Abstract: An extruding unit, a forming roll unit and a thick portion forming mechanism are provided. The extruding unit has an ejecting slit which ejects sheet-shaped molten resin. The ejecting slit includes a standard gap portion and an enlarged gap portion. The standard gap portion is formed as a gap having a constant size. The enlarged gap portion is formed as a gap larger than the standard gap portion in a position corresponding to a thick portion. The thick portion forming mechanism forms one or several thick portions which are thicker than other portion, in the sheet-shaped molten resin continuously in the extrusion direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the additive manufacturing of a silicone elastomer article. In particular, the invention relates to a method for the additive manufacturing of a silicone elastomer article and a support using a 3D printer.

Abstract: In one example a system is for post-processing a three-dimensional (3D) object generated in an additive manufacturing process in which an identifiable agent is applied to a portion of a build material to form a portion of the 3D object. The system comprises an identification unit and a sensor. The identification unit is to cause the identifiable agent to become distinguishable to thereby cause the portion of the 3D object, corresponding to the portion of build material to which the identifiable agent was applied, to be distinguishable from any build material remnant disposed on the 3D object and to which no identifiable agent was applied. The sensor is to distinguish the build material remnant from the portion of the 3D object.

Abstract: The invention relates in a first aspect to a process for preparing a 3-dimensional body, in particular a vitreous or ceramic body, which comprises at least the following steps: a) providing an electrostatically stabilized suspension of particles; b) effecting a local destabilization of the suspension of particles by means of a localized electrical discharge between a charge injector and the suspension at a predetermined position and causing an aggregation and precipitation of the particles at said position; c) repeating step b) at different positions and causing the formation of larger aggregates until a final aggregate of particles representing a (porous) 3-dimensional body (green body) having predetermined dimensions has been formed; wherein the charge injector includes i) at least one discharge electrode which does not contact said suspension of particles or ii) a source of charged particles.

Abstract: A method of building a heat exchanger includes forming the heat exchanger with layer-by-layer additive manufacturing. A first hollow annulus is formed. A body of the heat exchanger is formed to be integrally connected to and grown upwards from the first hollow annulus. The body includes an exterior wall and a heat exchanger core disposed within the exterior wall. The body defines an interior that is cylindrically shaped with an axis oriented parallel to a direction of gravity. The first annulus is disposed on a gravitational bottom of the body. A second hollow annulus is formed integrally connected to and grown upwards from a gravitational top of the body. Residual powder is removed from a bottom of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A digital masking system includes a supporting structure for supporting a material, and a pattern imaging apparatus. The pattern imaging apparatus includes a light source device, multiple imaging devices that convert light from the light source device into a plurality of light beams each representing an image, and a combiner that combines the light beams into a single light beam which is projected toward a material.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for automatically analyzing extruded films, in particular stretched films, wherein a neck-in portion is formed at each of both edges of the film at a specific distance from an extrusion lip of a film extruder along the longitudinal transport direction of the film, and a respective method. The apparatus comprises two edge detectors being arranged along a first line substantially transversal to the longitudinal direction and being spaced from each other by a specific distance, wherein each one edge detector is configured to detect, preferably to continuously detect the lateral position of one respective edge of the neck-in portion of the film, a calculation means for determining the spatial relation between at least one lateral position at the extrusion lip and a respective lateral position at the neck-in portion on the basis of the two lateral positions of the edges of the neck-in portion of the film.

Abstract: A system (1) for washing a 3D-printed object (4). The system (1) has a washing device (2) and a workpiece (3) that includes the 3D-printed object (4). The washing device (2) has a container (7) that forms a process chamber (8) for receiving a liquid cleaning agent (9), and the container (7) has an inlet (10) into the process chamber (8). The workpiece (3) further has a support structure (6) that supports the 3D-printed object (4) and a base (5) supporting the support structure (6). The base (5), in a mating relationship with the inlet (10), forms a restraint preventing the workpiece (3) from passing through the inlet (10) in a situation in which the workpiece (3) is placed with the 3D-printed object (4) located within the process chamber (8).

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam, with a stream generating unit (2) configured to generate a stream of a process gas (3) being capable of being charged with particles (4), in particular non-consolidated particulate build material and/or smoke and/or smoke residues, generated during operation of the apparatus (1) and a filter unit (5) configured to separate particles (4) from the stream of process gas (3), wherein the filter unit (5) comprises a filter chamber (6) with at least one filter element (7) at least partly arranged in the streaming path of the generated stream of process gas (3), wherein particles (4) in the stream of process gas (3) are separated from the process gas (3) by the filter element (7), wherein a particle reception chamber (13, 26, 28) is separably connected or connectable to a particle outlet (11

Abstract: A three-dimensional printer head includes a drive motor, the drive motor including a drive shaft, a feed plate is affixed to the drive motor, and a feed hob is mounted to the drive shaft. The feed hob includes drive teeth configured to engage a filament. An idle assembly mounted to the feed plate configured to bias the filament against the drive teeth. The printer head further includes a z-axis plate assembly, wherein the z-axis plate assembly includes at least two flexures coupling a z-axis plate to the feed plate and a print nozzle mounted to the z-axis plate assembly. The printer head also includes a sensor coupled to the feed plate, wherein the sensor is configured to be triggered by the z-axis plate assembly when the z-axis plate assembly moves a given distance in a first direction.

Abstract: The silicone-based ink for additive manufacturing includes a siloxane macromer, and a porogen mixture comprising a water-soluble porogen and a surfactant. The product of additive manufacturing with a silicone-based ink includes a three-dimensional printed structure including a plurality of continuous filaments arranged in a predefined pattern and a plurality of inter-filament pores defined by the predefined pattern of the continuous filaments. In addition, each continuous filament of the three-dimensional printed structure includes a silicone matrix having an open cell structure with a plurality of intra-filament pores, and the intra-filament pores form continuous channels through the silicone matrix.

Abstract: A method for forming an optical quality glass is provided. The method includes contacting silica soot particles with a basic additive, forming a silica soot compact, and removing the basic additive from the silica soot compact. A method of forming a cladding portion of an optical fiber preform is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stereolithography method, comprising the steps of receiving a light-curing suspension (100) comprising filler particles (103) in a tray (105); adjusting the light-curing suspension by means of a build platform (107) to a layer thickness with respect to a bottom (109) of the tray (105) which is less than the diameter of the filler particles (103); and selectively curing the adjusted layer thickness of the suspension by means of light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sinter powder (SP) comprising at least one semicrystalline terephthalate polyester (A), at least one amorphous terephthalate polyester (B) and at least one phosphinic salt (C). The present invention further relates to a method of producing a shaped body by sintering the sinter powder (SP) or by an FFF (fused filament fabrication) method, to a shaped body obtainable by the method of the invention, and to the use of a phosphinic salt in a sinter powder (SP) for broadening the sintering window (WSP) of the sinter powder (SP).

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an additive manufacturing method for manufacturing silica-based structures that have a low linear cure shrinkage percentage and an ultra-low coefficient of thermal expansion. The structure may be constructed with a powder mixture that contains at least a first set of silica-based particles that are spherical and that have a first size, and a second set of submicron silica-based particles that are jagged, spherical, or both jagged and spherical. The silica-based powder mixture may be combined with a surfactant in order to create a slurry that can be used to create a 3D printed structure that has a low linear cure shrinkage percentage and an ultra-low coefficient of thermal expansion.

Abstract: A device (e.g., an article of athletic gear) comprising a post-molded expandable component, which is a part of the device that is configured to be expanded or has been expanded after being molded. This may allow the post-molded expandable component to have enhanced characteristics (e.g., be more shock-absorbent, lighter, etc.), to be cost-effectively manufactured (e.g., by using less material and/or making it in various sizes), and/or to be customized for a user (e.g., by custom-fitting it to the user).

Abstract: A resin composition useful for additive manufacturing is provided, which resin composition may exhibit improved shelf life through inhibition of crystallization. Such resin composition may include a crystallization inhibitor as taught herein, and/or a prepolymer produced by reaction of an isocyanate with multiple isomers and comprising a lower percentage of the structurally symmetric isomer. Methods of forming a three-dimensional object using such resin composition are also provided.

Abstract: Decellularized matrix microspheres comprising a polymeric material and a donor tissue are provided. Also disclosed are structures containing a plurality of decellularized matrix microspheres incorporating a first polymer and a donor tissue; and a second polymer, wherein the decellularized matrix microspheres and the second polymer are in the form of a filament. Methods of treating a tissue injury employing the matrix microspheres and structures described as well as their methods of manufacture are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides various aspects for mobile and automated processing utilizing additive manufacturing. The present disclosure includes methods for adding line features to a roadway surface. In some examples, the line features may include wires, conduits and electronic components. In some examples, the mobile additive manufacturing apparatus may create communication means into an advanced roadway in line features, which may be used for various communications including communications to and from autonomous vehicles. The communications may involve data related to the operation of systems of autonomous vehicles. In other examples, the line features may be dynamically colored with LED components.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a component for a sole structure of an article of footwear includes providing a printer having a platform, a first head that receives a first feed, and a second head that receives a second feed. The method further includes printing a base layer on the platform, with the base layer comprising a substrate material and defining a longitudinal axis. Additionally, the method includes printing a first fiber layer continuously on the base layer, with the first fiber layer defining a first fiber orientation that is disposed at a first angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and printing a second fiber layer continuously on the first fiber layer, the second fiber layer defining a second fiber orientation that is disposed at a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis. The first angle is different from the second angle.