at the melting temperature of the partially crystalline polycarbonate. Related systems and methods for utilizing these compositions in additive manufacturing applications, including selective laser sintering (SLS) applications, are also disclosed. Also provided are additively-manufactured articles made with the disclosed compositions and according to the disclosed methods.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for three-dimensional (3D) printing of multi-directional woven components with hierarchical z-axis reinforcements using pre-impregnated FRP materials. The exemplary 3D printing system includes a primary extrusion nozzle system and a secondary extrusion needle system supported by a multi-axis truss. The primary extrusion nozzle system is comprised of at least two sub-extruders and rotation mechanisms for controllably rotating the extrusion nozzle and rotating the two-sub extruders. The extrusion nozzle assembly and the two sub-extruders can be controllably and independently rotated to extrude a braided yarn with a precise fiber-spacing. Additionally, a separate extrusion needle is provided for vertical interpenetration of the needle into the braided workpiece such that material can be extruded at precise depth through side-facing needle openings thereby providing z-axis reinforcement to the workpiece.

Abstract: A printhead assembly having connection for connecting to a positioning system of an AM system, a feedstock liquefying unit having a nozzle for depositing liquefied AM feedstock onto at least one of a build plate and an object to be created. The feedstock liquefying unit has a supply opening and a supply channel from the supply opening to the nozzle. The printhead assembly has heat exchanging elements attached to the printhead assembly, arranged to establish a releasable clamping connection with the feedstock liquefying unit to accommodate the feedstock liquefying unit in the printhead assembly. The heat exchanging elements are actuatable to an open state, and a closed state. A system for additive manufacturing, including a build plate, a positioning system associated with at least one of the printhead assembly and the build plate, a feedstock liquefying unit storage, a controller arranged for controlling the positioning system for replacing the feedstock liquefying unit.

Abstract: An electrospinning device is for manufacturing material that includes aligned nano-fibers. The device includes a rotor and more than one electrically conducting protrusions disposed on the surface of the rotor and spaced apart from one another. The protrusions are configured such that an electrostatic field created when a potential difference is applied between the rotor and a target is concentrated at the tips of the protrusions and decreases between neighboring protrusions.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly comprising a housing, a nozzle disposed in the housing and connected to an ink supply part, a first coil, which is disposed in the housing, for generating a magnetic field when a power source is applied, a second coil disposed in the housing, disposed so as to surround the nozzle and the first coil and generating a magnetic field when a power source is applied, provided that at least one of the magnetic field effective area and the magnetic field intensity is different from that of the first coil, and a lift part for lifting the nozzle and the first and second coils, respectively, so as to be positioned in the housing or exposed to the outside of the housing.