Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating an object includes a substrate, an electrically conductive layer disposed on the substrate, and a porous medium comprising an electrically conductive material. The apparatus also includes a dielectric layer conformally disposed on the porous medium to insulate the porous medium from the object during use. The porosity of the porous medium is about 90% or greater. The adhesive strength of the porous medium is about 1 kPa or lower, and the modulus of the porous medium is about 1 GPa or lower.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for additive manufacturing are provided that allow for components being manufactured to be assessed during the printing process. As a result, changes to a print plan can be considered, made, and implemented during the printing process. More particularly, in exemplary embodiments, a spectrometer is operated while a component is being printed to measure one or more parameters associated with one or more layers of the component being printed. The measured parameter(s) are then relied upon to determine if any changes are needed to the way printing is occurring, and if such changes are desirable, the system is able to implement such changes during the printing process. By way of non-limiting examples, printed material in one or more layers may be reheated to alter the printed component, such as to remove defects identified by the spectrometer data.

Abstract: Complexity of a geometry of a desired (i.e., target) three-dimensional (3D) object being produced by an additive manufacturing system, as well as atypical behavior of the processes employed by such a system, pose challenges for producing a final version of the desired 3D object with fidelity relative to the desired object. An example embodiment enables such challenges to be overcome as a function of feedback to enable the final version to be produced with fidelity. The feedback may be at least one value that is associated with at least one characteristic of a printed object following processing of the printed object. Such feedback may be obtained as part of a calibration process of the 3D printing system or as part of an operational process of the 3D printing system.

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: The present invention provides methods for uniform growth of nanostructures such as nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes) on the surface of a substrate, wherein the long axes of the nanostructures may be substantially aligned. The nanostructures may be further processed for use in various applications, such as composite materials. For example, a set of aligned nanostructures may be formed and transferred, either in bulk or to another surface, to another material to enhance the properties of the material. In some cases, the nanostructures may enhance the mechanical properties of a material, for example, providing mechanical reinforcement at an interface between two materials or plies. In some cases, the nanostructures may enhance thermal and/or electronic properties of a material. The present invention also provides systems and methods for growth of nanostructures, including batch processes and continuous processes.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to synthesizing a nanomaterial-polymer composite via in situ interfacial polymerization. A nanomaterial is exposed to a solution having a first solute dissolved in an aqueous solvent to uniformly, or substantially uniformly, distribute the solvent throughout the porosity of the network of the nanomaterial. The nanomaterial is then exposed to a second solution having a second solute dissolved in an organic solvent, which is substantially immiscible with the first solvent, with the first solute reacting with the second solute. The first and second solutions can be stirred, or otherwise moved with respect to each other, to facilitate transport of the second solution throughout the nanomaterial to promote reaction of the polymer within the nanomaterial to produce a polymer composite having uniform morphology.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for contacting printing via electrostatic force. In one example, an apparatus for contact printing using an ink includes a substrate, a conductive layer disposed on the substrate, and a group of microstructures disposed on the conductive layer. Each microstructure includes a group of conductive porous medium extending from the conductive layer. The apparatus also includes a dielectric layer conformally disposed on the microstructures and configured to electrically insulate the microstructures from the ink during use. The conductive layer is configured to apply a voltage on the group of microstructures to facilitate the loading and dispensing of ink.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for additive manufacturing as disclosed allow for improved optical access to a build platform. In at least some embodiments a multiplexing optic of an additive manufacturing device is configured to multiplex an arbitrary number of optical paths to a build platform along a substantially common optical axis by dividing a theoretical input aperture of the multiplexing optic into a plurality of sub-apertures. Each sub-aperture can independently receive and direct an optical path to the build platform. An optical path can be a light path from a light source or an optical process monitoring path from an optical process monitoring system or optical process monitoring device. In some embodiments, an optical path can enter the multiplexing optic off-axis and/or off-angle with respect to an optical axis of the multiplexing optic. The multiplexing optic can include one or more lens elements and/or one or more mirror elements.

Abstract: Systems and methods for making it easier to remove support structures printed in conjunction with printing an object using stereolithographic additive manufacturing are disclosed. In some exemplary embodiments, one or more interfaces between the printed object and the support structures are modulated to allow for easy separation between them, in some instances even when the object and support structures are made from the same material. Various modulation techniques are disclosed, including adjusting an intensity of exposure to light at interfaces between the object and support structures, and using two materials where one material cures at two wavelength ranges and the other material only cures at one of the two wavelength ranges. Other systems and methods that allow for easy separation of part and support structure are also described.

Abstract: A device for collecting contaminants from water samples is provided. The device includes a solid sorbent that collects and stores the contaminants from water samples. The solid sorbent is configured to allow for the preservation of the stored contaminants. The concentrations of the contaminants in the water samples are determined via analysis of the solid sorbent or via elution of the stored contaminants from the sorbent and analysis of the eluate solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for uniform growth of nanostructures such as nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes) on the surface of a substrate, wherein the long axes of the nanostructures may be substantially aligned. The nanostructures may be further processed for use in various applications, such as composite materials. For example, a set of aligned nanostructures may be formed and transferred, either in bulk or to another surface, to another material to enhance the properties of the material. In some cases, the nanostructures may enhance the mechanical properties of a material, for example, providing mechanical reinforcement at an interface between two materials or plies. In some cases, the nanostructures may enhance thermal and/or electronic properties of a material. The present invention also provides systems and methods for growth of nanostructures, including batch processes and continuous processes.

Abstract: A device for collecting contaminants from water samples is provided. The device includes a solid sorbent that collects and stores the contaminants from water samples. The solid sorbent is configured to allow for the preservation of the stored contaminants. The concentrations of the contaminants in the water samples are determined via analysis of the solid sorbent or via elution of the stored contaminants from the sorbent and analysis of the eluate solution.

Abstract: The devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure are directed to powder spreading and binder distribution techniques for consistent and rapid layer-by-layer fabrication of three-dimensional objects formed through binder jetting. For example, a powder may be spread to form a layer along a volume defined by a powder box, a binder may be deposited along the layer to form a layer of a three-dimensional object, and the direction of spreading the layer and depositing the binder may be in a first direction and in a second direction, different from the first direction, thus facilitating rapid formation of the three-dimensional object with each passage of the print carriage over the volume. Powder delivery, powder spreading, thermal energy delivery, and combinations thereof, may facilitate consistently achieving quality standards as the rate of fabrication of the three-dimensional object is increased.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for additive manufacturing are described. A method for additive manufacturing may include exposing a layer of material on a build surface to one or more projections of laser energy including at least one line laser having a substantially linear shape. The intensity of the line laser may be modulated so as to cause fusion of the layer of material according to a desired pattern as the one or more projections of laser energy are scanned across the build surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to rheometric fixtures for making rheological measurements of yield stress fluids. In some embodiments, the fixture can be an improvement of a typical vane by having the ability to create a more homogeneous shear profile in a test material, e.g., a yield stress fluid. These vane fixtures having fractal-like cross-sectional structures enable robust rheological measurements of the properties of yield stress fluids due to several outer contact edges that lead to increased kinematic homogeneity at the point of yielding and beyond. The branching structure of the fractal-like fixtures can alter the shape of a wetted perimeter of the fixture while minimizing an area thereof to allow the fixture to be inserted into fluids with less disturbance. In some embodiments, a cup with a ribbed inner surface can be used to hold the sample fluid and disassembles for ease of cleaning following completion of the measurement.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for additive manufacturing are described. A method for additive manufacturing may include exposing a layer of material on a build surface to one or more projections of laser energy including at least one line laser having a substantially linear shape. The intensity of the line laser may be modulated so as to cause fusion of the layer of material according to a desired pattern as the one or more projections of laser energy are scanned across the build surface.

Abstract: Controllable electromechanical adhesive devices including three-dimensional dielectrically-coated microstructures that are mechanically compliant are provided. The microstructures can be controlled to provide tunable electromechanical surface adhesion, allowing for dexterous gripping of microscale and/or macroscale objects. For example, the devices can tune the surface adhesion strength of one or more microstructures without complex mechanical actuation in a wide range of on/off ratios with low voltage. The devices can be configured as a force sensor capable of providing tactile feedback for determining the load applied against the microstructures by the surface of an object. For example, the devices can provide output indicative of changes in an electrical property of one or more microstructures for determining the applied load of an object. The devices can be pixelated or otherwise configured to provide localized force sensing and/or surface adhesion.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for uniform growth of nanostructures such as nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes) on the surface of a substrate, wherein the long axes of the nanostructures may be substantially aligned. The nanostructures may be further processed for use in various applications, such as composite materials. For example, a set of aligned nanostructures may be formed and transferred, either in bulk or to another surface, to another material to enhance the properties of the material. In some cases, the nanostructures may enhance the mechanical properties of a material, for example, providing mechanical reinforcement at an interface between two materials or plies. In some cases, the nanostructures may enhance thermal and/or electronic properties of a material. The present invention also provides systems and methods for growth of nanostructures, including batch processes and continuous processes.

Abstract: Optical materials and associated systems and methods are generally provided.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and related methods are disclosed for electromechanical transfer printing of 2D materials disposed on one substrate to another. The printing device can be configured to transfer a 2D material from a source substrate to the target substrate by applying a combination of mechanical and electrostatic forces to facilitate electromechanical adhesion between the 2D material layer and the target substrate. Some embodiments of the printing device can effect direct transfer printing of a 2D material from a source substrate to a target substrate without the use of etchants and adhesives.