Abstract: The invention refers to a method for producing expanded polymer pellets, which comprises the following steps: melting a polymer comprising a polyamide; adding at least one blowing agent; expanding the melt through at least one die for producing an expanded polymer; and pelletizing the expanded polymer. The invention further concerns polymer pellets produced with the method as well as their use, e.g. for the production of cushioning elements for sports apparel, such as for producing soles or parts of soles of sports shoes. A further aspect of the invention concerns a method for the manufacture of molded components, comprising loading pellets of an expanded polymer material into a mold, and connecting the pellets by providing heat energy, wherein the expanded polymer material of the pellets or beads comprises a chain extender. The molded components may be used in broad ranges of application.

Abstract: A system for controlling the temperature of a film before and/or during application, the system including: a heat source for heating a film; and stretch rollers; wherein the heat source heats the film from an ambient temperature to a temperature from about 2° C. to about 40° C. above the ambient temperature, wherein the film is heated prior to or simultaneous to being stretched by the stretch rollers, and wherein the ambient temperature is below 15° C. The preheating system may be used to enhance binding and sealing properties of stretch films used for wrapping palletized products in a reduced temperature environment. Other embodiments of the preheating film system, and methods for its use, are described herein.

Abstract: A technique for capturing a three-dimensional digital image of a customized shape for a wheelchair seat and back and subsequently producing a seat and back from the image. The captured image may include one or more datum points therein to provide a reference plane for the seat and back. The datum points may be in a color-coded layer located relative to the bottom edge of the seat. The color code may indicate the size of the user and seat at a coarse level. The customized shape may be captured from a shape capture bag or bags that capture one or both of the shape of the user's back and bottom. The shape capture bag used to capture the shape of the user's bottom, for use in manufacturing the seat, may be enhanced by a pre-formed layer that contains a contour or one or more components that together form a contour that biases the shape capture bag toward the shape of the user's bottom when gravity is acting upon the user to sink into a cushioned seat.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a method for designing a mask set is provided. In the method for designing the mask set, an imprint-alignment mark is arranged in a region other than a chip region in an imprint shot formed in a template. The imprint-alignment mark is used for alignment during an imprint. Subsequently, the shape of the imprint shot is set based on an arrangement position of the imprint-alignment mark. Subsequently, another pattern is arranged in a region where the region is other than the chip region in the imprint shot and the imprint-alignment mark is not arranged. The other pattern is used in a process other than the imprint.

Abstract: An imprint apparatus performs an imprint process for forming a pattern of a cured product of an imprint material on a substrate by using a mold. The apparatus includes a substrate holder configured to hold the substrate, a substrate deformation mechanism configured to deform the substrate so the substrate will have a convex shape toward the mold in a state in which the substrate is held by the substrate holder, and a controller configured to control the deformation of the substrate by the substrate deformation mechanism in accordance with orientation information related to a crystal orientation of the substrate and a target shot region on which the imprint process is to be performed among a plurality of shot regions on the substrate.

Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure a three dimensional printing system includes an elevator mechanism for supporting a build plate, a printhead assembly, a movement mechanism, and a controller. The printhead assembly includes a printhead and a planarizer arranged along a scan axis. The movement mechanism is for scanning the printhead across the build plate. The controller is configured to: (a) print one or more base layers of ink onto the build plate, (b) print one or more layers of test patterns onto the base layers until an alignment determination can be made, wherein the test patterns comprise different timing values, and (c) receive information and update a scan axis timing parameter based on the determination.

Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to material sets for 3D printing and methods of 3D printing. The material set can include a coalescent an organic-soluble near-infrared dye having a peak absorption wavelength from 800 nm to 1400 nm. The coalescent ink can also include water and an organic co-solvent. The material set can also include a particulate polymer formulated to coalesce when contacted by the coalescent ink and irradiated by a near-infrared energy having the peak absorption wavelength.

Abstract: Methods and systems for 3D printing use a 3D printing device defined by a polar coordinate frame including an r-axis, a z-axis, and a rotational theta axis. The device includes a base, a rotatably attached printing stage is rotatably attached, a z-axis aligned pair of towers, an r-axis aligned rail slidably coupled to the towers, a print head slidably disposed on the rail, a printing tool coupling component (“master”) joined to the print head, and a rotatable tool carousel with bays housing printing tools, each including a printing tool body (“slave”). The slave may be coupled with and locked to or unlocked from the master to form a coupled tool assembly through a mechanical actuation assembly. With the coupled tool assembly, a printing tool is removable from a respective bay when the coupled tool assembly moves along the r-axis in a direction opposite from the rotatable tool carousel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mold base for a system for injection molding of plastic parts, in particular for automotive body and/or structure components, preferably for baffle and/or reinforcing structures, comprising at least one, namely first, bridge manifold with at least a first and a second bridge manifold opening for feeding material to at least a first and a second sub-manifold of at least one mold insert assembly and at least a first and a second control valve, wherein the first control valve is provided and configured for controlling the material feed through the first bridge manifold opening and the second control valve is provided and configured for controlling the material feed through the second bridge manifold opening.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a three-dimensional shaped object includes a first step of depositing powder to form a powder layer, and a second step of scanning and irradiating an energy beam to the powder layer to melt and then solidifying the powder layer to form a solidified layer. The energy beam is irradiated to the powder layer corresponding to a contour area and an inner-solid area inside of the contour area. The first and second steps are alternately and repeatedly executed. The energy beam is scanned such that an irradiation starting point of the energy beam for forming an upper solidified layer does not overlap with an irradiation starting point of the energy beam for forming a lower solidified layer in a view from a lamination direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the layered manufacturing of a structural component from powder, comprising the following steps: establishing at least one parameter (t) of a depression (1) in a produced layer (2) of the structural component; smoothing out the depression (1) if the at least one parameter (t) exceeds a predetermined value; and filling the smoothed-out depression (1) with powder (13).

Abstract: A bladder bag is a mold for molding inside of a composite material structure. The composite material structure includes a narrow portion formed by narrowing a part of the inside and a space portion formed so as to be adjacent to the narrow portion. The bladder bag includes a bladder bag main body and a cord-like member. The bladder bag main body includes a narrow molding portion for molding the narrow portion of the composite material structure, a space molding portion for molding the space portion of the composite material structure, and an air intake for introducing air. The cord-like member is provided inside the bladder bag main body, passes through the narrow molding portion from the air intake, and is connected to an inner surface of the space molding portion.

Abstract: The apparatus for manufacturing carbon nanotube pellets according to the present invention provides carbon nanotube pellets with increased apparent density by using only a small amount of solvent. The carbon nanotube pellets produced by the apparatus according to the present invention can improve various problems generated by scattering of powders. And since the density of the pellet form is high, transport, transfer and improvement become easier. Therefore, it can be more effectively applied to the manufacturing of composite materials.

Abstract: In an example, a processor comprises an ancillary print agent distribution module to determine instructions for a print control module. The print control module may be to control the distribution of print agent onto a first region of a layer of build material in an object fabrication chamber in an additive manufacturing process in which at least one object is generated by selective solidification of each of a plurality of layers of build material and the selective solidification of build material is determined by the distribution of at least one print agent. The instructions determined by the ancillary print agent distribution module may be to cause the print control module to control the distribution of print agent in a second region of a layer of build material in an object fabrication chamber as part of a process which is ancillary to object generation. The first and second regions may be spatially distinct.

Abstract: Data indicative of a desired shape of the polishing pad to be fabricated by droplet ejection by the additive manufacturing system is received. The data includes a desired shape defining a desired profile including a polishing surface having one or more partitions separated by one or more grooves on the polishing pad. Data indicative of distortions from the desired profile caused by dispensing of layers by droplet ejection by the additive manufacturing system is generated. Data indicative of an initial layer to dispense by droplet ejection is generated to at least partially compensate for the distortions from the desired profile. The initial layer is dispensed on a support by droplet ejection. Overlying layers are dispensed on the initial layer by droplet ejection by the additive manufacturing system to form the polishing pad.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided process and apparatus to use additives with the clear wetting agent to aid in detection of defective substrates or missing jets. For light colored substrates, dye can be used for darkening of the wetting agent to provide sufficient contrast for defect detection. For dark colored substrates, the dye could be a specific color that a sensor is tuned for. An additive that glows only in the presence of a specific wave length of light could be utilized for any color substrate. By comparing the detected pattern to the desired pattern, end product voids can be greatly reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A molding changing apparatus having a holder, a cooling plate, and a mold set coupled to the cooling plate is disclosed. The cooling plate has at least one connecting pin disposed on the surface which is reverse to the surface where the mold set is disposed, and the holder has at least one pneumatic pin receptacle disposed thereon. The connecting pin of the cooling plate can be inserted into the connecting hole of the pneumatic pin receptacle of the holder, and the connecting pin is fastened by the pneumatic pin receptacle, thereby connecting the mold set and the cooling plate to the holder. Through the use of the connecting pin and the pneumatic pin receptacle, the mold set and the cooling plate on the holder can be changed rapidly and the efficiency of the plastic vacuum forming with mold sets is enhanced.

Abstract: This invention concerns a flow device for an additive manufacturing apparatus, in which material is consolidated in a layer-by-layer manner to build a part. The flow device comprises a first member having at least one inlet aperture therein and a second member having three or more downstream apertures therein. The first and second members are connected such that the downstream apertures of the second member are in fluid communication with the inlet aperture of the first member with a shortest fluid path from the inlet aperture to each downstream aperture being substantially the same.

Abstract: Three dimensional nanofiber structures are provided and methods of production thereof.

Abstract: Methodology for reclaiming metal from insulated and/or shielded and/or jacketed power cables present on supporting conveyor belts, by waterjetting using stationary and/or spinning nozzles.