Abstract: An example mandrel for processing a part is described including an inner core having a material with first thermal properties, and an outer layer surrounding the inner core. The outer layer includes a material with second thermal properties different than the first thermal properties to enable uniform pressure distribution within the mandrel. An example method for fabricating a composite part is described including placing a base composite layer into a cavity of a tooling surface, inserting a mandrel into the cavity, applying a skin to the mandrel and the base composite layer forming a package, enclosing the package in a vacuum bag and curing the base composite layer and the skin such that during curing a pressure due to thermal expansion of one of the inner core and the outer layer is distributed by the other, and removing the mandrel from the cavity of the tooling surface following the curing.

Abstract: Continuous adjustment appliances are provided that can store a large number of geometries that can be successively accessed throughout orthodontic treatment, with each geometry can correspond to an arrangement of the patient's teeth. An appliance according to the present disclosure can be stimulated to transition among the myriad geometries, which can include changes to the overall shape of the appliance as well as the position and geometry of the cavities corresponding to a patient's teeth. Methods of creating the continuous adjustment appliances and methods of treatment using the continuous adjustment appliances are also revealed.

Abstract: A robot includes an ingredient mold configured to process food ingredients into solid ingredients; a storage container configured to store the solid ingredients processed in the ingredient mold; a transfer tube through which the solid ingredients in the storage container pass; a feed tube connected to the transfer tube, formed with an ingredient port, and having a passage configured to guide ingredients to the ingredient port; and a feeder configured to feed the solid ingredients, which are moved to the feed tube, to the ingredient port.

Abstract: A system includes a heating section configured to heat a sheet of plastic to generate a heated sheet of plastic. The system includes a plate configured to secure a mold associated with a dental arch of a patient. The plate includes a locking mechanism. The mold includes feature configured to interface with the locking mechanism. The system further includes a thermoforming chamber configured to thermoform the heated sheet of plastic to the mold that is secured to the plate via an interface of the locking mechanism with the feature to generate a thermoformed sheet of plastic. The locking mechanism is configured to extend through the mold and overlap an upper surface of the mold to lock the mold in a z-direction that is orthogonal to a plane defined by the plate. The system further includes a cutting tool configured to trim an aligner from the thermoformed sheet of plastic.

Abstract: A robot includes an ingredient mold configured to cool food ingredients into solid ingredients; a storage container spaced from the ingredient mold and having a storage space configured to store the solid ingredients; a cooling chamber formed therein with a cooling space in which the storage container is accommodated; a cooler configured to cool the cooling space; and a guide configured to guide the solid ingredients dropped from the ingredient mold to the storage space.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a two-dimensional layer of a three-dimensional object during three-dimensional printing of the object. The apparatus may include a controller; a transparent substrate for receiving a deposited layer of liquid materials on an upper surface thereof; a selective deposition unit that deposits at least one liquid body material and a liquid support material different from the at least one liquid body material, on the transparent substrate according to signals received from the controller; and a selective curing unit that selectively solidifies, by curing irradiation, a portion of the deposited layer of liquid body materials on the transparent substrate according to signals received from the controller, such that some of the liquid body material remains uncured.

Abstract: A method for forming an article includes providing a sheet of material, optionally conditioning the sheet with a surface of a roller, forming the sheet to provide a web, and separating an article from the web to provide the article. An apparatus adapted to form the article from a sheet is provided.

Abstract: A robot includes an ingredient processor configured to produce a mixture by mixing food ingredients with water; an ingredient mold spaced apart from the ingredient processor and having a space portion to form a space for receiving the mixture supplied from the ingredient processor; a cooler configured to cool the ingredient mold; and a rotating device configured to rotate the ingredient mold in a plurality of directions.

Abstract: A method of forming a patterned device includes depositing at least one nanostructure comprising self-assembled nucleic acids formed into a predetermined conformation upon a surface of a substrate, depositing a stabilizing layer of material mechanically stronger than the at least one nanostructure over the at least one nanostructure and the surface of the substrate to form a positive pattern template, depositing a layer of a first polymer over the positive pattern template, and removing the layer of the first polymer from connection with the positive pattern template, wherein the layer of the first polymer includes a surface having a negative imprint of the positive pattern template.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printing methodology is disclosed for freeform fabrication of hydrophobic structures without the use of printed support structures. The build material is directly printed in and supported by a fumed silica-containing yield-stress support bath to form an intermediate article in the support bath material. The intermediate article may be liquid or only partially solidified after being printed into the support bath material. The intermediate article is then heated or irradiated with ultraviolet radiation to initiate cross-linking to solidify the printed intermediate article, forming a finished article.

Abstract: The invention relates to an additive manufacturing apparatus which includes a platform guiding arrangement 10 having a build platform 12 and a mounting arrangement 14 comprising guiding elements 16, 18 mounted to the build platform 12. The mounting arrangement 14 is configured to permit displacement of the build platform 12 in a vertical or Z direction whilst permitting unconstrained thermal expansion and contraction of the build platform in the horizontal or X-Y plane. The guide elements 16, 18 abut against adjacent sides of the build platform 12 to inhibit angular displacement about a vertical axis and permit unconstrained thermal expansion and contraction in the X-Y plane.

Abstract: Motorcycles tyre, comprising: a radial carcass structure (2); a belt structure (6) applied in radially outer position with respect to the radial carcass structure (2); a tread band (8) applied in radially outer position with respect to the belt structure (6). The tyre (1) has a curvature ratio (f/C) greater than or equal to about 0.25. The tread band (8) comprises: a plurality of blocks (14) mutually spaced so as to define a tread pattern with a void/solid ratio (1?Sb/St) comprised between about 25% and about 50%; transverse grooves (11) placed in succession along the circumferential extension of the tyre (1) and each substantially extending over the entire axial width of the tread band (8). Each transverse groove (11) substantially extends along an axial direction. Two successive transverse grooves (11) circumferentially delimit an assembly (12) of blocks (14) placed in succession over the entire axial width of the tread band (8). Circumferential grooves (13) delimit the blocks (14) of an assembly (12).

Abstract: A forming belt for use in making a nonwoven substrate. The forming belt includes a first surface defining a plane of the first surface and an axis parallel to a longitudinal direction corresponding to a machine direction when in use. A plurality of discrete belt patterns can be ordered in sequential relationship with respect to the longitudinal direction. At least a majority of the plurality of discrete belt patterns can include a discrete belt pattern overall area, a first forming zone having a first pattern of three-dimensional raised elements extending outwardly from the plane of the first surface and a second forming zone having a second pattern of three-dimensional raised elements extending outwardly from the plane of the first surface. The first forming zone can have a first air permeability value and the second forming zone can have a second air permeability value. The first air permeability value can be different from the second air permeability value.

Abstract: This application provides a coating film having excellent durability and wear resistance that, when applied to a mold surface, has excellent releasability (non-adhesiveness) over a long period of time, and a fluoropolymer coating composition that is able to form such a coating film. The fluoropolymer coating composition contains a fluoropolymer and a fluoro oil, where the decomposition temperature of the fluoro oil is higher than the melting point of the fluoropolymer.

Abstract: Provided is an imprint apparatus which reduces a shift of a mold from a desired position. The imprint apparatus that forms a pattern of an imprint material on a substrate using a mold includes a correction mechanism which corrects a shape and a magnification of the mold, and a control unit which controls the correction mechanism on the basis of a difference in shape and magnification between the mold and the substrate. The control unit changes a shape coefficient multiplied by a correction amount of the shape to balance a resultant force and a moment on the mold applied by the correction mechanism on the basis of a magnification coefficient, which is a coefficient multiplied by a correction amount of the magnification through closed-loop control.

Abstract: A three-dimensional modeling method comprises modeling a shell layer of a three-dimensional modeling object using a shell material, and modeling a core portion inside of the modeled shell layer using a core material. The modeling of the shell layer is performed by an additive manufacturing technology, and is divided into multiple steps in a lamination modeling direction of the three-dimensional modeling object. The modeling of the core portion includes filling the core material inside of the modeled shell layer subsequent to each modeling of the shell layer that has been divided into the multiple steps, and correctively curing the core material by irradiation with an active energy ray or by application of heat energy after the multiple steps of the modeling of the shell layer and the filing of the core material are all completed.

Abstract: In an example, a method of fusing a 3D object layer with a stationary energy system positioned and a carriage that casts a shadow onto the work area includes, with one pass of the carriage moving over the work area at a constant speed, dispensing a liquid fusing agent onto a first layer of build material in a pattern corresponding to an object slice such that the exposure time of the patterned build material is unequal across the first layer and, with another pass of the carriage moving over the work area in the same direction and at the same constant speed as the first pass, spreading the next layer of build material over the first layer such that the exposure time of the patterned build material in the first layer is made equal across the first layer.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire according to the present embodiment includes a shoulder main groove that is disposed on one side in a width direction from a tire equatorial plane and extends in a tire circumferential direction, a shoulder land portion that is formed between a ground contact end and the shoulder main groove, and a plurality of slits that divide the shoulder land portion into a plurality of blocks in the tire circumferential direction. The shoulder main groove is formed of a zigzag groove in which an inward bent portion and an outward bent portion are alternately and repeatedly disposed, and angles of the slits with respect to the tire width direction are provided to be 10 degrees or less.

Abstract: A method of additive manufacturing (AM) includes dispensing a first building material formulation to form an outer region, and dispensing a second building material formulation to form an inner region, the outer region surrounding the inner region, the inner and outer regions being shaped to form a layer of the object; exposing the layer to a first curing condition, repeating the dispensing and the exposing to sequentially form a plurality of layers of the object and collectively exposing the plurality of layers to a second curing condition. The selections are such that the first building material formulation is hardened to a higher degree than the second building formulation. The outer regions form a hardened coating that at least partially encapsulates the inner regions. The second curing condition is other than the first curing condition and is selected to increase the degree that the inner region is hardened.

Abstract: A manufacturing method includes using an additive manufacturing process to form a first object. The first object includes layers, among which is a first layer that comprises a first material and a second material. The first material surrounds the second material within the first layer. Both materials are solids that transition into liquids at corresponding first and second temperatures, the first temperature being lower than the second temperature. The method includes, after having formed the first object, exposing the first object to a temperature that is between the first temperature and the second temperature such that the first material melts, thereby leaving behind a second object, the second object comprising the second material.