Abstract: A modular disk coextrusion die is formed of a plurality of cells stacked together. Each cell includes an arrangement of thin annular disks, including at least a first cap disk, a first distribution disk, a first transition disk and a first spreader disk. The modular disk coextrusion die includes at least one channel disk having at least one inlet opening and at least two outlet openings per inlet opening. The thin annular disks are configured so that a first of the outlet openings of the channel disk is in fluid communication with the first distribution disk in the first cell and a second of the outlet openings in the channel disk is in fluid communication with the first distribution disk in the second cell. The channel disk provides for a more efficient utilization of space at the inlet of the modular disk coextrusion die and enables the feeding of up to twenty melt streams.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid container, in which, a nozzle unit includes a blow nozzle having a supply port and a spare supply tube having, at a lower end thereof, a spare supply port. The method includes: an air exhausting step of exhausting the air in the preform to the outside by supplying a liquid into the preform from the spare supply port located at a bottom portion of the preform; a liquid blow molding step of molding the preform into a liquid container by supplying a pressurized liquid from the supply port into the preform; and a headspace forming step of forming a headspace by exhausting the liquid from the inside of the liquid container.

Abstract: A method of forming a balloon for a medical device is provided including extruding a cylindrical tube of silicone material, partially curing the cylindrical tube, inflating the cylindrical tube, and fully curing the balloon. The cylindrical tube is partially cured by exposing the cylindrical tube to a first ultraviolet light source. The cylindrical tube is inflated within a mold to form the balloon. The balloon is fully cured by exposing the balloon to a second ultraviolet light source.

Abstract: A foaming process and a method for operation of the foaming process are provided. The method includes flowing a molten polymeric material into a mold from an upstream device, receiving the molten polymeric material in a cavity of the mold, and maintaining a repeatable, uniform pressure profile as the molten polymeric material is delivered into the mold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for forming insulation on magnet wire are provided. An extruder that includes one or more rotating screws may receive a plurality of ingredients for a polymeric insulation material and process the plurality of ingredients to facilitate polymerization of the polymeric insulation material within the extruder. An application assembly in fluid communication with the extruder may apply the polymeric insulation material onto a wire. A curing device may then cure the polymeric insulation material.

Abstract: Systems and methods for forming insulation on magnet wire are provided. An extruder that includes one or more rotating screws may receive a thermoset polymeric material and process the thermoset polymeric material to increase its pressure and temperature. An extrusion crosshead assembly in fluid communication with the extruder may receive the thermoset polymeric material and press extrude the thermoset polymeric material as insulation onto a magnet wire. A curing device may then cure the extruded insulation material.

Abstract: An imprint apparatus is provided. The imprint apparatus includes an imprint head, at least one cable assembly configured to supply a signal to the imprint head, and a cable assembly sensor configured to detect a state of the at least one cable assembly. The signal may include one or more of a voltage signal, a current signal, and a pneumatic signal. The cable assembly sensor may include a strain gauge configured to measure a strain of the at least one cable assembly or a load cell configured to measure a force on the at least one cable assembly. For example, the cable assembly may include an electric wire and/or a gas supply tube.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods (a) receive a field material map that represents of a spatial distribution of a volume of a material over a rectangular region; (b) divide the rectangular region into two rectangular child regions along a division axis; (c) determine if the material volume in each rectangular child region is within a range of a specific volume; (d) for each rectangular child region that is not within the range of the specific volume, perform (b) for each rectangular child region as the rectangular region along a division axis that has been rotated by 90 degrees relative to the division axis that was used to generate the rectangular child region; (e) repeat (b)-(d) until all rectangular child regions meet the criteria in (c); and (f) output a drop pattern that includes one or more drop locations inside each rectangular child region that meets the criteria in (c).

Abstract: A method of determining a solution state of a gas in a plastic melt used in a plastic shaping method includes: (vi) providing the plastic melt together with the gas in a chamber, (vii) altering—in particular reducing—a volume of the chamber to alter a pressure of the plastic melt together with the gas—in particular increased from a first pressure value to a second pressure value, (viii) introducing the plastic melt into a shaping cavity, (ix) computing at least one compression parameter characteristic of the compression behaviour of the plastic melt, in particular a modulus of compression, from the first pressure value and the second pressure value, and (x) determining from the at least one compression parameter whether the gas is substantially completely dissolved in the plastic melt and/or a solubility limit of the gas in the plastic melt is determined from the at least one compression parameter.

Abstract: A novel cutting-edge structure and method and apparatus for manufacturing the cutting-edge structure is provided. The cutting-edge structure is comprised of naturally derived or renewable material at greater than 50% by volume fraction. In one embodiment, the naturally derived material is a cellulose nanostructure such as a cellulose nanocrystal. The cellulose nanocrystal is processed using a base or mold structure to provide a cutting edge of any shape such as linear or circular edge structures. The process includes dual cure steps to produce an optimal cutting-edge structure without shrinkage. The formed cutting-edge structure can be utilized as a razor blade as it is formed with very sharp tip and edge suitable for cutting hair. The base structure can form one or more cutting-edge structures simultaneously.

Abstract: A powder pressing plate assembly includes a pressing plate having a plurality of pressing tools and at least one etched plate attached to a pressing tool face of at least one of the plurality of pressing tools. The etched plate includes a design that may be embossed into a substrate. The design may be computer generated and then transferred to the etched plate via a solvent-less thermal exposure process, exposure to certain solvents used to wash away unwanted material, or built up using a three-dimensional printing or additive manufacturing process.

Abstract: A data generation method generates data for controlling an arrangement step in an imprint process that includes the arrangement step of arranging an imprint material on a substrate, a contact step of bringing the imprint material and a pattern portion of a mold into contact with each other, and a curing step of curing the imprint material. The method includes performing a first step of determining a plurality of first positions, based on information related to a boundary of the pattern portion in the substrate, as positions where the imprint material is to be arranged, and performing a second step of determining, after the first step, a plurality of second positions different from the plurality of first positions, as positions where the imprint material is to be further arranged.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a position of a moveable stage having a substrate supported thereon is provided. First position information representing a position of the substrate relative to a mark on an object is obtained from a sensor. Alignment prediction information is generated based on the obtained first position wherein the generated alignment prediction information including at least one parameter value. First trajectory information is generated and includes the at least one parameter value based on the obtained first position information and the generated alignment prediction information. Second trajectory information is generated based on the generated alignment prediction information first trajectory information and second position information, wherein the second position information represents a position of the moveable stage.

Abstract: An imprint method for forming a pattern of an imprint material on a substrate includes irradiating the imprint material with light to increase a viscosity of the imprint material on the substrate with a mold and the imprint material being in contact with each other, aligning the substrate and the mold with each other while changing and increasing a control gain to be used in a controller, which is configured to control relative positions of the mold and the substrate so as to reduce a displacement based on a result of detection of the displacement between the substrate and the mold, in such a manner that the control gain increases with the mold and the imprint material being in contact with each other, and curing the imprint material by irradiating the imprint material with light.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a preimpregnated fibrous material containing a fibrous material made of continuous fibers and at least one thermoplastic polymer matrix, wherein the preimpregnated fibrous material is produced as a single unidirectional tape or of a plurality of parallel unidirectional tapes and wherein the process includes a step of impregnating, in particular fully and homogeneously, the fibrous material that is in the form of a roving or of several parallel rovings with the at least one thermoplastic polymer matrix that is in powder form, the impregnating step being carried out by a dry route in a tank and the control of the amount of the at least one thermoplastic polymer matrix in said fibrous material being achieved by control of the residence time of said fibrous material in the powder, with the exclusion of any electrostatic process with intentional charging.

Abstract: A liquid container manufacturing method includes: a nozzle fitting step of fitting a blow nozzle into a mouth of a preform; a liquid replacing step of replacing the air in the preform with a liquid by supplying a predetermined amount of liquid from a liquid supply port to the preform with a discharge port open; and a liquid blow molding step of molding the preform into a liquid container by supplying a pressurized liquid from the liquid supply port into the preform after the discharge port is closed.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus for building a product according to a planned geometry by successive solidification of a radiation-curable fluid in a solidification layer extending in a vertical direction from a surface of the fluid to a surface of the product. The apparatus includes: a vat holding the fluid; a support holding the product; a mechanism to control feeding of fluid to the solidification layer; a curing radiation source to generate a 2D exposure pattern of curing radiation in the solidification layer. The exposure pattern is defined by a curing radiation pattern geometry and/or curing radiation intensity. A radiation sensor receives radiation from the solidification layer. The radiation sensor generates a sensor signal having information indicative of a solidification process status. A control system is connected to the feed control mechanism and the curing radiation source.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stage driving apparatus for driving a stage, comprising: a linear motor including a stator which includes a coil array obtained by alternately arraying first phase coils and second phase coils, and a movable element placed on the stage; and a control unit configured to control the linear motor by controlling an energization state of the coil array, wherein in a stopping period during which the stage is stopped in a predetermined position, the control unit holds a position of the stage in the predetermined position by turning on the first phase coil among the coil array, and generates heat by turning on the second phase coil arranged in a position where no thrust is given to the movable element among the coil array.

Abstract: Thermoplastic packaging trays are provided that are filled with a product and wrapped in film, and methods of producing the tray with a peripheral edge region that avoids tearing of the overwrap film. In various embodiments, the tray has a beaded, a flat, or a combined beaded and flat peripheral edge.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fabricating composite parts. One embodiment is a method that includes heating a female die having a receptacle and a complementary male die, heating an extruder above a melting point of a thermoplastic within chopped prepreg fiber, in order to melt chopped prepreg fiber disposed within the extruder, extruding the chopped prepreg fiber from the extruder into the receptacle of the female die while the chopped prepreg fiber remains molten, pressing the male die into the female die, causing the molten chopped prepreg fiber to fully enter receptacle, and cooling the chopped prepreg fiber in the receptacle of the female die to form a composite part.