Abstract: A method of forming lock cylinder plug using metal injection molding includes injecting a material that has a metal component and a plastic component into a mold. The metal component of the material is at least partially steel. The method includes molding the material into a lock cylinder plug having a key way passage. The method includes debinding the lock cylinder plug and supporting a portion of the lock cylinder plug using at least one ceramic support before increasing the density of the lock cylinder plug by performing a sintering heating process. The method includes inspecting the lock cylinder by inserting a key way portion of a key way gauge into the key way passage of the lock cylinder plug. Inspecting also includes classifying the lock cylinder plug as acceptable, at least in part, if the key way portion of the key way gauge is insertable entirely within the key way passage.

Abstract: A syringe pump can be operated to produce fluid flow from a syringe installed therein. Features of the pump can produce a desired rapid commencement of flow followed by smooth delivery uninterrupted by stiction-induced slowing and acceleration. A stiff drivetrain can facilitate detection of excessive forces indicative of friction at a stopper-wall interface. The motor drive, gearing, and control parameters can enable customized acceleration patterns to determine optimal initial stage advancement to provide fluid delivery. These patterns can minimize or eliminate the delay in commencement of flow by overcoming both mechanical slack remaining and syringe stopper slack. To avoid flow irregularities produced by stiction forces in the stopper further, a mechanical vibration can be provided to the syringe and/or barrel to introduce movement of the stopper-wall interface, reducing the creation of high static friction coefficients.

Abstract: An electronic lock includes an interior subassembly including a manual turnpiece, a control circuit, and a motor actuatable by the control circuit, and an exterior subassembly including a facial authentication circuit operatively connected to the control circuit. The electronic lock includes a latch operatively connected to the interior subassembly, the latch being engageable by the manual turnpiece or the motor to move the electronic lock between a locked state and an unlocked state. The facial authentication circuit includes at least one camera and is configured to generate an authentication signal to the control circuit, and wherein, at least in part in response to the authentication signal, the control circuit is configured to actuate the motor to move the electronic lock between the locked state and the unlocked state.

Abstract: An electronic lock assembly includes an exterior assembly, an interior assembly, and a latch having a deadbolt movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the latch being movable in response to rotation of a torque blade. The electronic lock includes a motor within the interior assembly and operable to rotate the torque blade, and a control circuit operatively connected to the motor and configured to selectively actuate the motor. A mortise insert includes a battery subassembly electrically connectable to the control circuit.

Abstract: A handle assembly includes a removable handle positioned over a sleeve. The handle assembly includes a catch positioned within the sleeve, and when extended, the catch prevents relative movement between the handle and the sleeve. The handle assembly includes a spindle positioned within the sleeve. The spindle has a longitudinal axis. The spindle is rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position. When in the locked position, the sleeve is not rotatable, and when in the unlocked position, the sleeve is rotatable. The handle assembly includes a support structure that is configured to support the spindle. The support structure is in a fixed rotational relationship with respect to the handle. When the catch is in an extended position and the spindle is in the locked position, deflection of the spindle in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis is resisted by way of the support structure.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs for multi-tool additive manufacturing include a method including: slicing a received model into a series of layers; determining one or more separation starting points, each being a location of two adjoining portions of the model that are to be manufactured by respective additive manufacturing robots; and determining an offset for each of the one or more separation starting points in each layer of the series of layers based on a threshold acceptable print time, each offset in a layer determining a seam location in the layer that is different from a seam location in at least one adjacent layer in the series of layers, and seam offsets determined for the series of layers increase an estimated print time, for manufacturing of the series of layers by the two or more additive manufacturing robots, to no more than the threshold acceptable print time.

Abstract: A fused filament fabrication three dimensional printing system includes a build platform, an extruder for one or more deposition materials, the extruder including at least one nozzle movable relative to the build platform, and a controller configured to control the relative movement between the build platform and the nozzle, and to cause material to be extruded out of the nozzle to form a 3D object on the build platform. The build platform includes a first plate on which the 3D object is formed, a second plate that is positioned vertically below the first plate and defines at least one gap between the first and second plates, and a heating element that is configured to heat the second plate. The first plate defines at least one opening that is configured to allow passage of material extruded from the nozzle into the at least one gap between the first and second plates.

Abstract: A system is described that can detect, track and analyze a bubble of a secondary substance contained within a primary substance along a part of a fluid line. For example, the system can detect the presence of the bubble within the primary substance along the part of the fluid line, which can include assigning a digital signature to the bubble. In addition, the system can track the movement of the bubble in order to ensure that the bubble is accounted for only once as it passes through the part of the fluid line. Furthermore, the system can analyze the bubble, such as determine its direction of travel, speed of travel, volume and size.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for a multi-tool additive manufacturing system that executes in a three-dimensional build volume. In one aspect, a system includes a build platform; a support; a first robot coupled with the support and configured to operate in a build volume defined by the build platform, wherein the first robot includes a first additive manufacturing tool; a second robot coupled with the support and configured to operate in the build volume, wherein the second robot includes a second additive manufacturing tool; wherein the first robot and the second robot are programmed to coordinate simultaneous application; and wherein a first tool path of the first additive manufacturing tool in the first region abuts or overlaps with a second tool path of the second additive manufacturing tool in the second region so as to form a bond.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system, which can include a 3D printer, includes in at least one aspect: a build platform; a carriage and a rack configured to hold different manufacturing tools, including an extrusion tool; a heating device associated with the extrusion tool; a 3D motion system configured to move the carriage between the rack and a build space associated with the build platform, and to move the carriage within the build space associated with the build platform; and one or more computers programmed to trigger the heating device to begin pre-heating the extrusion tool at a point before mounting of the extrusion tool to the carriage by the 3D motion system, such that the material in the extrusion tool is melted by a point in the manufacturing process when the extrusion tool will be mounted on the carriage and in position to extrude material in the build space.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for a multi-tool additive manufacturing system that executes in a three-dimensional build volume. In one aspect, a system includes a build platform; a support; a first robot coupled with the support and configured to operate in a build volume defined by the build platform, wherein the first robot includes a first additive manufacturing tool; a second robot coupled with the support and configured to operate in the build volume, wherein the second robot includes a second additive manufacturing tool; wherein the first robot and the second robot are programmed to coordinate simultaneous application; and wherein a first tool path of the first additive manufacturing tool in the first region abuts or overlaps with a second tool path of the second additive manufacturing tool in the second region so as to form a bond.

Abstract: A system is described that can detect, track and analyze a bubble of a secondary substance contained within a primary substance along a part of a fluid line. For example, the system can detect the presence of the bubble within the primary substance along the part of the fluid line, which can include assigning a digital signature to the bubble. In addition, the system can track the movement of the bubble in order to ensure that the bubble is accounted for only once as it passes through the part of the fluid line. Furthermore, the system can analyze the bubble, such as determine its direction of travel, speed of travel, volume and size.

Abstract: A syringe pump can be operated to produce fluid flow from a syringe installed therein. Features of the pump can produce a desired rapid commencement of flow followed by smooth delivery uninterrupted by stiction-induced slowing and acceleration. A stiff drivetrain can facilitate detection of excessive forces indicative of friction at a stopper-wall interface. The motor drive, gearing, and control parameters can enable customized acceleration patterns to determine optimal initial stage advancement to provide fluid delivery. These patterns can minimize or eliminate the delay in commencement of flow by overcoming both mechanical slack remaining and syringe stopper slack. To avoid flow irregularities produced by stiction forces in the stopper further, a mechanical vibration can be provided to the syringe and/or barrel to introduce movement of the stopper-wall interface, reducing the creation of high static friction coefficients.

Abstract: A hot end associated with an extruder for a Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) three dimensional (3D) printer includes, in at least one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification: a heater; a temperature sensor coupled with the heater; an FFF material delivery channel; a heat sink coupled with the FFF material delivery channel; a nozzle coupled with the FFF material delivery channel and with the heater, the nozzle having a total included angle of less than or equal to sixty degrees and greater than or equal to ten degrees, with respect to a nozzle target point; and a cooling delivery system for at least the heat sink; where the heat sink, the heater, the temperature sensor, the FFF material delivery channel, the nozzle, and the cooling delivery system are all contained within a volume defined by the total included angle with respect to the nozzle target point.

Abstract: A system is described that can detect, track and analyze a bubble of a secondary substance contained within a primary substance along a part of a fluid line. For example, the system can detect the presence of the bubble within the primary substance along the part of the fluid line, which can include assigning a digital signature to the bubble. In addition, the system can track the movement of the bubble in order to ensure that the bubble is accounted for only once as it passes through the part of the fluid line. Furthermore, the system can analyze the bubble, such as determine its direction of travel, speed of travel, volume and size.

Abstract: A package securement device includes a containment device in the form of either a bag or a box for receiving packages. The containment device includes an opening allowing for removal and insertion of packages. Access may be given to the interior of the containment device through an electronic device with a credential receiver configured to receive a credential input by a user. A communication module with a wireless transmitter connected to the electronic device transmits and receive a wireless communication regarding a status of the containment bag. A remote user interface may be used to monitor and control access to the containment device.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system, which can include a 3D printer, includes in at least one aspect: a build platform; a carriage and a rack configured to hold different manufacturing tools, including an extrusion tool; a heating device associated with the extrusion tool; a 3D motion system configured to move the carriage between the rack and a build space associated with the build platform, and to move the carriage within the build space associated with the build platform; and one or more computers programmed to trigger the heating device to begin pre-heating the extrusion tool at a point before mounting of the extrusion tool to the carriage by the 3D motion system, such that the material in the extrusion tool is melted by a point in the manufacturing process when the extrusion tool will be mounted on the carriage and in position to extrude material in the build space.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for a multi-tool additive manufacturing system that executes in a three-dimensional build volume. In one aspect, a system includes a build platform; a support; a first robot coupled with the support and configured to operate in a build volume defined by the build platform, wherein the first robot includes a first additive manufacturing tool; a second robot coupled with the support and configured to operate in the build volume, wherein the second robot includes a second additive manufacturing tool; wherein the first robot and the second robot are programmed to coordinate simultaneous application; and wherein a first tool path of the first additive manufacturing tool in the first region abuts or overlaps with a second tool path of the second additive manufacturing tool in the second region so as to form a bond.

Abstract: A package securement device includes a containment device in the form of either a bag or a box for receiving packages. The containment device includes an opening allowing for removal and insertion of packages. Access may be given to the interior of the containment device through an electronic device with a credential receiver configured to receive a credential input by a user. A communication module with a wireless transmitter connected to the electronic device transmits and receive a wireless communication regarding a status of the containment bag. A remote user interface may be used to monitor and control access to the containment device.