Abstract: A pressure forming machine is provided. In one embodiment, the pressure forming machine integrates a heater in its pressure chamber, so the heater and pressure chamber are movable together with respect to a base of the pressure forming machine. The pressure chamber and base can contain locking mechanisms to create a seal between the pressure chamber and a plastic sheet used for forming. The base can also contain a separable air compressor component, so the air compressor can be physically distanced to reduce the noise experienced by a user. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sealable, flexible membrane for encapsulating a part to be isostatically pressed at an elevated temperature. The membrane includes at least one first layer of polymeric film having a melting point above the elevated temperature, and at least one second layer disposed on the first layer. The second layer comprising a metal. In one embodiment, the metal comes into contact with the part to be isostatically pressed. The membrane, which typically has a thickness ranging from 10 to about 500 ?m, and is impermeable to the flow of liquids and gases when sealed, can be used to warm press parts up to about 350° C. and pressures ranging from 5,000 psi to 100.000 psi. Methods to isostatically press parts using this sealable, flexible membrane are also disclosed. Bags made from the sealable, flexible membrane that are used in isostatic presses are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for fabricating a component using 3D printing. A 3D printed piece is created including a body of the component, a support structure, and a first sacrificial interface region coupling the body of the component to the support structure. The body of the component is formed of a first metal or ceramic material and the first sacrificial interface region is formed at least partially of a second metal or ceramic material. The body of the component is then separated from the support structure by applying a chemical or electrochemical dissolution process to the 3D printed piece. Because the second metal or ceramic material is less resistant to the dissolution process than the first metal or ceramic material, the first sacrificial interface region at least partially dissolves, thereby separating the body of the metal component from the support structure, without dissolving the body of the component.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing plastic material preforms, includes at least two preform manufacturing devices configured for producing the plastic material preforms from a plastic material, wherein the preform manufacturing devices each having preform transport devices. The apparatus includes a main transport device which is configured for transporting the plastic material preforms produced by the preform manufacturing devices and transported by the preform transport devices continuously along a predetermined main transport path, wherein the plastic material preforms are transferred to the main transport device by the production devices after their production.

Abstract: A finishing/covering element for a component in a vehicle passenger compartment has a front surface facing, in use, the inside of the passenger compartment and a rear surface facing, in use, the component on which the finishing/covering element is fitted; the finishing/covering element is manufactured by moulding a thermoplastic material in a mould, which has a first and a second forming surface facing one another; the first forming surface forms the outline of the front surface and is embossed so as to form a corresponding embossing on the front surface, without further treatments and/or coating operations and/or processing on the front surface after the moulding; at the same time, the moulded thermoplastic material comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane reinforced by reinforcement fibres.

Abstract: In this invention, a copper powder to which phosphorus (P) is added is developed such that a high-density laminated and shaped product can be obtained by a laminating and shaping method using a fiber laser as a heat source by appropriately reducing the electrical conductivity of copper, so a laminated and shaped product having a high density and a high electrical conductivity can be obtained. This invention is a copper powder for lamination shaping in which a phosphorus element is added to pure copper. The copper powder desirably contains 0.01 wt % or more of the phosphorus element. The copper powder more desirably contains 0.04 wt % or more of the phosphorus element. The copper powder desirably contains 0.30 wt % or less of the phosphorus element. The copper powder more desirably contains 0.24 wt % or less of the phosphorus element. No element other than the phosphorus element is desirably added to the copper powder.

Abstract: A blow molded monolayer article. The article has a hollow body defined by a wall. The wall has one or more regions comprising a first composition and one or more regions formed by a second composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for semi-continuous blow moulding of fiber-reinforced, thermoplastic, endless, hollow-profile-shaped components with longitudinally constant or varying cross-sections, consisting of at least one consolidation tool, which, in its closed state, encloses a preform enclosing an elastically moldable pressure chamber.

Abstract: The invention is in particular directed to a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by successive deposition of uniform layers of a viscous material, the method comprising a prior calibrating operation comprising the following steps: positioning at least one calibration stop at a distance comprised between a first distance and a second distance from a working surface, the at least one calibration stop being configured to enable the triggering of a signal in case of contact between the at least one calibration stop and a proximity sensor linked to a recoater blade; moving the recoater blade (310) linked to the proximity sensor towards one of the at least one calibration stop; stopping the movement of the recoater blade as soon as a signal indicates a contact between the calibration stop and the proximity sensor; and estimating (320) the distance between the recoater blade and the working surface after stopping the movement, the at least one calibration value comprising the estimated distance.

Abstract: A nonwoven web is made by first depositing fibers as a nonwoven web in a deposition area, then conveying the web away from the deposition area in a web-travel direction, preconsolidating the web in the path, and passing the preconsolidated web between a pair of rollers that compress and final consolidate the preconsolidated web, One of the rollers is separated from the web such that final consolidation of the web at a starting level is stopped and at the same time or immediately beforehand upstream preconsolidation of the web increased. After separating the one roller from the web, another roller is engaged with the web at the consolidation station and then final consolidation is recommenced, whereupon upstream preconsolidation of the web is reduced back to the starting level.

Abstract: Provided is a method for heating plastic preforms, wherein the plastic parison are transported along a predetermined transport path and are heated during this transport, wherein at least one first heating section with at least one first heating element as well as at least one second heating section with at least one second heating element is arranged along the transport path, by a first temperature measuring device an actual temperature of the plastic preforms is measured in or before a start region of the transport path, and as a function of this actual temperature of the plastic preforms the at least one first heating element is controlled in such a way that the plastic preforms reach a predetermined target temperature after heating by this at least one first heating element.

Abstract: An imprint apparatus that forms a pattern on a substrate by using a mold, the apparatus comprises a supply unit configured to supply an imprint material to the substrate; a contact unit configured to contact the imprint material that has been supplied to the substrate with a mold; a substrate stage configured to move the substrate; a gas supply unit that is provided between the supply unit and the contact unit, and supply gas toward the substrate; and a flow volume adjustment unit configured to adjust a flow volume of the gas that is supplied from the gas supply unit, while the substrate stage moves the substrate from a supply position at which the imprint material is supplied by the supply unit to a contact position at which the imprint material is contacted with the mold by the contact unit.

Abstract: A method for inspecting a device for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, the device having a transport unit, at which a plurality of forming stations for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers is arranged, and an inspection unit that is arranged after the forming stations in a transport direction of the plastic containers and that determines a wall thickness of these plastic containers in at least one region of the plastic containers produced, includes the following steps: introducing at least one test container that has a predetermined and/or known wall thickness a least in sections, and determining a first wall thickness in at least one area of the container by the inspection unit.

Abstract: A molding device suitable for performing at least one of injection molding of preforms and blow molding of the preforms includes a pitch changing device including: N holding units capable of holding the preforms and arranged at a predetermined pitch in a predetermined direction, N being inter equal to or larger than 2; a coupling unit coupling the holding units adjacent to each other such that the pitch is changeable; a drive unit configured to generate a predetermined drive force; and a drive force transmission unit configured to transmit the drive force to each of one end-side and the other end-side, in the predetermined direction, of the coupled N holding units. The one end-side and the other end-side are configured to be moved in the predetermined direction by the drive force to change the pitch.

Abstract: A lamella block is provided for a calibrating device for calibrating an extruded profile, wherein the lamella block includes a lamella structure, which has a plurality of lamellae that are spaced apart from each other by grooves and arranged in the longitudinal direction of the lamella block. The lamella structure has a variably designed division in the longitudinal direction of the lamella block. Further provided is a method for manufacturing the aforementioned lamella block, as well as a calibrating device, which includes a plurality of the lamella blocks mentioned above. Also provided is a system for additively fabricating the lamella blocks mentioned above, a corresponding computer program and a corresponding dataset.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for simultaneously forming and filling a plastic container without the use of a mold forming a mold cavity (116, 16) is provided. A pressure source (120, 20) includes an inlet (146, 150, 46, 50) and a piston-like device (140, 40). The piston-like device (140, 40) is moveable in a first direction wherein liquid is drawn into the pressure source (120, 20) through the inlet (146, 150, 46, 50) and in a second direction wherein the liquid is urged toward the preform (112, 12). A blow nozzle (122, 22) may be adapted to receive the liquid from the pressure source (120, 20) and transfer the liquid at high pressure (P2) into the preform (112, 12) thereby urging the preform (112, 12) to freely expand until an unopened end thereof contacts a platen (118). The platen (118) forms a bottom in a resultant container. The liquid remains within the container as an end product.

Abstract: A fin block is provided for a calibrating device for the calibrating of an extruded plastic profile, wherein the fin block includes a back structure and a fin structure having a plurality of fins. The fins are spaced apart from one another and arranged on the back structure in longitudinal direction (L) of the back structure. The back structure of the fin block has a plurality of apertures, the shape and/or arrangement of which within the back structure depends on a predetermined mechanical load capacity for the back structure. Furthermore, a method for the production of the above-mentioned fin block and a calibrating device, which includes a plurality of the above-mentioned fin blocks, is provided. Furthermore, a system for the additive manufacture of the above-mentioned fin block, a corresponding computer program and a corresponding data set is provided.

Abstract: A nozzle is provided for engaging with lightweight preforms for blow-molding the preforms into plastic containers without damaging the finish portion of the preforms. The nozzle includes a seal configured to engage with a stepped interior of the finish portion and enables stretching and/or blow-molding the preform into a container. The seal tightly engages a smooth surface inside the finish portion without damaging the surface or a sidewall of the finish portion. In some embodiments, the seal includes a profile shape that mates with a transitional surface comprising the stepped interior of the finish portion. The profile shape distributes the contact force of the seal over a maximal area of the transition surface so as to minimize the total pressure exerted onto the finish portion. The profile shape reduces potential cracking of a thin-walled region of the finish portion during stretching and/or blow-molding the preform to form the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for molding a part includes a plunger cavity, a plunger, and a mold cavity, wherein the plunger is oriented out-of-plane with respect to a major surface of the mold cavity, and first and second vents couples to respective first and second portions of the mold cavity. In a method, resin and fiber are forced into the mold cavity from a plunger cavity, and at least some of the fibers and resin are preferentially flowed to certain region in the mold cavity via the use of vents.

Abstract: A container includes a neck finish extending from a body and having at least two thickened wall portions circumferentially spaced apart and extending radially inwardly, and including interior surfaces disposed radially inwardly of a neck finish interior surface to at least partially establish an internal trough, and axially facing shoulders axially recessed with respect to a sealing lip of the neck finish.