Abstract: The present invention relates to a 3D printer wherein a printing material is placed and hardened on a transparent film and a 3D printing method using the same. The 3D printer of the present invention is composed of the film supplying part to provide a transparent film; the material supplying part to provide a printing material on the transparent film; the photo-hardening part to solidify the printing material provided onto the transparent film as a designed form; and the film collecting part to collect the transparent film and the remaining printing material after the printing material has been hardened by the photo-hardening part.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods capable of controlling an additive manufacturing print process on an additive manufacturing printer. The disclosed embodiments may include: a plurality of sensors capable of monitoring at least one of an input of print filament to a print head of the printer, and a temperature of a nozzle of the printer, as indicative of a state of the additive manufacturing print process; at least one processor associated with at least one controller and capable of receiving sensor data regarding the monitoring from the plurality of sensors, and comprising non-transitory computing code for applying to the sensor data at least one correct one of the state of the additive manufacturing print process; a comparator embedded in the non-transitory computing code for assessing a lack of compliance of the print process to the correct one of the state; and at least one modifying output of the at least one controller to revise the compliance of the print process to the correct one of the state.

Abstract: A solid state foaming process for generating a microcellular foam sheet for use in forming a container is provided includes a pre-foaming treatment phase prior to a solid state impregnation and foaming phase. The solid state microcellular foam sheet includes a central foamed section defining a foam layer within the microcellular foam sheet having a first population of cells within which are interspersed a second population of cells.

Abstract: An incremental forming machine and a process are disclosed that comprise selecting a blank and selecting a stylus that has a tip at one end. The stylus may be heated to a desired temperature before contacting the blank with the stylus to change a characteristic of the blank or part. The stylus apparatus may include a tip on an end of a shaft and a resistance heating element disposed inside the tip. Alternatively, the stylus apparatus may include an induction heating coil disposed around the tip. The tip of the stylus may have a rotatable ball that engages the blank or part.

Abstract: An additive-manufacturing head is used for performing additive manufacturing by feeding a material to a workpiece and irradiating the workpiece with a laser beam. The additive-manufacturing head includes: a ring-shape laser beam forming unit configured to form a laser beam in a ring shape; a laser beam emitting unit configured to emit the ring-shape laser beam toward a workpiece; and a material feeding unit having an outlet which is disposed inside the ring-shape laser beam emitted from the laser beam emitting unit and from which the material is released, and configured to feed the material from the outlet toward the workpiece. The head configured in this manner can improve the material usage efficiency for the directed energy deposition method.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing a radius filler, made of a homogeneous material, into a groove, formed in a workpiece comprises a chassis, first means for extruding the radius filler along an extrusion axis, second means for providing the homogeneous material to the first means, and third means for compacting the radius filler in the groove. The apparatus also comprises a first sensor configured to provide first-sensor output. The apparatus further comprises a controller, operatively coupled to the first means, the second means, and the first sensor. Based on the first-sensor output, the controller is configured to determine the first geometric characteristics of the groove. In addition, based on the first geometric characteristics, the controller is configured to control second geometric characteristics of the radius filler, extruded by the first means, as the tool center point is moved relative to the groove.

Abstract: One example includes a three-dimensional (3D) printed object including a first lattice structure and a second lattice structure. The first lattice structure includes a first matrix having a first length, a first width, and a first height. The second lattice structure includes a second matrix having a second length, a second width, and a second height. The second length times two is a factor of the first length, the second width times two is a factor of the first width, and the second height times two is a factor of the first height.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor array for in-situ monitoring directed self-assembly of a self-assembling material is provided. The capacitive sensor array includes a bottom electrode plate including a plurality of bottom electrodes that are spaced apart and electrically isolated from one another, template structures located on the bottom electrode plate, wherein the template structures define trenches therebetween, each of the trenches exposing at least one of the plurality of bottom electrodes; and a top electrode plate assembled on the bottom electrode plate, wherein the top electrode plate includes a plurality of top electrodes that are spaced apart and electrically isolated from one another, the top electrodes facing and intersecting, but electrically isolated from, the bottom electrodes.

Abstract: A method for printing a three-dimensional part includes receiving a sequence of part layer patterns together with first and second complementary mask patterns. For each part layer pattern in the sequence of part layer patterns, a mask pattern is selected according to the layer number of the part layer pattern, wherein the first mask pattern is selected for odd layer numbers and the second mask pattern is selected for even layer numbers. A masked part layer is formed by applying the selected mask pattern to the part layer pattern. A developed part layer is formed using an electrophotography engine, and the developed part layer is transfused together to previously-printed part layers to form a printed part layer of the three-dimensional part.

Abstract: A dental furnace for firing dental-ceramic compounds comprises a firing chamber for receiving ceramic elements to be fired. Further, a heating device for heating and firing the ceramic element is provided. The heating device comprises at least one heating element for producing IR radiation in the range of 0.8-5 ?m.

Abstract: A 3D foam component for an article of footwear and a method for manufacturing a 3D foam component for an article of footwear is provided. The method includes a sequential deposition of liquid droplets of liquid polymer material onto an object carrier. A blowing agent is introduced to the molten polymer prior to or sequentially with or after the discharge of a liquid droplet. The resulting component includes a plurality of foam pellets formed by the expansion and cooling of droplets of liquid polymer material injected with the blowing agent.

Abstract: A method of calibrating ejectors in an ejector head in a three-dimensional object printer normalizes the masses of the drops ejected by the ejectors. The method operates the plurality of ejectors to eject drops of material to form a plurality of pixels corresponding to a test pattern on the surface. Each ejector in the plurality of ejectors is operated to form a group of adjacent pixels in the test pattern. Each group of adjacent pixels is at least n pixels wide in a cross-process direction for the printer. The method operates a sensor to measure heights of pixels for each group of adjacent pixels in the test pattern. The method adjusts an operation of the plurality of ejectors to normalize heights of layers of material formed by the plurality of ejectors based on the measured heights for the groups of adjacent pixels.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for efficient 3D printing that address conventional inefficiencies while utilizing a single compact device are set forth. Some embodiments utilize a circular-shaped build area revolving symmetrically around a single center point utilizing a continuous helical printing process. In some embodiments, vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are utilized as an energy source for curing the print material. The VCSELs can be integrated with the print head and can form an array which can be staggered or linear. In some embodiments, the VCSELs (and the corresponding print head)can be connected to a rotating platform, which can rotate independently from the revolving build area. In some embodiments, a thermoelectric cooler and/or a fluid cooler can provide cooling to the VCSELS.

Abstract: Method for forming a transparent article comprising: heating a polymer sheet 40 to form a heated sheet; creating a pressure differential across the heated sheet; pushing the heated sheet onto the contoured surface 20 to form a shaped article; and releasing the shaped article from the mold 12. Also included herein are articles made therefrom.

Abstract: A window molding apparatus includes an upper mold, a lower mold under the upper mold, and a side mold under the upper mold and adjacent to at least one side of the lower mold. The upper mold includes a first surface, the lower mold includes a second surface having a portion facing the first surface, and the side mold includes a third surface. The first surface includes a first flat surface and a first bent surface extending from the first flat surface, the second surface includes a second flat surface facing the first flat surface and a second bent surface extending from the second flat surface, and the third surface includes a third bent surface contacting one end of the first bent surface and facing the second bent surface.

Abstract: A decorative sheet includes a design layer, a primer layer and a surface protective layer formed by cross-linking and curing an ionizing radiation curable resin composition in this order on a base material. A surface of the surface protective layer is smooth. A ten point average roughness RzJIS on a rear face of the decorative sheet and a thickness T of the base material satisfies the following equation (I); and an arithmetic average roughness Ra on the rear face and a thickness T of the base material satisfies the following equation (II): T×0.30?RzJIS??(I) T×0.20?Ra?T×0.005??(II) Or an arithmetic average roughness Ra on a rear face of the decorative sheet is 1.0 to 10.0 ?m. A decorated resin molded article is produced by integrating the decorative sheet with an outer surface of a resin molded article at the same time as injection molding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a brake pad, which are configured to stabilize quality of the brake pad. The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a brake pad including a friction material and a backing plate which are coupled to each other, the method including: a preliminary process of preparing friction material powder and the backing plate; a forming process of forming the friction material powder in the form of the friction material and attaching the friction material to one surface of the backing plate; a quality stabilization process of heating and pressing the friction material after the forming process is completed; a heat treatment process of heating the brake pad at a predetermined temperature after the quality stabilization process is completed; and a grinding process of grinding the friction material.

Abstract: A method of reclaiming a used seal includes boiling the used seal in a liquid, and after boiling the used seal in the liquid, baking the used seal. The boiling the used seal may include boiling for a predetermined boiling time in the liquid, and the baking the used seal may include baking the used seal for a predetermined bake time at a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A method for producing an implant, the method includes providing a hollow biocompatible shell to be implanted in an organ of a patient. At least two filling materials are injected at one or more locations in the shell, such that a mixture of at least two of the filling materials is configured to produce gas bubbles within a bulk of the mixture. The gas bubbles are formed in the injected filling materials by heating the shell containing the mixture of the injected filling materials.

Abstract: A method for adjusting height of a 3d printer nozzle. In an embodiment, the method uses a fully wavy line as a reference line. The method includes the following steps. Determining an initial value of a height difference between the nozzle and a bottom of a probe by using a feeler gauge. Moving the nozzle vertically to adjust the height based on the initial value, obtaining a printing height of a first line, and printing the first line. Determining whether the first line is a fully wavy line. Adjusting the height of the nozzle for N times according to a preset step value, and printing N lines with corresponding heights. Determining whether the N lines have a fully wavy line. Calculating the height difference between the nozzle and the bottom of the probe by an equation. Adjusting the height of the nozzle.