Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for forming a multi-layer web formed from at least two polymeric film tubes in intimate contact with each other but not bonded to each other. The apparatus includes the use of a blown film extrusion die that extrudes two separate blown film polymeric tubes via two separate annular die lips. A fluid cooling system applies cooling fluid across a plurality of surfaces of the two blown film tubes. One of the die lips may be at a different height from the other die lip. The frost line of one blown film tube may be at a different height from the other blown film tube.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing method for fabricating a component having a surface substantially free of imperfections may include providing a mold having a configuration corresponding to the component, and depositing a material on at least one surface of the mold to fabricate the component having the surface substantially free of imperfections.

Abstract: A method of molding a collapsible, foam plastic container; the method employs two half-molds defining a molding chamber negatively reproducing the container in an erect work configuration, and forms a hinge for each lateral wall of the container when molding the container; each hinge being formed by a parting member which is inserted through the molding chamber at the hinge to be formed, and by a compression member opposite the parting member and which is moved towards the parting member to form, on the lateral wall, a small-section, higher-density portion defining the respective hinge.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cover element for a motor vehicle comprises placing, in a mold, a stack formed at least of a covering material made of textile, of leather, of skin, or of a synthetic material, and of a foam layer at the rear surface of the covering material, the foam layer integrating reinforcing elements.

Abstract: A multiple light source correction apparatus and a method of use thereof are disclosed. The multiple light source correction apparatus (10) comprises a transparent thin plate (1) having a first correction pattern (12), a second correction pattern (13) and at least one third correction pattern (14). The first correction pattern (12) includes a first straight line (121) having first and second end points (1211, 1212). The second correction pattern (13) includes a second straight line (131) and two U-shaped frames (132). The second straight line (131) includes third and fourth end points (1311, 1312). The two U-shaped frame (132) is installed at externals of the third and fourth end points (1311, 1312) respectively. The third correction pattern (14) includes a third straight line (141) having fifth and sixth end points (1411, 1412). The first, second and third straight lines (121, 131, 141) are arranged parallel to each other.

Abstract: The use of magnetic fields in the production of porous articles is generally described. Certain embodiments are related to methods of producing porous articles in which magnetic fields are applied to an emulsion to align emulsion droplets. In some embodiments, after the emulsion droplets have been aligned, the emulsion droplets and/or the medium surrounding the emulsion droplets can be removed to leave behind a porous article. According to certain embodiments, polyvinyl alcohol can be used, for example, to stabilize the emulsion droplets and/or bind together components of the porous article. In some embodiments, water-soluble liquid alcohol can be used, for example, to stabilize the suspension of electronically conductive material within a phase of the emulsion.

Abstract: A method for soil remediation by molecular binding for producing beneficial use determined polymer concrete product that removes hazardous pollutants from a quantity of contaminated soil. Hazardous pollutants are identified though chemical analysis in order to select at least corresponding polymer and at least one corresponding binder for each hazardous pollutant present in the contaminated soil. The at least one polymer chemically bonds with the hazardous pollutant in order to neutralize the hazardous pollutant within the contaminated soil to form a polymer concrete product. The polymer concrete product is then used as a concrete substitute for construction applications.

Abstract: A support system for holding a sheet of material being cut by a laser has a base and a number of needles extending upwardly from the base. A vacuum generator or suction mechanism is in communication with a lumen in each needle to hold the sheet atop the bed of needles and spaced from the base so as to avoid scorching the sheet by the laser.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods that includes using a water-degradable (e.g., autoclavable) support material together with a high-heat build material (e.g., polyetherimide or PEI). When the support material is autoclaved for a period of time, the support material becomes brittle and then disintegrates into powder and therefore can be removed from the model or build material, leaving behind a part formed from the model material that includes features (e.g., cavities, channels, etc.) formerly occupied by the support material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a material composite composed of metal and plastic to form a plastic-metal hybrid component, in which method, to improve the adhesion of the metal surface and at least one plastic component, stochastically random macroscopic and/or microscopic undercuts are made by means of short-pulse laser radiation in the metal surface in order to roughen it, these undercuts each being filled at least partially with the at least one plastic component in an injection moulding process such that said plastic component engages into the macroscopic and/or microscopic undercuts, wherein, following the roughening of the metal surface and before and/or during the injection moulding process for the at least one plastic component, at least the roughened surface of the metal is heated to a temperature which, during processing, lies in the range of room temperature up to 100° C. above the processing temperature of the plastic.

Abstract: The present invention effects a reduction in production cost and increases yield of a transparent resin molded article and prevents the generation of defects such as bubbles, weld lines, and sink marks. This injection molding device (2A) for a transparent resin molded article is equipped with: a die (3) for injection molding the transparent resin molded article; and a gate (5) that is provided to the peripheral edge of the die (3) and that is the inlet through which a resin material (R) is injected into the die (3). The thickness dimensions (Ta) of the die (3) are in the range of 15-25 mm, and the ratio of the diameter dimensions (D) of the gate (5) to the thickness dimensions (Ta) of the die (3) is set in the range of 1:6 to 1:3.

Abstract: A method of making a glass mat includes providing an assembly of glass fibers, applying a binder composition to the assembly of glass fibers, wherein the binder includes an organic resin, and curing the binder composition while dimensionally constraining the assembly of glass fibers. Dimensional constraining includes directly contacting a first major surface and a second major surface of the assembly of glass fibers between two substantially parallel surfaces. Further provided is a glass mat that includes an assembly of glass fibers, wherein the assembly of glass fibers are substantially randomly oriented with a tensile anisotropy of less than about 6 in any two directions. The glass mat has a decreased surface roughness and a decreased caliper compared to an equivalent glass mat having an assembly of naturally packed glass fibers with an equivalent fiber diameter size.

Abstract: A layer-by-layer three dimensional printing technique for printing on outer surfaces of a plurality of substrate elements passing through a printing route/zone while being rotated thereinside about a printing axis. At least one array of printing head units is used to define at least one printing route along the printing axis, where the at least one printing route is a substantially linear segment of a closed loop lane along which the objects are progressing. The print head units being configured for movement along radial axes, or one or more axes substantially perpendicular, to the printing axis, to allow layer-by-layer printing of said three-dimensional objects over said substrate elements while being rotated in said printing route.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems for creating and heat-treating 3D-printed objects may include a 3D printer configured to create the object. A heat-treatment apparatus may be operatively connected to the 3D printer. The heat-treatment apparatus may be configured to expose the object to an elevated temperature to heat-treat the object. A pressure-transmission medium of the heat-treatment apparatus may be configured to apply pressure to the object during heat treatment. The 3D printer and heat-treatment apparatus may be incorporated into a unified process flow volume. Methods of creating and heat-treating 3D-printed objects may involve creating an object utilizing a 3D printer. The object may be moved from the 3D printer to a heat-treatment apparatus. The object may be exposed to an elevated temperature and pressure may be applied to the object utilizing a pressure-transmission medium of the heat-treatment apparatus. The 3D printer and heat-treatment apparatus may in a unified process flow volume.

Abstract: Provided are a method for setting the embedding depth of loop coils in a conveyor belt which can enhance the durability of a loop coil without testing a large number of samples, and a method for manufacturing a conveyor belt in which the loop coil is embedded. A two-dimensional or three-dimensional FEM analysis model of an actual conveyor belt is prepared, and the appropriate embedding depth of the loop coils in the actual conveyor belt, i.e., the rubber thickness between the core layer and the loop coils is set on the basis of at least one of a principal stress or a deformation amount occurring in the loop coil in the analysis model when a falling object having predetermined specifications is dropped from above an upper cover rubber in the analysis model onto the upper cover rubber.

Abstract: A method for forming three-dimensional (3D) printed structures is disclosed. The method may include 3D printing a first structural member including an opening to a cavity inside the first structural member; and 3D printing a second structural member including a protrusion disposed within the opening and the cavity of the first structural member.

Abstract: An extruder assembly for a three-dimensional object has an extrusion slot to enable faster three-dimensional object printing with greater precision. The extruder assembly includes an extruder body having an extrusion slot to enable a continuous filament of material to be extruded through the extrusion slot and at least one actuator operatively connected to the extruder body. The at least one actuator is configured to translate the extruder body in a horizontal plane and rotate the extruder body about a rotational axis.

Abstract: Poly(ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) polymers having an average molecular weight of at least 300,000 g/mol and a melt enthalpy of at least 57 J/g are provided. The ETFE polymer may include at least one additional comonomer. The ETFE polymer is used to form a porous tape or membrane that has a node and fibril structure. A porous ETFE tape may be formed by lubricating the ETFE polymer and subjecting the lubricated polymer to pressure at a temperature below the melting point of the ETFE polymer. Optionally, the ETFE tape may be expanded at a temperature below the melting temperature of the ETFE polymer to form an expanded ETFE membrane. Alternatively, the ETFE polymer may subjected to heat and pressure without the addition of a lubricant to form a dense preform. The dense preform may be subsequently slit in a length direction and stretched to form a dense ETFE fiber.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a wheel including a step (a) during which a liquid to be polymerised is cast into a first mould so as to solidify same into a tubular preform, with main axis, the first mould including modelling cores in order to form recesses, of the rib type, in the radial thickness of the tubular preform; followed by a cutting step (b), during which the tubular preform is cut perpendicular to the main axis thereof, and secant to the recesses, so as to obtain a tubular preform section forming a rim; followed by an overmoulding step (d), during which said rim is placed in a second mould, concentrically with a central supporting member, such as a bushing or a shaft, and a polymer filling material is injected so as to create an intermediate disc that provides the attachment of the rim to the central supporting member.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving tire uniformity, for instance to reduce cavity noise and other effects caused by localized tire surface anomalies are provided. The localized tire surface anomaly can be manifested as a local peak of radial nm out or other uniformity parameter (e.g. radial force variation) for the tire. The local peak of radial run out can be within uniformity tolerances for radial run out, but can still contribute to cavity noise through the high harmonic effects caused by the local peak. According to aspects of the present disclosure, the location and/or other identifiable characteristics of a localized tire surface anomaly can be identified. An ablation device can be used on the tread of the tire to remove tire material at an azimuthal location associated with the localized tire surface anomaly to improve the uniformity of the tire.