Abstract: There is provided a method of forming cutting blades using selective laser melting comprising positioning a first part of an elongate strip with pre-formed teeth within a powder bed, forming coating layers layer-by-layer to create a cutting surface on each pre-formed tooth by repeatedly depositing a layer of powder on the powder bed and scanning a laser beam over the deposited powder to fuse powder to the pre-formed teeth.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a powder feeder. The powder feeder includes a main chamber with a gas inlet and a powder outlet. At least one secondary chamber is configured to receive powder. The powder feeder also includes a shaver element. The shaver element is positioned directly above an opening in the at least one secondary chamber. The secondary chamber further includes a piston movable towards the shaver element so as to urge powder upwards. Examples of a shaver element include a rotatable screw, a conveyor belt, and a rotating disc with protrusions.

Abstract: There is provided a method of forming cutting blades using selective laser melting comprising positioning a first part of an elongate strip (30) with pre-formed teeth (32) within a powder bed (20), forming coating layers layer-by-layer to create a cutting surface on each pre-formed tooth by repeatedly depositing a layer of powder on the powder bed and scanning a laser beam over the deposited powder to fuse powder to the pre-formed teeth.

Abstract: There is provided a powder feeder (10, 10?) comprising a main chamber (12, 12?) with a gas inlet (14, 14?) and a powder outlet (16), at least one secondary chamber (20, 20?) configured to receive powder and a shaver element (22, 40, 50), wherein the shaver element (22, 40, 50) is positioned directly above an opening (26, 26?) in the at least one secondary chamber (20, 20?). The secondary chamber (20, 20?) further comprises a piston (28, 28?) movable towards the shaver element (22, 40, 50) so as to urge powder upwards. Examples of a shaver element include a rotatable screw (22), a conveyor belt (40) and a rotating disc (50) with protrusions (54).

Abstract: There is provided a powder feeder (10, 10?) comprising a main chamber (12, 12?) with a gas inlet (14, 14?) and a powder outlet (16), at least one secondary chamber (20, 20?) configured to receive powder and a shaver element (22, 40, 50), wherein the shaver element (22, 40, 50) is positioned directly above an opening (26, 26?) in the at least one secondary chamber (20, 20?). The secondary chamber (20, 20?) further comprises a piston (28, 28?) movable towards the shaver element (22, 40, 50) so as to urge powder upwards. Examples of a shaver element include a rotatable screw (22), a conveyor belt (40) and a rotating disc (50) with protrusions (54).

Abstract: There is provided a carbide material (34) comprising Tungsten Carbide of 60 to 85 weight %, Titanium Carbides of 10 to 25 weight % and preferably a metal matrix of 0.5 to 20 weight % comprising Fe and optionally at least one or both of the metals Co or Ni. There is also provided a device comprising a ferrous substrate and such a carbide material and a method of manufacturing a device, the method comprising mixing powders comprising Carbon, Tungsten and a scavenger material such as Titanium, placing the mixed powders proximal a ferrous substrate (10), impinging an energy source (31) onto the powdered materials to create a melt pool (32) formed of the powders and the material of the substrate, and allowing the melt pool to solidify to form a carbide material (34) substantially free from Iron Tungsten carbides of (W, Fe)6C and (W, Fe)12C type.

Abstract: There is provided a method of forming cutting blades using selective laser melting comprising positioning a first part of an elongate strip (30) with pre-formed teeth (32) within a powder bed (20), forming coating layers layer-by-layer to create a cutting surface on each pre-formed tooth by repeatedly depositing a layer of powder on the powder bed and scanning a laser beam over the deposited powder to fuse powder to the pre-formed teeth.

Abstract: An electrochemically actuated liquid delivering device which is capable of releasing specific volumes of liquid at desired flow rates. The device includes a sealed electrolytic chamber which is adapted to contain an electrolyte and has at least one pair of electrodes which are at least partially in contact with the electrolyte. It also has a liquid chamber formed of a rigid material which is housed at least partially within the electrolytic chamber and is adapted to contain a liquid. It has pressure transfer means separating the electrolytic chamber from the liquid chamber and administering means which is adapted to release the liquid from the liquid chamber under the influence of pressure applied to the liquid chamber. The device is arranged so that when current is passed through the electrolyte via the electrodes, gas is generated from the electrolyte thereby increasing pressure inside the electrolytic chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to micro- and nano-scale imprinting methods and the use of such methods to fabricate supported and/or free-standing 3-D micro- and/or nano-structures of polymeric, ceramic, and/or metallic materials. In some embodiments, a duo-mold approach is employed in the fabrication of these structures. In such methods, surface treatments are employed to impart differential surface energies to different molds and/or different parts of the mold(s). Such surface treatments permit the formation of three-dimensional (3-D) structures through imprinting and the transfer of such structures to a substrate. In some or other embodiments, such surface treatments and variation in glass transition temperature of the polymers used can facilitate separation of the 3-D structures from the molds to form free-standing micro- and/or nano-structures individually and/or in a film.

Abstract: A test station for testing memory modules uses multiple personal computer (PC) motherboards for performing functional tests on the modules. The motherboards are mounted upside-down with the solder-side up at the desktop level of the test station frame. One or more of the memory-module sockets on each motherboard is removed. A test adaptor board is plugged into the holes of the removed socket, but mounted on the reverse, solder side of the motherboard rather than the component side. The test adaptor board has a test socket that receives a module being tested. An overhead robotic arm picks up memory modules from an input tray and inserts them into test sockets for testing by the motherboards. Since the cables, components, and expansion boards of the motherboards are hidden below the solder-side surface of the motherboards, while the test adaptor board is above, the overhead robotic arm can easily navigate to the test socket without obstruction.

Abstract: Memory modules are tested using a test assembly with a personal computer (PC) motherboard. The motherboard is mounted upside-down with its solder-side up to a metal plate using standoffs. A memory-module socket on the motherboard is removed. An opening is made in the metal plate above the removed socket. A well is attached to the metal plate at the opening. The well supports a test adaptor board below the metal plate so that the test adaptor board has a closer spacing to the motherboard than does the metal plate. The test adaptor board has a test socket that receives a module being tested. Pins from the test adaptor board are plugged into the holes of the removed socket on the motherboard, but mounted on the reverse, solder side of the motherboard rather than the component side. The cables, components, and expansion boards of the motherboards are hidden below the metal plate and motherboard, and can be cooled without cooling the memory module in the test socket.

Abstract: This invention is a fabric impregnated with micron-size bubbles in the form of fragile capsules within the interstices between the strands inside the body of the fabric by spraying the capsules in combination with a liquid binder and then putting the fabric through a set of rollers, the invention being that the micron-size bubbles are so bonded completely within the interior of the fabric that when rubbed, certain of the bubbles break and release the fragrance from the broken capsules, none of the capsules being on the outside of the fabric surface.

Abstract: A pair of juxta-posed rotatably mounted adjustable width rollers including a lead roller and a drip-catching follower roller to the axles of which a handle is pivotally attached for actuating the pair of rollers from a multiplicity of handle positions to apply the paint therewith to a surface.

Abstract: At least two juxtaposed acupuncture needles for penetrating the muscles of a body, and a convoluted electrical conductor detachably bridging the heads of said juxtaposed needles. Additional needles may be positioned within the convolutions of the conductor.

Abstract: A plurality of relatively adjustable acupuncture needles including a holder in which any selected needle may be removably mounted for operative use.

Abstract: This invention is a fabric impregnated with micron-size bubbles in the form of fragile capsules within the interstices between the strands inside the body of the fabric by spraying the capsules in combination with a liquid binder and then putting the fabric through a set of rollers, the invention being that the micron-size bubbles are so bonded completely within the interior of the fabric that when rubbed, certain of the bubbles break and release the fragrance from the broken capsules, none of the capsules being on the outside of the fabric surface.