Abstract: A resin, method of resin infusion, and parts formed thereby are disclosed. The method is particularly useful in greatly strengthening appearance prototypes such as those formed on powder bed three-dimensional printers to make them suitable for handling and testing in a host of environments. The method comprises heating the liquid resin to lower its viscosity, infusing a porous form with the heated resin and curing the infused resin to form the part. The liquid resin is typically heated from about 35° C. to about 80° C. and most preferably is under vacuum with the porous form submerged therein to facilitate infusion. Excess resin is removed from the porous form and reusable for subsequent infusion. The resin-infused form is then cured, typically by heating in the range of 100° C. to 200° C. Resulting parts may be very hard and have very high compressive strengths, even exceeding 30,000 psi.

Abstract: An apparatus for plasticating rubber, thermoset or thermoplastic materials according to this invention includes a barrel having a wall extending axially and laterally and having an outer surface and an inner surface. The wall has a thickness formed with mutually spaced holes extending at least partially through the thickness. The barrel is formed of material having a first, relatively low coefficient of thermal conduction conductors having a coefficient of thermal conduction greater than the first coefficient are each located in and engage a hole. Heat applied to the outer surface is conducted rapidly through the wall thickness along the length of the conductors to the inner surface, thereby heating and cooling material being processed located in a cavity surrounded by the wall.