Abstract: A support material for use with a digital manufacturing system, the support material comprising at least one inorganic ionic compound and is configured to be deposited with the digital manufacturing system using a layer-based additive technique to form a support structure for supporting at least one overhanging region of a three-dimensional model built with the digital manufacturing system.

Abstract: A syringe tip assembly comprising a seal component configured to engage a syringe tip, a nozzle configured to slidably engage with the seal component, and a biasing member configured to apply a biasing pressure between the seal component and the nozzle.

Abstract: A method comprising building at least one three-dimensional model and a support structure using a layer-based additive technique, where the at least one three-dimensional model is at least partially encased in the support structure, and where the support structure functions as a shipping package for the at least one three-dimensional model.

Abstract: A digital manufacturing system comprises a build chamber, a build platform disposed within the build chamber, at least one extrusion line configured to heat a metal-based alloy up to a temperature between solidus and liquidus temperatures of the metal-based alloy, a deposition head disposed within the build chamber and configured to deposit the heated metal-based alloy onto the build platform in a predetermined pattern, an umbilical having a first end located outside of the build chamber and a second end connected to the deposition head, and at least one gantry assembly configured to cause relative motion between the build platform and the deposition head within the build chamber, where the at least one gantry assembly comprises a motor disposed outside of the build chamber.

Abstract: A filament drive mechanism comprising a rotatable component comprising a central hole defined at least in part by an internally-threaded surface, and is configured to receive a filament strand through the central hole to engage the internally-threaded surface with the filament strand. The filament drive mechanism further comprises at least one rotation mechanism configured to rotate the rotatable component, thereby allowing the engaged internally-threaded surface to drive the filament strand through the central hole of the rotatable component.

Abstract: A liquefier assembly comprising a liquefier tube, where the liquefier tube comprises a sidewall having an inlet opening configured to receive a filament strand, an outlet opening, and a port disposed through the sidewall at a location between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, the port being configured to provide access for a filament drive mechanism to engage with the received filament strand. The liquefier assembly further comprises a heat transfer component configured to generate a thermal gradient along a longitudinal length of the sidewall between the port and the outlet opening.

Abstract: The present invention is a method (10) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object. The method (10) includes receiving (14) digital information of the three-dimensional object over a communication line and building (30) the three-dimensional object based at least in part on the received digital information, where at least part of the three-dimensional object is built by rapid manufacturing, and where the three-dimensional object comprises an exterior surface. The method also includes vapor smoothing (32) at least a portion of the exterior surface of the three-dimensional object.

Abstract: A method for generating build sequence data for a computer-aided design model of a three-dimensional object, the method comprising identifying a location of an insert data representation in the computer-aided design model, slicing the computer-aided design model into a plurality of sliced layers, generating a plurality of support layers for at least a portion of the plurality of sliced layers, and generating an unfilled region in the computer-aided design model at the identified location of the insert data representation.

Abstract: A method for building a three-dimensional object containing an identification-tag insert, the method comprising performing a build operation to form layers of the three-dimensional object using a layer-based additive technique, placing the identification-tag insert on at least a portion of the layers during the build operation, and reading information from the identification-tag insert.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for initializing an additive process computer-controlled three-dimensional modeling machine which builds models on a modeling platform. The method, without operator intervention, senses the top surface of a substrate or other object mounted on the platform at a variety of preselected x, y locations and records the z-axis positions of the platform corresponding to the sensing of the object. Using the recorded z-axis positions, a z-start position for the modeling platform is calculated. The platform can be automatically placed at the calculated z-start position. The recorded z-axis positions can further be used to define a plane fitted to the substrate top surface. Optionally, the model can be built in a coordinate system defined by the plane.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for measuring the volume and density of an object, including a living being, which avoids the necessity of immersing the subject in a liquid medium. Where the subject is a living being, the percentage of body fat may readily be determined from the density value. The density of the subject is measured by recording the weight of the subject for several different temperatures of a fluid, preferably air, surrounding the subject. The apparent weight change of the subject at the different measured temperatures of surrounding air represents changes in the buoyant forces exerted by the air on the subject at different air densities. The buoyant force acting on the subject is calculated from these measurements, and the volume of the subject is determined from its relationship with the buoyant force. The density of the subject can then be calculated from the volume and weight parameters.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nonlethal weapon for delivering an electrical current to a remote biological target for the purpose of incapacitating the target. The weapon includes a reservoir of metallic or metallic alloy material which is solid at ambient temperatures but which is maintained in molten or liquid form by a heater within the weapon. The molten metal or metallic alloy is ejected from the housing of the weapon by a trigger which applies hydraulic pressure to the material within the weapon. The hydraulic pressure propels two separate and isolated liquid streams of the molten material at the target through suitably provided nozzles. The streams, which solidify as a result of ambient temperature after ejection from the housing, provide electrical conductors which couple the weapon to the target.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for selectively displaying visual information using dielectrophoretic forces resulting from the application of a non-uniform electrical field to a dielectric material. Specifically, first and second visually distinguishable materials having different dielectric constants are provided within an enclosure that is formed, at least in part, from a transparent material. A non-uniform electrical field is applied to the materials causing relative translational movement thereof as a result of dielectrophoretic forces generated by the non-uniform field. Because the first and second materials are visually distinguishable and their relative positions are determined by the dielectrophoretic forces of the electrical field, adjustment of the magnitude of those forces adjusts the arrangement of the two materials. Thus, the apparatus provides a selectively adjustable display for visual information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for storing and retrieving information using the phenomenon of dielectrophoresis. First and second materials are contained within a housing, and a non-uniform electrical field is applied to the materials. The materials have different dielectric constants, and relative movement of the materials occurs as a result of dielectrophoretic forces resulting from the applied non-uniform field. Different positions of one of the materials within the housing correspond to stored information and varying the applied non-uniform field varies the position of the one material to change the corresponding information. A detector is provided to locate the position of the one material in the housing corresponding to the stored information to retrieve the information represented by that position.

Abstract: The present invention provides method and apparatus for manipulating one or more chemicals within a reaction chamber or housing by dielectrophoretic forces. At least two materials, one of which is a chemical to be manipulated, are provided within the housing. The materials have different dielectric constants. A non-uniform electrical field is applied to the materials within the housing and, as a result of dielectrophoretic forces generated by the applied field, the relative positions of the materials are varied. Accordingly, a chemical can be selectively manipulated to different positions within the housing as, for example, to a catalyst or chemical analyzer located within the housing. The present apparatus may also be used to simultaneously manipulate more than one chemical to mix, or induce a chemical reaction, between the different chemicals in the housing.

Abstract: A method of promoting the transport of water through medium and coarse grained soils comprising the step of applying to the medium or coarse grained soil a soil amendment composition at a level of less than 20 parts per million parts by weight of dry soil, and preferably less than 5 ppm. The composition comprises a substantially linear, substantially water-soluble hydrophilic polymer having a molecular weight greater than 50,000. A preferred polymer is poly (ethylene oxide) having a molecular weight of 300,000 to 7,000,000.

Abstract: A method of promoting the transport of water through medium and coarse grained soils comprising the step of applying to the medium or coarse grained soil a soil amendment composition at a level of less than 20 parts per million parts by weight of dry soil, and preferably less than 5 ppm. The composition comprises a substantially linear, substantially water-soluble hydrophilic polymer having a molecular weight greater than 50,000. A preferred polymer is poly (ethylene oxide) having a molecular weight of 300,000 to 7,000,000.

Abstract: Increased light output is achieved from a solar energy concentrator light piping device by rendering the top surface of the device concave, and/or forming the device into a close-packing hexagonal shape and/or curving and applying a mirror coating to the output edge of the device.

Abstract: A soil conditioning composition of extended useful life in soil comprises a substantially linear, substantially water-soluble hydrophilic polymer having a molecular weight greater than 50,000 and at least one functional group disposed along the polymer chain. The polymer chain comprises one or more polymer chain segments characterized by an absence of the functional group therein and a minimum length, the minimum length of the polymer chain segment being at least one micrometer when the polymer chain segment is secured to one of the functional groups only at one end thereof and at least two micrometers when the polymer chain segment is secured to a respective one of the functional groups at each end thereof. The functional group is more capable of attaching the polymer to a solid soil phase than is the polymer chain segment, whereby the polymer includes at least one portion adapted to secure the polymer to a solid soil phase and at least one portion adapted to extend into an aqueous soil phase.