Abstract: A system for protecting a surface of a substrate includes a protective film, which is configured to be applied and secured to the surface, as well as a backing on an adherent surface of the protective film and an application tape over an exterior surface of the protective film. Protruding features, such as tabs, adjacent to different peripheral edges of the protective film may enable removal of the backing and the application tape from the protective film, and may include features that indicate the order in which each protruding feature is to be grasped to peel its corresponding element away from the protective film. Methods of using such a system are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming and applying artificial fingernails is disclosed herein. In one or more embodiments, the apparatus includes a housing; a rotatable carousel disposed at least partially within the housing, the rotatable carousel including a plurality of fingernail molds that are configured to be rotated with the carousel, the plurality of fingernail molds configured to form a plurality of different fingernail shapes using an artificial fingernail molding material; a dispensing device disposed at least partially within the housing, the dispensing device configured to dispense the artificial fingernail molding material onto a fingertip portion of a user within a selected one of the plurality of fingernail molds; and a curing device, the curing device configured to cure the artificial fingernail molding material on the fingertip portion of the user so as to form an artificial fingernail having a particular shape.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a 3D printer includes the steps of providing information obtained in a factory calibration indicating a center of an inner diameter of a tip orifice in a metal extrusion nozzle and a center of a tip surface for the nozzle and inductively sensing the nozzle with an eddy current sensor when secured to a print head on a gantry or robotic arm of the 3D printer to identify a sensed location of the center of the tip surface of the nozzle. The method includes determining a location of the center of the inner diameter of the tip orifice on the nozzle on the print head and utilizing the provided information to locate the center of the inner diameter of the tip orifice.

Abstract: Methods and systems for additively manufacturing a unitary ceramic part and repairing damaged ceramic parts including additively manufacturing a first ceramic green body having a joint surface and a second ceramic green body having a joint surface, wherein the joint surfaces are configured to be interfaced. The first ceramic green body and the second ceramic green body are sintered to form the unitary part. Additional ceramic green bodies may be connected and sintered to form the unitary part. The ceramic green bodies may have defects or may be damaged. A ceramic sheet may be manufactured and applied to the ceramic green bodies to repair the defects or damage. The ceramic sheet may be sintered with the ceramic green bodies to form the unitary part.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for fabricating a branching structure, the apparatus comprising: a flexible, electrically conductive internal electrical field collector comprising a first collector end, a second collector end, a collector outer surface located between both collector ends, a collector longitudinal axis extending through the first collector end and the second collector end, and at least one articulating feature positioned between the first collector end and the second collector end, a compression and rotation mechanism in contact with the first collector end, and a continuously formed mandrel that can include branches, having a first mandrel circumference with a mandrel inner circumference larger than the collector outer circumference and positionable over the internal electrical field collector and a second mandrel located at sufficient distance outside the first mandrel to facilitate attraction of electruspun fibers.

Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rapid, economically feasible method for producing continuous films with excellent properties using nanocellulose suspensions at high consistency.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for delaminating a composite by immersing the composite into a delamination solution; wherein the composite comprises a metal substrate and a coating applied on one side or both sides of the metal substrate, wherein the coating comprises a polymeric binder; and wherein the polymeric binder comprises an aqueous copolymer. The use of delamination solution comprising a weak base allows for complete delamination of the composite in a highly efficient and extremely fast manner. Furthermore, the delamination method disclosed herein circumvents complex separation processes, contamination and corrosion of the metal substrate and enables an excellent materials recovery. An application of the method for delaminating an electrode for a battery is disclosed herein.

Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional object comprises the steps of forming a layer of a particulate composition, selectively depositing a liquid composition onto the layer of the particulate composition in accordance with computer data corresponding to the shape of at least a portion of a three-dimensional object, and repeating the steps a plurality of times to form a three-dimensional object. The particulate composition comprises a plurality of first particles that comprise a resin component comprising a first resin, the first resin comprising a first resin polymerizable group. Either or both of the particulate composition and the liquid composition comprise an initiator capable of initiating polymerization of at least the first resin. At least the first resin undergoes melting and polymerization in a plurality of the locations where the liquid composition has been selectively deposited.

Abstract: A welding assembly is disclosed. The welding assembly includes a plurality of separately controllable actuators (e.g., pneumatic, having an axially movable ram) to press a corresponding portion of a first workpiece (e.g., a discrete flange of a first stiffener) against a second workpiece (e.g., an outer skin) for welding operations (e.g., via induction welding).

Abstract: In this treatment method of a coated wire, a coated wire, which is a metal wire coated with a resin, is subjected to low-temperature heating in a non-combustion atmosphere in coexistence with an alkali to embrittle the coating resin, the embrittled coating resin is crushed, and the coating resin and the metal wire are separated.

Abstract: The disclosure provides systems for 3D printing. A 3D printer system includes one or more sources of actinic radiation characterized at least by a powered state and an unpowered state. A resin enclosure is transmissive to the actinic radiation. A temperature control system thermally communicates with the resin enclosure and maintains the resin enclosure at a predetermined sub-ambient chilled state. A control circuit is in electrical communication with the sources of actinic radiation and the temperature control system. The control circuit includes first non-transitory logic to switch the sources of actinic radiation to the powered state when one or more threshold criteria is satisfied including a requirement the temperature control system is in a predetermined state causing the resin enclosure to be below a temperature. A second non-transitory logic switches the sources of actinic radiation to the unpowered state when one or more threshold criteria is not satisfied.

Abstract: A machine for manufacturing tube elements comprised of tape strips. The machine includes a shaft, a disk mounted to one end of the shaft, a motor coupled to an opposite end of the shaft, and a plate mounted to the shaft. The plate includes a plurality of spools mounted to the plate, where a separate one of the strips is wound on each spool. In one embodiment, the machine further includes a rail positioned adjacent to the disk, a slide slidably secured to the rail and including an end support configured to hold ends of the tape strips, and an indexer configured to pull the slide on the rail away from the disk. The tape strips are unwound from the spools when the indexer pulls the slide in a manner so that the tape strips ride in a spaced apart manner around the disk to form the tube element.

Abstract: In the manufacture of pasted current collectors for bipolar batteries, a method of making pasted substrates includes several steps. The substrates can be a plastic sheet, an embedded plastic mesh, a metal mesh, an absorbent glass mat (AGM), or some other material. One step involves applying paste material to an elongate strip of substrate material. Another step involves cutting the elongate strip of substrate material into multiple individual substrates. Further steps can involve punching via a rotary punch, crush cutting, ultrasonic cutting, concealing lateral sections via folding, and/or using one or more mask overlays.

Abstract: A machine to apply tape to a surface includes a handle for manipulation by a user connected to a wheeled applicator allowing the tape to be dispensed from the applicator and rolled onto a surface. The applicator includes two sidewalls adjustable relative to each other on guide bars to define space therebetween where rolls of tape having different widths can be accommodated. The sidewalls further include bottom portions shaped complimentarily with the wheel to define a path sized for a width of the tape around the wheel, and where the sidewalls further define a path sized for the width of the tape over at least one guide bar. The applicator also may include a clutched take-up reel operatively connected to the wheel, where rotation of the wheel causes the take-up reel to rotate and collect a liner.

Abstract: A separating method includes holding a combined substrate and separating a first substrate. In the holding of the combined substrate, the combined substrate in which the first substrate and a second substrate are bonded is held. In the separating of the first substrate, the first substrate is separated from the combined substrate, starting from a side surface of the combined substrate. The separating of the first substrate includes brining a fluid containing water into contact with the side surface.

Abstract: To improve durability of an all-solid-state battery, a method of manufacturing an all-solid-state battery includes: obtaining a stack having an anode active material layer, a cathode active material layer, a first solid electrolyte layer, and a second solid electrolyte layer, the first solid electrolyte layer and the second solid electrolyte layer being disposed between the anode active material layer and the cathode active material layer, the second solid electrolyte layer containing a sublimational filler; densifying the stack; and subliming the sublimational filler from the second solid electrolyte layer.

Abstract: A micro-LED manufacturing device includes: a wafer stage on which a wafer is positioned; a substrate stage on which a substrate is positioned; a lower base formed below the substrate stage; a first driving member formed on the substrate stage so as to move the wafer stage; and a second driving member formed on the lower base SO as to move the substrate stage. The micro-LED manufacturing device is formed such that the wafer stage moves over the substrate stage, and thus the substrate stage and the wafer stage can move synchronously with respect to the lower base.

Abstract: A core or sub-composite structure is provided including a dielectric layer between a first conductive film and a second conductive film. The first conductive film may include a first peelable/removable cover layer formed on or coupled to a first conductive layer. The second conductive film may include a second peelable/removable cover layer formed on or coupled to a second conductive layer.

Abstract: Subject matter described in this disclosure relates to a label applicator for varied surfaces. In some instances, the label applicator may include one or more elements that may adjust to individual package properties and may adjust from one package to the next. For example, in one aspect the label applicator may include a label-retaining surface that is nonlinear. In other examples, the label applicator may include a force attenuator that dampens compressive forces between the label applicator and the package. In a further example, the label applicator may include an articulating joint that permits pivotable adjustment when a label applicator contacts a package. In yet another example, the label applicator may include a magnetic coupling attaching the label applicator to an actuator to provide a breakaway and reattachment mechanism.

Abstract: A method of multi-material 3D printing is performed by an apparatus comprising at least one printhead device; a build platform; a light source; and a computing unit comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with program instructions for controlling the at least one printhead device; the build platform; and the light source to perform the method of multi-material 3D printing. In various embodiments, each printhead device comprises a coating section, a curing section, a cleaning section, and optionally, a post-curing section. Each printhead device is configured to perform each of these steps, with the multiple printheads engaged in fabricating a multi-material part layer-by-layer.