Abstract: Electrolyte dispensing systems according to embodiments of the present technology may include a housing defining an internal volume. The housing may define an inlet and an outlet. The dispensing system may include an inlet roller positioned proximate the housing inlet. The inlet roller may be configured to provide a substantial seal at the housing inlet when a substrate is delivered into the housing. The dispensing system may include a delivery device positioned between the housing inlet and housing outlet. The delivery device may be configured to supply an electrolyte to the substrate delivered into the housing. The electrolyte dispensing system may also include an outlet roller positioned proximate the housing outlet. The outlet roller may be configured to provide a substantial seal at the housing outlet when the substrate is delivered from the housing.

Abstract: A thickness-detecting bond primer is disclosed. In various embodiments, the thickness-detecting bond primer includes a solvent configured for application to a metallic surface; and a dye dispersed within the solvent, the dye having a concentration within a range of about 0.001 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of the thickness-detecting bond primer.

Abstract: A device for sealing sample tubes comprises a tool assembly configured to interface with a rack holding a plurality of sample storage tubes, the tool assembly holding a plurality of punches and a die plate including a plurality of cutting holes, with each of the plurality of cutting holes accepting one of the plurality of punches. The tool assembly receives a foil sheet between the punches and the die plate. The device includes an actuator enabling linear movement of the tool assembly. Linear movement of the tool assembly towards the rack engages the die plate against the rack and punches the punches through the cutting holes of the die plate to punch a plurality of sealing sections from the foil sheet and to press and seal each of the sealing sections against a top end of each of the plurality of sample storage tubes in the rack.

Abstract: An automated fiber-placement method comprises delivering a first quantity of pulsed energy to first discrete portions of at least one fiber-reinforced tape strip, and delivering a second quantity of pulsed energy to second discrete portions of at least the one fiber-reinforced tape strip, alternating with the first discrete portions. The first quantity of pulsed energy heats the first discrete portions to a first temperature. The second quantity of pulsed energy heats the second discrete portions to a second temperature. The automated fiber-placement method further comprises laying down at least the one fiber-reinforced tape strip against a substrate along a virtual curvilinear path, such that (i) at least the one fiber-reinforced tape strip is centered on the virtual curvilinear path, and (ii) the first discrete portions are transformed into discrete tape-regions, geometrically different from the first discrete portions.

Abstract: A method of operating an automated fiber placement machine including determining an effective length and a steering radius of a localized curved portion of a path and obtaining data including combinations of effective length and steering radius reference values each associated with a corresponding one of maximum speed values. A predetermined defect is avoided when the tape is laid along a curved path characterized by any of the combinations of effective length and steering radius reference values and laid at the corresponding maximum speed value. The method further includes determining a maximum speed based on the maximum speed values of the data in function of a correspondence between the effective length and the steering radius of the curved path and the combinations of effective length and steering radius reference values, selecting a speed for laying the tape being at most the maximum speed, and laying the tape on the surface.

Abstract: A pumpable resin system for installation of mine bolts includes a resin injection cylinder comprising a resin chamber and a resin hydraulic cylinder, a catalyst injection cylinder including a catalyst chamber and a catalyst hydraulic cylinder, with the resin hydraulic cylinder synchronized with the catalyst hydraulic cylinder, a hydraulic pump in fluid communication with the resin hydraulic cylinder and the catalyst hydraulic cylinder, a hydraulic reservoir in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump, and a delivery line in fluid communication with the resin injection cylinder and the catalyst injection cylinder. The delivery line is configured to deliver resin and catalyst from the resin injection cylinder and catalyst injection cylinder into a borehole.

Abstract: Embodiments include a cap or hat decoration method by providing a press including a lower platen and upper platen, and coupling a pad to the lower platen, where the pad is dimensioned based on one or more dimensions of the cap or hat, and positioning the cap or hat onto at least a portion of the pad. Further, the method includes positioning at least one decoration onto at least a portion of the cap or hat, where the at least one decoration includes a heat-activated adhesive, and heating and compressing the decoration onto the cap or hat by compressing the cap or hat and decoration between the lower platen and upper platen.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for bonding alignment are provided. The apparatus for bonding alignment includes a press assembly and an objective lens group (105) disposed on one side of the press assembly. The press assembly includes a first chuck (103) and a rotatable second chuck (104). When support surfaces of the first and second chucks are not parallel to each other, the second chuck is rotated to make the two support surfaces parallel. A first substrate (301) is then loaded on the first chuck, and alignment marks (302) on the first substrate are observed using the objective lens group disposed on one side of the press assembly. A second substrate (501) is loaded on the second chuck, and alignment marks (502) on the second substrate are also observed with the objective lens group. Based on an observation result by the objective lens group, the two substrates are moved so that the alignment marks thereon are aligned and hence the two substrates themselves are aligned.

Abstract: Joints, such as adhesive and welded thermoplastic joints, comprising embedded and/or surface mounted components of a sensor system are provided. The embedded and/or surface mounted component can be an optical fiber. Strain and/or stress can be monitored in the joint in a spatially resolved manner periodically or continuously, for example, to warn of potential failure of the joint or estimate residual/remaining life of a bonded component. The stress and/or strain information can also be used to improve the design of the joint. Methods and systems for monitoring stress and/or strain in a joint, and methods of preparing the joints are provided, as well.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for thermal inspection of tape layup. One embodiment is a method for performing inspection of a tape layup. The method comprises laying up tape onto a surface of a laminate, applying heat to tack the tape to the surface, and generating thermographic images of the tape as applied to the surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for labeling a package (1) including an advancing device (2) for transporting the package in a transport direction (X) and an application device (3) for applying a dispensed label (4) to the package. The application device includes an oscillating punch (7) having a punch stem (5) and a punch foot (6) connected thereto. The dispensed label is picked up by the punch foot from a pickup position, moved to a deposit position, and applied by the punch foot to the package. The punch stem is movably mounted on a guide element (8), held in a direction of gravitational force (Y) by a holder (9), and mounted pivotably about a horizontal pivot axis (X1) that runs orthogonal to the direction of gravitational force. The guide element carries at least one component of the holder and is pivotable about the pivot axis. Also a labeling method that utilizes the apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for actively aligning an optical device are described. An apparatus includes an optical device. The optical device includes a supporting surface, a light source mounted to the supporting surface, a lens mount configured to hold a lens, a lens holder configured to hold the lens mount, wherein the lens mount is configured to be mounted to the supporting surface. A light detector is configured to determine a light intensity of a light beam through the lens, the light intensity indicating the alignment of the lens. An alignment device is to move the lens until the light intensity indicates that the lens is aligned, and a curing light is to cure adhesive layers between the lens and the lens mount, the lens mount and the lens holder, and the lens holder and the supporting surface.

Abstract: A multi-layer device assembly system including a substrate source, a plurality of dispenser modules, a feeder, a control system having a number of alignment cameras corresponding to the dispenser modules, an inspection camera, and a defect camera. The substrate source provides a substrate having a plurality of base elements. Each dispenser module includes an actuation mechanism configured to laminate a layer element onto one of the base elements or onto a previously laminated layer element. The feeder metes out the substrate from the substrate source to advance each base to a subsequent dispenser module between lamination steps. The control system determines alignments, defects, and lamination errors via the alignment cameras, inspection camera, and defect camera.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed to provide a guide for sand blasting a fiber-reinforced object. The proposed guide consist of three-dimensional (3D) features that will result in reflective ray-like protrusions that can be detected and displayed by Augmented Reality (AR) hardware including a head mounted display. The AR hardware determines a virtual object to be presented in a field of view, a position in the field of view, and a perspective of the virtual object in the field of view based on position information from the reflective ray-like protrusions. At least a portion of the sand blasting area is observable through the display and lens when the display is presenting the rendered virtual object.

Abstract: A method of applying a label to a transport structure includes receiving the label from a label dispenser with an end effector, in which the label includes information related to a plurality of storage containers secured to the transport structure with a restraining member. The method further includes measuring a position of the end effector relative to an object, moving the end effector with the label to a target position based upon the measured position, and applying the label to the restraining member with the end effector. The method may further include moving the end effector away from the storage containers, and transporting the transport structure with the storage containers and the label based upon the information of the label.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided process and apparatus to analyze imaging problems including but not limited to detecting defects of an imaging substrate useful in a Composite-Based Additive Manufacturing (CBAM) process. Data from the at least one imaging sensor may be used to: compensate for irregularities in a substrate deposited layer; compensate for irregularities in the printed layer, such as missing jet correction; reject a layer, the layer being scrapped and re-printed; pause the print job so that maintenance or service may be performed; or provide traceability data for proof-of-work, forensic, diagnostic, or other purposes. Depending on system architecture and design goals, the imaging sensor may be employed prior to or subsequent to the deposition of a printed layer.

Abstract: An apparatus that melts and monitors sleeves for installation onto shielded cables. The apparatus includes a heat source for melting the sleeve, cable supports for supporting the cable during the melting process, a sensor system that is configured to measure a dimension of the sleeve during melting, and a computer that is connected to receive sensor data from the sensor system and send heater control signals to the heat source. The computer is configured to receive dimensional data from the sensor system, monitor that dimensional data by performing a dimensional analysis, and then deactivate or remove the heat source in response to dimensional analysis results indicating that the sleeve is fully melted (in the case of a solder sleeve) or only fully shrunken (in the case of a dead end sleeve) onto the cable.

Abstract: An optical article provided in a form suitable for simultaneous lamination of a pressure sensitive adhesive layer and of a thermoplastic film, the said optical article comprising a convex and a concave optical surface, wherein the convex and/or the concave optical surface is a receiving surface intended to receive the pressure sensitive adhesive on which the thermoplastic film is intended to be arranged and wherein the said receiving surface has an arithmetic average profile roughness greater or equal to 0.01 ?m and less or equal to 0.3 ?m and/or wherein the said receiving surface has a profile roughness root mean square slope greater or equal to 0.2° and less or equal to 1.2°. A method for manufacturing an optical device using said optical article.

Abstract: In one version there is provided a test system including a layup tool having a layup surface, and two fairing bars attached to the layup surface. The test system includes the composite laminate having a plurality of stacked plies, and positioned between the two fairing bars. The test system includes fiber distortion initiator(s) positioned at one or more locations under, and adjacent to, one or more plies of the plurality of stacked plies. The test system includes two caul plates with a gap in between, and positioned over the composite laminate. When the test system undergoes a pressurized cure process with a vacuum compaction, a restricted outward expansion of the plurality of stacked plies by the fairing bars, and a pressure differential region formed by the one or more fiber distortion initiators at the one or more locations, create the controlled and repeatable out-of-plane fiber distortion in the composite laminate.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for positioning and bonding a nutplate to a substrate comprising at least one aperture, wherein the system includes a nutplate engagement fixture formed from a rigid tube and an elastomeric tube, a heater operable to deliver heat to a bonding surface of the nutplate, at least one temperature sensor operable to measure the temperature of the bonding surface of the nutplate, a temperature sensor retention fixture operable to position and secure the at least one temperature sensor to the nutplate, and a heater controller operable to control the output from the heater.