Abstract: The invention comprises a concrete form. The concrete form comprises a first mold for concrete and a second mold for concrete, the first and second molds being in thermal communication with each other. The concrete form also comprises thermal insulating material substantially surrounding the first and second molds but not between the first and second molds. A method of using the concrete form is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for producing at least one three-dimensional object by solidifying a solidifyable material, comprising the steps of: providing an object carrier capable of carrying the object to be produced; providing a material capable of solidifying when subjected to energy supply; bringing a solidifyable material carrier/provider in a position to carry/provide solidifyable material at least in a building region where solidifyable material is to be solidified; supplying, to the building region, energy capable of solidifying the solidifyable material; and sensing, measuring and/or controlling a condition selected from the group consisting of pressure and/or strain. Alternatively or in combination, contact pressure, fluid pressure and/or material flowability can be sensed and/or adjusted.

Abstract: On a foam plastics molding machine, a molding unit, defined by a mold and an interface frame equipped with a number or quantity of plastic molding material and operating fluid inlets, is loaded into a raised window in a fixed frame of the machine by positioning the molding unit in a fixed position on a trolley; positioning the trolley astride a fixed platform; raising the platform so that vertical ribs on the interface frame slidably engage corresponding vertical guides forming part of the machine and on a level with the window; connecting the guides to the ribs; and moving the guides towards the window.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling the moisture content of biodegradable and bioresorbable polymer resin during extrusion above a lower limit that allows for plasticization of the polymer resin melt and below an upper limit to reduce or prevent molecular weight loss are disclosed. Methods are further disclosed involving plasticization of a polymer resin for feeding into an extruder with carbon dioxide and freon.

Abstract: A method for producing a film including a non-magnetic matrix and a plurality of three-dimensional magnetic microstructures arranged within the matrix according to a predetermined pattern. The method includes providing a master substrate with a magnetically structured face formed from a plurality of magnetic field micro-sources, having a magnetic field gradient of between 102 and 106 T/m. The method also includes adding magnetic microparticles or nanoparticles to the magnetically structured face of the master substrate, the particles agglomerating into three-dimensional microstructures arranged under an effect of an attractive magnetophoretic force exerted by the magnetic field gradient on the surface of the master substrate. The method further includes depositing, on the magnetically structured face of the master substrate, a matrix made from a non-magnetic material, in such a way as to enclose the arranged microstructures and to form the film and peeling the film from the master substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a molding core for producing a fiber composite component (34), in particular in aerospace, comprising the following method steps: introducing a core sleeve (9) into a molding tool (2) for establishing an outer geometry of a molding core (27) to be formed; filling the core sleeve (9) that is introduced with a vacuum-fixable filling material (21); applying a vacuum to the core sleeve (9) and consequently vacuum-fixing the filling material (21) for forming the molding core (27); and at least partly laying at least one semifinished fiber product (33a, 33b) on the molding core (27) that is formed, for the shaping of the fiber composite component (34) to be produced.

Abstract: An apparatus of the present invention is a continuous extrusion forming apparatus comprising: a screw which carries a forming raw material in the horizontal direction, the screw being built in the screw part; and a mouth piece structure for extrusion forming, which is provided on the downstream side of a screw part, wherein the mouth piece structure has a horizontal channel for extruding the forming raw material flowing in from the screw part in the horizontal direction, an extrusion channel orthogonal to the horizontal channel, and an extrusion port provided at a tip end of the extrusion channel, and wherein a mouth piece structure holder which holds the mouth piece structure is provided with a turning means which freely changes the opening direction of the extrusion port between the horizontal direction and a floor facing direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for forming a polymer, comprising: a chamber having a predetermined pressure and storing a molten polymer resin; a foaming agent injection portion connected to the chamber and supplying a foaming agent, which is supplied from the outside, into the chamber by forming a pressure equal to or higher than the pressure inside the chamber; and a polymer backflow prevention portion provided at the foaming agent injection portion, and through which the supplied foaming agent passes so as to increase a contact surface area with the polymer resin, thereby preventing the backflow of the polymer resin.

Abstract: Additive manufacturing of a pipe is disclosed. A lowering mechanism is configured to be coupled with respect to a platform and to lower a pipe through an opening in the platform. An extrusion head is configured to receive material and selectively extrude the material via a nozzle. A gantry is coupled to the extrusion head and is configured to move the extrusion head to an identified location. A controller is coupled to the gantry and configured to direct the gantry to move the extrusion head based on pipe data that identifies a geometry of the pipe. A stabilizer mechanism is configured to maintain the pipe in a desired position during the extrusion of the material.

Abstract: A method and system for producing tubular concrete products in a casting method using upright casting molds. The system includes a fabrication zone with a plurality of fully automated fabrication stations and a mold conveyor, the first zone having: a first demolding station for removing an outer mold from a casting mold positioned at the first demolding station, a second demolding station for removing a cured tubular concrete product form a mold core positioned at the second demolding station, a mold core cleaning station for cleaning a mold core positioned at the mold core cleaning station, an outer mold cleaning station for cleaning an outer mold positioned at the outer mold cleaning station, a mold assembly station for assembling a casting mold from an outer mold and a mold core, and at least one filling station for filling an assembled casting mold with concrete.

Abstract: In certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, three-dimensional micro-mechanical devices and/or micro-structures can be made using a production casting process. As part of this process, an intermediate mold can be made from or derived from a precision stack lamination and used to fabricate the devices and/or structures. Further, the micro-devices and/or micro-structures can be fabricated on planar or nonplanar surfaces through use of a series of production casting processes and intermediate molds. The use of precision stack lamination can allow the fabrication of high aspect ratio structures. Moreover, via certain molding and/or casting materials, molds having cavities with protruding undercuts also can be fabricated.

Abstract: A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a raw material detection unit that detects a raw material amount stacked on a stacking unit, a calculation unit that calculates a first amount of the sheet able to be manufactured in the sheet manufacturing apparatus based on a detection result of the raw material detection unit, and an output unit that outputs the sheet amount calculated by the calculation unit.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods according to the present disclosure are configured for use in additive manufacturing. Systems for additive manufacturing can include stand-alone manufacturing units, a series of units on an assembly line, or a high-capacity system with workflow automation features including a conveyor for transporting parts to or from a build area, or a robotic arm for transporting parts or adjusting a system component. An additive manufacturing system (100) can include a flow regulator (130) to change a temperature of a thermoplastic material at or in a tip (150) of a material extrusion nozzle cartridge (171), such as to enable or inhibit flow of the thermoplastic material from the tip. The flow regulator can be configured to provide a specified gas or liquid at a specified temperature, velocity, or volume.

Abstract: A process and device for 3D printing parts incorporating long-fiber reinforcements in an advanced composite material is disclosed. A nozzle for a 3D printing device receives a polymer material and a reinforcing fiber through separate inlets. A passage from the reinforcing fiber inlet cleaves the passage containing the polymer material, creating an interstitial cavity into which the reinforcing fiber is introduced. The polymer material closes back on itself and encapsulates the reinforcing fiber, then drags the fiber along with the flow and exits nozzle to be deposited on a work surface or part being manufactured.

Abstract: A mold for forming materials such that the formed materials include measurement markings is disclosed herein. The mold includes multiple cavities, each of which has indentations for forming measurement markings on a material that is formed in the respective cavity. Each of the cavities may be further supported by one or more cavity-to-cavity support structures. The mold may also include a detachable lid for covering the contents of the mold during and after solidification.

Abstract: An in-mold vibratile injection compression molding method and molding apparatus thereof are described. While performing a filling stage, a first piezoelectric actuator and a second piezoelectric actuator are use to vibrate the molding material along at least two directions for precisely filling the molding material into the micro-structure by adjusting the filling flow velocity of the molding material associated with the proper molding material temperature and by maintaining a molding material temperature of a skin solidified layer in the cavity between a glass transition temperature and a melting temperature in order to avoid the form error, to increase the groove filling rate and to improve the residual stress.

Abstract: A structure of aligned (e.g., radially and/or polygonally aligned) fibers, and systems and methods for producing and using the same. One or more structures provided may be created using an apparatus that includes one or more first electrodes that define an area and/or partially circumscribe an area. For example, a single first electrode may enclose the area, or a plurality of first electrode(s) may be positioned on at least a portion of the perimeter of the area. A second electrode is positioned within the area. Electrodes with rounded (e.g., convex) surfaces may be arranged in an array, and a fibrous structure created using such electrodes may include an array of wells at positions corresponding to the positions of the electrodes.

Abstract: In an injection molding machine, a predetermined torque limit value set in advance and acceleration/deceleration torque calculated by an acceleration/deceleration torque calculation section are added to set an output torque limit value for a motor. By this operation, quick acceleration or deceleration can be achieved in an injection process, and breakage of a mold and mechanism section of the injection molding machine can be prevented.

Abstract: An apparatus for bottom-up fabrication of three dimensional objects, the apparatus comprising: a vat for a photosensitive polymer, the floor of the vat including a working surface arranged such that, in use, light incident on the working surface interacts with the photosensitive polymer at the working surface to fabricate a portion of the three dimensional object; a build platform capable of being inserted into the vat, the build platform having a planar surface; an elevator mechanism capable of adjusting the separation between the working surface of the vat and the planar surface of the build platform; and a rotation mechanism capable of varying the relative rotational position of the vat relative to the build platform, the relative rotation being about an axis which is normal to the working surface of the vat.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for additive fabrication which helps to prevent the newly hardened layer from being separated from the previously formed layer of the object while the foil is peeled from the newly hardened layer is provided. In one embodiment, use of a peel angle helps prevent the newly hardened layer from being separated from the previously formed layer during peeling by distributing the peeling force so that less of the z-direction component of the peeling force is applied to the newly hardened layer. In another embodiment, the object can be oriented to initiate the peel at an area, of the object which results in a lesser initial peeling force applied to the newly hardened layer.