Abstract: The present invention provides a method improving the shear strength of a 3D manufactured product by inserting infill into the interstices between the bead layers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a swarm manufacturing platform, based on a swarm 3D printing and assembly (SPA) platform as a model for future smart factories, consisting of thousands of IoT-based mobile robots performing different manufacturing operations with different end effectors (e.g., material deposition, energy deposition, pick and place, removal of materials, screw driving, etc.) and real-time monitoring. The swarm manufacturing platform transforms a 1-D factory into a 2-D factory with manufacturing robots that can move across the 2-D factory floor, work cooperatively with each other on the same production jobs, and re-configure in real-time (i.e., the manufacturing robots can be digitally controlled to move, re-group, calibrate, and work on a new job in real-time).

Abstract: A mould adapted to be introduced into a joint of a human patient for resurfacing at least one carrying contacting surface of said joint is provided. The mould is adapted to receive material for resurfacing at least one carrying contacting surface of said joint. The mould is further adapted to be resorbed by the human body or melt after having served its purpose.

Abstract: A packaging system includes a packaging unit and an article. The packaging unit includes a solid layer, a porous layer and a plastic layer with a cavity. The cavity is configured to receive and secure the article in an opening defined by the cavity that is flexible between a first and a second dimension. The packaging unit is fabricated by a 3D printing process. A tensioning device of a 3D printing machine tensions a feed filament during the 3D printing process.

Abstract: The invention allows for the simplified operation and maintenance of a hookah apparatus. In a first aspect of the present invention, an electrically-powered hookah apparatus is provided. The hookah apparatus comprises a vessel and a housing. The housing comprises a first section and a second section. The first section is removably fitted over the vessel, and the second section comprises a combustion unit including an electronics unit. The combustion unit comprises a capsule holder configured to hold capsules of combustible material and a heating unit configured to heat the capsules. The electronics unit comprises a power unit and a programmable controller connected thereto, the controller configured to controllably power the heating unit. In a second aspect of the present invention, a capsule of combustible material is provided. In a third aspect of the present invention, a method of operating an electrically-powered hookah apparatus is provided.

Abstract: A wire feeding mechanism suitable for fused deposition Additive Manufacturing (AM) of a flexible wire is provided, which includes a support housing. A melting nozzle is arranged at the lower end of the support housing, a hook is connected to the inner wall of the top end of the support housing, a connecting rod is connected to the inner wall of one side of the support housing, a wire drawing mechanism is connected to one end of the connecting rod, the wire drawing mechanism is located at the lower end of the hook, a limiting mechanism and a wire guide mechanism are connected to the inner wall of one side of the support housing, the limiting mechanism is located at the lower end of the wire drawing mechanism, the wire guide mechanism is located at the lower end of the limiting mechanism.

Abstract: According to some aspects, techniques that address one or more drawbacks of laser-based optical systems in additive fabrication devices are described. In some aspects, an additive fabrication device may include one or more variable focus lenses that may be operated (e.g., actuated) during fabrication to adjust the focus, and thereby the spot size, of a laser beam. In some aspects, an additive fabrication device may comprise a laser array, such as a plurality of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), that may be operated to direct light into a build region, rather than using a single laser beam, such as a single diode laser. In some aspects, an additive fabrication device may comprise a container that includes a flexible display film, such as a flexible LCD screen, which may be operated to direct light into the container to thereby cure a liquid photopolymer therein.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that include an additive manufacturing assembly having a printing area, a first nozzle comprising a first nozzle having a first aperture diameter and configured to dispense a first material in the printing area, and a second nozzle comprising a second nozzle having a second aperture diameter that is larger than the first aperture diameter and configured to dispense a second material in the printing area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for moulding a polymeric object, the process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a substantially flat horizontally positioned layer of a material, the layer being a film or sheet; (b) providing a layer of a thermoplastic powder onto the layer provided under (a); (c) subjecting a pre-defined part of the thermoplastic powder to irradiation to heat the pre-defined part of the thermoplastic powder to a temperature at which the thermoplastic fuses or sinters onto at least a part of the flat layer of material; (d) terminating the exposure to irradiation; (e) providing a further layer of the thermoplastic powder onto the layer provided under (b); (f) subjecting a pre-defined part of the thermoplastic powder of the layer provided under (e) to irradiation to heat the pre-defined part of the thermoplastic powder to a temperature at which the thermoplastic fuses or sinters onto at least a part of the flat layer of the material fused under (c); (g) terminating the exposure to

Abstract: A system for additive metal manufacturing, including a deposition mechanism, a translation mechanism mounting the deposition mechanism to the working volume, and a stage. A method for additive metal manufacturing including: selectively depositing a material carrier within the working volume; removing an additive from the material carrier; and treating the resultant material.

Abstract: A rotary press comprising at least one pressing station having each of a vertically-adjustable upper and lower pressure roller, which are mounted by axes in the at least one pressing station. Cam-guided upper punches having punch heads are fed to the upper pressure roller by a control cam and a pull-up cam raises the upper punches to a highest point above a filling device. A vertically-adjustable safety cam is designed to be vertically adjustable in relation to the upper pressure roller. The rotary press may comprise a preliminary pressure cam, which is integrated in a guide block.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) bioprinter includes: a case, a printing chamber surrounded by wall surfaces, a moving unit including a horizontal moving unit installed in a space under a bottom surface of the printing chamber and a vertical moving unit installed outside a side surface of the printing chamber, a bed disposed above a bottom surface opening of the bottom surface of the printing chamber, a first bellows which covers a space between the bed and an inner circumferential surface of the bottom surface opening, a first print module provided in the printing chamber and installed to be vertically movable by the vertical moving unit in a Z-axis direction, a second print module provided at one side of the first print module in the printing chamber and installed to be vertically movable by the vertical moving unit in the Z-axis direction, and a controller.

Abstract: According to some aspects, techniques are provided to mitigate challenges with additive fabrication devices that utilize a film. These techniques include: improvements to an additive fabrication device build platform to more evenly apply forces onto the film; techniques for inhibiting adhesion between a pair of films and for removing dirt or dust therein; techniques for detecting and/or mitigating the effects of scratches or dust on films; and techniques for detecting film punctures, detecting an imminent film puncture, and/or reducing the impact on the device when punctures occur.

Abstract: In an example, a method is described that includes building a first layer of a three-dimensional heterogeneous object in a first plurality of passes of an additive manufacturing system. An electronic component is inserted directly into the first layer. The electronic component is then fused to the first layer in a second plurality of passes of the additive manufacturing system.

Abstract: An application system and method for applying a sealing agent to the inner surface of a pneumatic tire includes: rotating, by means of a support device, the pneumatic tire about an axis of rotation; applying a layer of sealing agent to the inner surface of the pneumatic tire by means of a dispensing head arranged within the pneumatic tire itself; pressing, by means of a pressure roller, the just applied layer of sealing agent against the inner surface of the pneumatic tire; pushing the pressure roller against the just applied layer of sealing agent by means of an actuator which generates a force having a desired value; determining, by means of a force sensor, a measured value of the force generated by the actuator; and cyclically varying the force generated by the actuator as a function of the measured value of the force.

Abstract: A platen assembly for use with an extrusion-based 3D printer includes a grid assembly comprising at least a 4×2 framework of interlocked perpendicular x direction beams and y direction beams, providing a substantially planar upper surface and a bottom surface. The platen assembly includes a platen comprising a thin metal sheet supported on the upper surface of the grid assembly and secured to the grid assembly such that the top surface provides a substantially flat build surface. The x direction beams, the y direction beams and the platen are constructed of substantially a same thermal expansion properties, and wherein the build surface of the platen has a build surface area of at least 400 square inches and maintains its flatness to within a flatness tolerance of 0.020 inches over a temperature range of at least 20 C-300 C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of shaping a cured thermosetting resin substrate, and more particularly to a method of shaping a cured thermosetting resin using electromagnetic radiation, said method comprises providing a cured thermosetting resin substrate; providing a confined temperature controlling environment; placing the cured thermosetting resin substrate in the confined temperature controlling environment; providing a source of electromagnetic radiation; irradiating the cured thermosetting resin substrate in the confined temperature controlling environment; and shaping the irradiated thermosetting resin substrate.

Abstract: Sensor values captured by a sensor device are determined, one or more regions of a three-dimensional component having a deviation from an intended value are determined based at least in part on build coordinates for additively manufacturing the three-dimensional component corresponding to the sensor values, and a quality of the three-dimensional component is evaluated based at least in part on the one or more regions of the three-dimensional component having a deviation from the intended value. The sensor values correspond to an electromagnetic spectrum emitted by a melt pool formed by exposing a powder bed to a beam of radiation emitted from a laser apparatus, with the beam of radiation generating the melt pool in a melt region of the powder bed.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping device comprises: a shaping vessel that has an outer peripheral wall and a shaping stand, the shaping stand configuring a bottom portion of the shaping vessel; a rotation mechanism that rotates the shaping stand; and a raising/lowering device that raises/lowers the shaping stand, wherein shaping is performed while the outer peripheral wall and the shaping stand are being rotated at the same angular speed by the rotation mechanism.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an adjustable mount apparatus. The apparatus may have a material support having a plurality of support legs, with each one of the support legs having a distal portion. A base assembly is used which has a plurality of laterally extending leg portions. A plurality of adjustably positionable capture subassemblies are slidably disposed within the laterally extending leg portions for releasably coupling to the distal portions of the support legs to hold the material support in a stable manner on the base assembly. A plurality of moveable elements, each being independently associated with one of the capture subassemblies, enable highly controlled linear movement of the capture subassemblies. Each capture subassembly engages with the distal portion of one of the support legs to exert a clamping force thereon, to affix the material support securely to the base assembly.