Abstract: The present disclosure describes a 3D printer comprising a core exchanger mechanism to store filament cores, a hotend, an actuation arm and a cutting mechanism to sever the filament. The cores are swappable by the core exchanger mechanism to provide a variety of filament to the 3D printed object during printing. A coreless hotend for use with a 3D printer is also provided, comprised of a receptacle to receive and store cores of the 3D printer during 3D printing. The coreless hotend is also comprised of a locking mechanism to lock and release the cores from the receptacle to replace the core with another core.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed at a system, apparatus and method for 3D printing an object using an industrial robot; such object is larger and may be more accurate than the print volume and accuracy of the industrial robot that is performing the print. The system is further capable of scanning the irregular 3D surface of the printing platform in which to create the 3D object and adapt the toolpath to print on this surface. The system is further capable of scanning the 3D surface of a specimen that is larger than the print volume of the industrial robot and make a scaled copy larger or smaller. The system is also capable of monitoring the quality of the object being printed while the print is in process.

Abstract: In one aspect the present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a cryogenic pressure vessel. The method may include providing a metal lined, composite wrapped vessel which has a boss. The method may further include securing an inlet to the boss, and then encapsulating the metal lined, composite wrapped vessel within a metallic layer in a vacuum controlled environment to form an encapsulated inner tank subassembly. The method may further include securing at least one support to an exterior of the encapsulated inner tank subassembly, and within the controlled vacuum environment, applying a metal coating over the encapsulated inner tank subassembly and the at least one support to form a metal coated, encapsulated inner tank subassembly. The method may further include, within the controlled vacuum environment, encapsulating the metal coated, encapsulated inner tank subassembly within a metallic vacuum jacket, which forms the cryogenic pressure vessel.

Abstract: In one aspect the present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a cryogenic pressure vessel. The method may include providing a metal lined, composite wrapped vessel which has a boss. The method may further include securing an inlet to the boss, and then encapsulating the metal lined, composite wrapped vessel within a metallic layer in a vacuum controlled environment to form an encapsulated inner tank subassembly. The method may further include securing at least one support to an exterior of the encapsulated inner tank subassembly, and within the controlled vacuum environment, applying a metal coating over the encapsulated inner tank subassembly and the at least one support to form a metal coated, encapsulated inner tank subassembly. The method may further include, within the controlled vacuum environment, encapsulating the metal coated, encapsulated inner tank subassembly within a metallic vacuum jacket, which forms the cryogenic pressure vessel.

Abstract: A pressure relief valve includes a housing including an air passage chamber defining an airflow passage and a membrane flap secured within the air passage chamber. The membrane flap covers the airflow passage in a closed position. A portion of the membrane flap is configured to move off the airflow passage into an open position. A flap motion dampener is proximate to the airflow passage. The flap motion dampener is configured to control motion of the membrane flap as the membrane flap seats over the airflow passage in order to dampen noise.

Abstract: A cover for a beverage jug having a spigot. The cover includes a side panel that curves back upon itself so that two vertical side edges of the side panel can be joined together by a seam. A top panel is joined to the top edge of the side panel by a seam that extends around the top panel. A zipper extends from the bottom edge and into the side panel to form at least one flap when opened that provides access to the spigot of the beverage jug. The beverage jug and cooler cover effectively covers and protects beverage jugs and beverage coolers, and provides additional insulation to help extend the time that the beverage remains cold, protects the plastic of the jug or cooler from exposure to ultraviolet rays, while also protecting the spigot of the beverage jug or cooler from attracting and collecting insects, dust, and/or dirt.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at a system, apparatus and method for printing a full color multiple material 3D object or objects. This disclosure uses fusing (melting or sintering) of selectively deposited powdered material onto thin two-dimensional layers, that are stacked consecutively to the height of the object being printed. At least two materials are deposited, and the object's structural material is interspersed with removable infill, fully supporting the object on subsequent upper layers. When no more support is required above a layer, the removable infill is no longer deposited. Full colour is provided by selectively depositing a dithered combination of transparent, cyan, magenta, yellow, white and black materials around the outer surface of the object. Mixed materials are also supported such as gold coating on a glass, metal, or ceramic.

Abstract: A pressure relief assembly (100) includes a housing (102) including an air passage chamber (104) having a flap barrier (122) surrounding at least one airflow passage. A membrane flap is secured within the air passage chamber. The membrane flap covers the airflow passage(s) in a closed position. A portion of the membrane flap is configured to move off the airflow passage(s) into an open position. A noise-dampening seal (120) formed of a noise-dampening material is proximate to at least a portion of the flap barrier. The noise-dampening seal is configured to reduce noise generated by movement of the membrane flap as the membrane flap moves from the open position to the closed position. The noise-dampening seal provides a sealing interface with the membrane flap in the closed position.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed at a system, apparatus and method for 3D printing an object using an industrial robot; such object is larger and may be more accurate than the print volume and accuracy of the industrial robot that is performing the print. The system is further capable of scanning the irregular 3D surface of the printing platform in which to create the 3D object and adapt the toolpath to print on this surface. The system is further capable of scanning the 3D surface of a specimen that is larger than the print volume of the industrial robot and make a scaled copy larger or smaller. The system is also capable of monitoring the quality of the object being printed while the print is in process.

Abstract: A pressure relief valve includes a housing including an air passage chamber defining an airflow passage and a membrane flap secured within the air passage chamber. The membrane flap covers the airflow passage in a closed position. A portion of the membrane flap is configured to move off the airflow passage into an open position. A flap motion dampener is proximate to the airflow passage. The flap motion dampener is configured to control motion of the membrane flap as the membrane flap seats over the airflow passage in order to dampen noise.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a print head apparatus and method for printing a multi-coloured three-dimensional object. The apparatus separately receives at least two filaments in a cold section, separately feeds the at least two filaments in a transition section, and heats the at least two filaments in a hot section. The hot section includes a combiner tube to combine the at least two filaments, which are then mixed together in a mixing chamber by a mixing shaft. The molten filament mixture is then extruded out of a nozzle. The print head apparatus further includes lifter discs that can lift the mixing shaft out of the chamber, creating a negative pressure in the chamber and sucking the remaining molten filament from the nozzle upwardly and back into the apparatus to reduce oozing and stringing.

Abstract: Method and system for generating synthetic panchromatic imagery. A method for making a multi-spectral image includes capturing a panchromatic image of an imaging target. Additionally, the method includes capturing at least a first spectral image of the imaging target in a first spectral bandwidth, and capturing at least a second spectral image of the imaging target in a second spectral bandwidth. Also, the method includes determining at least a first spectral weight and a second spectral weight for the first spectral image and the second spectral image respectively. Additionally, the method includes generating a synthetic panchromatic image, determining a registration offset between the synthetic panchromatic image and the captured panchromatic image, warping the first spectral image and the second spectral image, and generating a multi-spectral image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a putter head for a golf putter and to a golf putter that includes the putter head and a putter shaft secured to the putter head. The putter head includes a first head part, that defines the striking face of the putter, and a second head part that is located operatively rearwardly of the first head part and that is displaceable on guide rods with respect to the first head part along a line extending substantially perpendicularly to the striking face defined by the first head part. Securing screws displaceable within the second head part can engage the respective guide rods for securing the location of the head parts with respect to one another.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for automatically focusing an electron beam. Such an invention is based on a Faraday Cup diagnostic system, often a Modified Faraday Cup (MFC) system that enables tomographic reconstruction of the beam so as to measure beam parameters. Such a reconstruction method and system is automated using a servo-feedback loop to determine, for example, power distributions of the beam so as to provide appropriate adjustments to system controls to enable desired beam focus conditions.

Abstract: A low power electron beam system can be utilized for micro welding, brazing, or heating a workpiece and as an imaging system for precise positioning of a micro electron beam with regard to a workpiece. A filament system produces a micro electron beam, which is then focused onto the workpiece. In the welding mode, the micro electron beam is used to melt the workpiece and produce a weld. When switched to the imaging mode, the backscattered or secondary electrons produced by the interaction between the micro electron beam and the work piece are captured and converted into an image of the workpiece. The resulting image formed from these captured electrons is used as an aid in the precise positioning of the micro electron beam and inspection of the workpiece.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a probe for determining the orientation of electron beams being profiled. To accurately time the location of an electron beam, the probe is designed to accept electrons from only a narrowly defined area. The signal produced from the probe is then used as a timing or triggering fiducial for an operably coupled data acquisition system. Such an arrangement eliminates changes in slit geometry, an additional signal feedthrough in the wall of a welding chamber and a second timing or triggering channel on a data acquisition system. As a result, the present invention improves the accuracy of the resulting data by minimizing the adverse effects of current slit triggering methods so as to accurately reconstruct electron or ion beams.

Abstract: A system for characterizing high power electron beams at power levels of 10 kW and above is described. This system is comprised of a slit disk assembly having a multitude of radial slits, a conducting disk with the same number of radial slits located below the slit disk assembly, a Faraday cup assembly located below the conducting disk, and a start-stop target located proximate the slit disk assembly. In order to keep the system from over-heating during use, a heat sink is placed in close proximity to the components discussed above, and an active cooling system, using water, for example, can be integrated into the heat sink. During use, the high power beam is initially directed onto a start-stop target and after reaching its full power is translated around the slit disk assembly, wherein the beam enters the radial slits and the conducting disk radial slits and is detected at the Faraday cup assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for characterization of a micro beam comprising a micro modified Faraday cup assembly including a first layer of material, a second layer of material operatively connected to the first layer of material, a third layer of material operatively connected to the second layer of material, and a fourth layer of material operatively connected to the third layer of material. The first layer of material comprises an electrical conducting material and has at least one first layer radial slit extending through the first layer. An electrical ground is connected to the first layer. The second layer of material comprises an insulating material and has at least one second layer radial slit corresponding to the first layer radial slit in the first layer of material. The second layer radial slit extends through the second layer. The third layer of material comprises a conducting material and has at least one third layer radial slit corresponding to the second layer radial slit in the second layer of material.

Abstract: A backplane system provides a terminator assembly that mounts along an axis that is parallel to a plane of the backplane. The backplane system has modular backplanes connected to a removable terminator assembly. Connectors coupled the backplanes to the terminator assembly and each other.