Abstract: Apparatus and methods of stretch-forming pre-preg material are provided. In one example embodiment, a variable material stretch-forming apparatus comprises a stretch-forming assembly configured to stretch-form at least one section of a sheet of pre-preg material to a longer length than at least one other section of the sheet of pre-preg material before the sheet of pre-preg material is applied to a tool.

Abstract: The present technology discloses a system, for joining workpieces using energy, such as ultrasonic energy, where the energy concentrates at a location within a weld area, promoting sequential melting of a plurality of energy directors. The system can be configured so that the sequential melting begins at the center of the weld area and progresses outwards. Sequential melting may occur through use of a welding tip configured to reduce air pockets, a tapering the height of a plurality of energy directors, and/or tapering the energy directors themselves, all of which reduce the size of an energy transfer area produced by thermal energy. The present technology also includes a method for joining workpieces using energy such as ultrasonic energy that concentrates at a location within a weld area causing sequential melting of a plurality of energy directors using the aforementioned features.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an IR tube sealing device and method of sealing a polymer tube with infrared energy. In particular embodiments, the IR tube sealing device can be a portable, hand-held device adapted to receive and compress a polymer tube, and produce and direct infrared energy toward the compressed polymer tube to quickly form a permanent aseptic seal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a welding device (1) for producing tubular bodies by the edge-side welding of two substrate edges (2, 3), in particular two laminate edges, said welding device having a continuous, circulating first contact belt (5) for coming into contact with the substrate (4), and an energy source (12, 13) for providing welding energy. According to the invention, the first contact belt (5) has a seamless polyimide contact surface (35) for coming into contact with the substrate (4).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the formation of a structured film, a structured film as such, an article comprising the structured film, a device for the continuous formation of such a structured film and a composite comprising the structured film.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for a continuous manufacture of an expanded composite honeycomb block are provided. Resin impregnated fibers are deposited on a conformable thin membrane that moves over a heated bed with a corrugated surface. A vacuum is applied between the conformable thin membrane and the heated bed to conform the resin impregnated fibers to the shape of the corrugated surface of the heated bed. A stacker is lowered to contact the corrugated resin impregnated fibers on top nodes of the corrugated surface of the heated bed. The corrugated resin impregnated fibers are heat cured. The stacker is raised to lift the heat cured corrugated resin impregnated fibers after the corrugated resin impregnated fibers release from the conformable thin membrane. The above steps are repeated until the stacker stacks layers of the corrugated resin impregnated fibers to a desired thickness to manufacture the expanded composite honeycomb block.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making a flexible container. The method implements an injection mold having a collapsible core that expands/moves to define the apertures and, in some embodiments, holds a flexible film in place during the injection mold process and collapses/moves back post-injection molding to allow for the flexible container to be readily removed from the die. In addition, the method described includes a post-injection molding anneal process that is implemented to allow the flexible film to shrink so as to provide for form-fitting of the film to the molded portion of the container.

Abstract: A kit for fusing piping includes a plurality of couplings, each coupling having a susceptor layer concentric with a weld zone. A control unit provides a current to a wand with a handle for gripping by a user. The handle has opposing jaws mounted on the distal end, each jaw including an arcuate conductor such that the arcuate conductors form a circular inner diameter when the jaws make contact. A lever system couples to the distal end for opening and closing the jaws. The lever system includes a spring for selectively biasing the lever system in a latched position with jaws closed and an open position with the jaws open. Each coupling is sized such that the jaws will only close about the weld zone. The arcuate conductors create a fuse zone about the susceptor layer and the spring is outside the fuse zone.

Abstract: The invention features, in general, a method for determining a target cycle time for an injection molded part. The method comprises the steps of ascertaining the solidified volume percentage (Vn) as a function of cooling time (Tn) data for solidification of an injection molded part and calculating a cooling speed indicator (CSIn) for each data point, (Tn,Vn). The solidified volume percentage (Vn) as a function of cooling time (Tn) and solidified volume percentage (Vn) as a function of cooling speed indicator (CSIn) are tabulated and used to determine a target cycle time.

Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects through felting. The system may include a composition head configured to deposit a manufacturing material comprising a strand of interlocked fibers onto a composition bed along a composition path. The composition path may define a path along which the composition head deposits the manufacturing material to form a predetermined three-dimensional object. The composition head may include a reciprocating felting needle configured to draw the manufacturing material from a material source and deposit the manufacturing material on the composition bed, and a feed lock configured to control the feed of the manufacturing material from the material source to the composition head. The system may include a controller for the composition head comprising one or more processors configured by computer-readable instructions to control the composition head to deposit the manufacturing material on the composition bed through felting.

Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional printed object having a printed surface image includes ejecting drops of a build material to form the three-dimensional printed object from a plurality of layers of build material on a support member and applying a leveler to a surface of each layer of the build material. The method further includes ejecting drops of a marking agent on a surface of the three-dimensional printed object to form a printed image, ejecting drops of a transparent material over the printed image to form a layer of transparent material over the printed image, and applying the leveler to a surface of the layer of transparent material but not to the printed image.

Abstract: A method for compensating for inoperative ejectors in a three-dimensional object printer has been developed. A printer detects an inoperative ejector in a printhead. The printer identifies functional ejectors that print at locations adjacent to locations where the inoperative ejector fails to print a drop. The printer modifies firing signals for the functional ejectors so those ejectors print drops having an increased drop volume at the locations adjacent to locations where the inoperative ejector fails to print a drop. The printer prints a first layer of material drops using the modified firing signals. The printer advances the printhead in the cross-process direction between layers so that locations where the inoperative ejector fails do print a drop do not coincide between layers.

Abstract: Presented herein is a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional ophthalmic lens using additive manufacturing. The method includes constituting voxels of one or more compositions, wherein at least one of the compositions includes one or more pre-polymers or polymers, and inducing connectivity between the voxels, thereby creating one or more incremental elements, repeating the constitution steps, and performing a final post-treatment. Also presented herein is an ophthalmic lens obtained by this method. The lens has good homogeneity and optical clarity, reduced shrinkage, and improved geometric accuracy and thermo-mechanical properties.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object includes: providing a carrier which has a predetermined surface including a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface; and driving a discharging head to move on a work track and conduct a three-dimensional spread corresponding to the first surface, the second surface, and the third surface, wherein the predetermined surface and the work track have an identical spacing therebetween. Wherein the discharging head moves relative to the first surface using a first movement speed and conducts the three-dimensional spread, the discharging head moves relative to the second surface using a second movement speed and conducts the three-dimensional spread, the discharging head moves relative to the third surface using a third movement speed and conducts the three-dimensional spread.

Abstract: The use life of windows (e.g., PDMS windows) for 3D SLA printers can be been extended by the incorporation of more polar photoinitiators and higher molecular weight photoinitiators into the resin. The degradation of the window, usually seen as cloudiness, has been shown to be from polymerization of the resin within the window material, and by using either polar or high molecular weight photoinitiators that are much less soluble in the window material, the degradation from polymerization in the window can be greatly reduced, thus extending the life of the window material. The extension of use life for the window when using the photoinitiators described herein can even occur when the resin has significant solubility in the window material, which also allows use of nonpolar resins that often have advantages over polar resins (viscosity and water uptake).

Abstract: An adaptation method for a modelling method in which, by means of target geometry, model geometry, which is derived from the target geometry, is created for an object to be produced by a selective laser melting method is provided. In the adaptation method, adapted model geometry is produced from the derived model geometry by dimension adaptation by means of a correction factor and/or by geometry adaptation by means of correction geometry.

Abstract: A method for forming at least one three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed, which parts correspond to successive portions of the three-dimensional article, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least one model of said three-dimensional article, wherein said model of said three-dimensional article is described in a 2-dimensional angular coordinate system; applying a powder layer on a support structure; directing at least one energy beam from at least one energy beam source over said powder layer causing said powder layer to fuse in first selected locations according to said model to form a first portion of said three-dimensional article, providing a first portion of said powder layer simultaneous as fusing a second portion of said powder layer, wherein said second portion of the powder layer is fused along a line perpendicular to a rotational axis of said support structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides processes for the layer-by-layer production of three-dimensional objects using a powder material comprising polyamide PA613 and also to the moldings obtained according to the process.

Abstract: The present application provides a standalone digital rights manager coupled with a transaction manager that serves content to a user printing a 3D Model on an at-home printer. The method provided by the present application manages the transaction between the Creator/Publisher of the 3D Model, content Provider and the user that prints the 3D Model. The method allows tracking and traceability with control for number of prints made to the quantity of relevant content presented. This is either natively configured, from 1 to infinite at compilation of the archive using the stand alone digital rights manager or controlled by the content Provider Service available on the Internet during print time.

Abstract: According to some aspects, a method of designing a three-dimensional object based on a shape of the object, the object to be fabricated via additive fabrication from a plurality of materials, is provided. The method comprises selecting, for a first volume element of the object, one of the plurality of materials based at least in part on a position of the first volume element within the object, at least one spatial decomposition of the object, the at least one spatial decomposition identifying a plurality of volumetric subregions of the object, and a material composition of at least a first volumetric subregion of the plurality of volumetric subregions, wherein the first volumetric subregion comprises the position of the first volume element.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and media for three-dimensional (3D) printing are provided. In one example, a system comprises a data access module configured to receive data from a client device, the data including a two-dimensional image of a part; an identification module to identify the part based on the received data, or to receive an identification of the part included in the received data; a database storing a three-dimensional digital file of the identified part; a controller module, in communication with the database, to retrieve the three-dimensional digital file of the identified part from the database; and a transmission module to transmit the three-dimensional digital file to the client device, or to a 3D printer.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and media for 3D prototype printing are provided. In one example, a system comprises at least one module, executing on one or more computer processors, configured to store data relating to an item of sports equipment for test use by a user; use one or more sensors to capture data relating to the use of the item of sports equipment by the user; based on the captured data, facilitate identification of a modification to the item of sports equipment to optimize, compensate for, or correct the use of the item of sports equipment by the user; create a 3D digital model of the item of sports equipment based on the identified modification; and transmit data relating to the 3D digital model to a 3D printer to create a further prototype or final version of the item of sports equipment incorporating the identified modification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-speed 3D printer with fused deposition modeling under a closed-loop control and a closed-loop control method thereof, and belongs to the technical field of 3D printing. Since the 3D printer has the grating module in which the grating scale is fixed on the machine frame and the grating reader moves along with the running mechanism, a precise mechanical displacement information of the extrusion spray head can be obtained. For the cross printing running mechanism, a precise movement compensation is realized through the compensation of the closed-loop control to improve the accuracy of the position of the extrusion spray head, and thus greatly improve the accuracy of 3D printing to be able to meet the technical requirements of high-accuracy printing.

Abstract: 3D printing may include receiving 3D modeling data from a device, transmitting information regarding available 3D printers in a cloud environment to the device, receiving a request to divide a printing task from the device, selecting at least one of the available 3D printers, dividing the 3D modeling data into portions of sub-data based on the request, matching respective portions of the sub-data to at least one of the selected 3D printers.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for combining electronic circuitry with mechanical structures using a design tool to build hybrid electro-mechanical three-dimensional circuits for 3D printed devices. In some implementations, the design tool facilitates creation and placement of components and traces, and print preparation for additive manufacturing systems.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes providing support material within which the structure is fabricated, depositing, into the support material, structure material to form the fabricated structure, and removing the support material to release the fabricated structure from the support material. The provided support material is stationary at an applied stress level below a threshold stress level and flows at an applied stress level at or above the threshold stress level during fabrication of the structure. The provided support material is configured to mechanically support at least a portion of the structure and to prevent deformation of the structure during the fabrication of the structure. The deposited structure material is suspended in the support material at a location where the structure material is deposited. The structure material comprises a fluid that transitions to a solid or semi-solid state after deposition of the structure material.

Abstract: A support structure removal system comprising a vessel and a second component. The vessel comprises a vessel body, a porous floor configured to retain a three-dimensional part, and an impeller rotatably mounted below the porous floor. The second component comprises a surface configured to operably receive the vessel, and a rotation-inducing assembly located below the surface, where the rotation-inducing assembly is configured to rotate the impeller with magnetic fields when the vessel is received on the surface of the second component to agitate and direct flows of an aqueous fluid through the porous floor.

Abstract: A modified compression moulding arrangement where the compression moulding tool has been modified to allow for the use of pre-impregnated pre-form sheets in order to produce class A automotive structural parts in high volume. The pre-impregnated pre-form has continuous un-chopped fibers that extend across an entire length of the pre-impregnated pre-form. The pre-impregnated pre-form is then placed in an open compression moulding tool that has a bottom half and a top half that are movable between an open position and a closed position. When the mould tool is in the closed position, the top half and bottom half create a forming cavity that is defined by a forming surface of the top half and a forming surface of the bottom half. The forming surface of the bottom half has a boundary defined by a run-off edge and an upshear that is necessary for forming a class A structural automotive component using pre-impregnated pre-form material.

Abstract: A mandrel for composite fabrication includes an open cell foam carrier and at least one vacuum bag enclosing the open cell foam carrier.

Abstract: A key tool is provided that includes at least two keys having adjacent edges, the tool being substantially cylindrical in shape with a central axis, the adjacent edges being substantially parallel to the central axis. The adjacent edges have covers that are tangential relative to the inner and/or outer portions of the key tool. An application of the key tool is in the production of composite panels, in particular for an aircraft engine nacelle.

Abstract: A cure tool assembly and method of manufacturing a composite part. The cure tool assembly may include a rigid cure tool having a cutter groove and a securing groove formed therein. The cutter groove may be spaced apart from and formed around the cutter groove. The securing groove may be slanted inward, away from a peripheral edge of the rigid cure tool. The cure tool assembly may also include a first sacrificial material located in the cutter groove and a second sacrificial material located in the securing groove. Composite material placed onto the outer surface of the rigid cure tool may bond with the second sacrificial material during cure, creating a desired hold-down force to keep the composite material in place. The resulting cured part may be cut along the cutter groove, thus cutting through the composite material and into the first sacrificial material.

Abstract: A Method for manufacturing of a CFRP part includes laying out one or more pre-preg or composite plies, on a mould comprising a marking tool, forming an uncured laminate with a guiding mark on the uncured laminate using curing the laminate giving the part the final shape with the guiding mark and trimming and/or drilling the CFRP part taking as reference the guiding mark. There are also provided a mould for moulding and curing a CFRP part comprising a marking tool adapted to perform a guiding mark on a fresh CFRP part, and a system for manufacturing of a moulded CFRP part.

Abstract: A continuously reinforced composite mandrel is molded by creating an excess of material through a tapered cone and pressing a male thread profile on the exterior of the mandrel at the excess. To form the female thread, an integral component can be used as a separate component in the mandrel to mold the shape of the threads. The integral component is a sufficiently thin shell to transfer mechanical loads to the composite mandrel (i.e. the integral component does not carry significant mechanical loads). Alternatively, to form female threads, a coil is wrapped with the composite material when the mandrel is formed, and the coil is compressed or twisted to an expanded width to form the female threads inside the mandrel. When the coil is relieved, it can be removed from the formed threads.

Abstract: A self-piercing rivet which reduces damage of a composite part and enhances bonding capability by suppressing galvanic corrosion is provided. The self-piercing rivet includes a repair resin that is disposed in a space formed within the rivet and a passage that is formed between an inner surface forming the space and an outer surface of the rivet and through which the repair resin flows.

Abstract: A tire with a built-in puncture sealant comprising a supporting tire carcass comprised of one or more layers of ply, an outer circumferential tread, and a radially inner layer, a pair of beads, sidewalls extending radially inward from the axial outer edges of the tread portion to join the respective beads, a sealant comprising a butyl ionomer containing degradation product, disposed inwardly from said tire carcass inner layer, wherein said sealant provides self-sealing properties to the tire.

Abstract: An apparatus (1;2) for removing an ophthalmic lens from a mold half (3;4), comprises a ring member (10;20) movable towards and away from the mold half (3;4), the ring member (10;20) comprising a central opening (103;203) and a plurality of nozzles (100;200) circumferentially distributed about the ring member (10;20), each nozzle (100;200) having an outlet opening directed towards the mold half (3,4) as the ring member (10;20) is placed on the mold half (3;4), and a gripper member (11;21) arranged to be movable towards and away from the mold half (3;4) through the central opening (103;203) of the ring member (10;20).

Abstract: A method using additive manufacturing technologies and processes to manufacture a three-dimensional ophthalmic lens with a high management level of the homogeneity during the construction of the ophthalmic lens, through a control of two technical characteristics of voxel: the ability to modify their viscosity, and the ability to inter-diffuse together to provide a final homogeneous element. These two technical characteristics are managed by the choice of component(s) used to manufacture each voxel and by the kind of physical and/or chemical treatment apply to each of them.

Abstract: A photopolymerization device includes a base to which a shaft insertion hole is formed; a workpiece retaining and rotating shaft section which passes through the shaft insertion hole; cover member which has an opening closable by the base and forms workpiece accomodation chamber, accomodating the workpiece, by contacting the base with a peripheral part of the opening; light irradiation device; and controller which controls relative movement of the base and the cover member. The controller controls formation of the workpiece accomodation chamber by contacting the base with the peripheral part and rotation of the workpiece in a first region of the workpiece accomodation chamber, subsequently, the workpiece placement in a second region by relative movement of the workpiece retaining and rotating shaft section to the base, and light irradiation toward the workpiece placed in the second region by the light irradiation device.

Abstract: An insert assembly for the purpose of an injection mold for manufacturing a first casting mold half of a casting mold for manufacture of an ophthalmic device, wherein the insert assembly is receivable in an injection mold half of the injection mold and wherein the insert assembly includes an insert assembly end surface which bounds an injection mold cavity of the injection mold for forming a first casting mold half.

Abstract: Tire vulcanizing mold able to cooperate with a curing press, said mold comprising two shells each one molding a sidewall of the tire and a ring of sectors for molding the tread of the tire, each sector comprising a support and a molding lining situated radially on the inside of the support, in which ring the sectors, when the mold is in the closed position, are all in circumferential contact one with the next via the molding linings and in radial contact on the shells via the front ends of the linings each of which forms a face for contact with the shell, said supports and linings being produced in such a way that each support is able to take up the clamping force applied to the lining coming into contact with the shell when the mold is in the closed position when said clamping force at said contact face exceeds a given threshold that is lower than the plastic threshold of the lining.

Abstract: A drum for producing a tire casing blank comprises a support and sectors forming a circumferential face of the drum. Each sector has a circumferential outer face having a contour of general trapezoidal form and is mounted so as to be movable relative to the support in a non-radial predetermined direction relative to an axis of rotation of the drum and intercepting this axis.

Abstract: A mold for vulcanizing and molding a tire is provided herein. The tire includes a tread delimited by two sidewalls, the mold including a ring for molding the tread of the tire and two shells for molding the sidewalls. The mold includes an annular groove extending in a recessed manner in one of the shells and an insert housed in the groove, this insert having tire marking elements and being formed from a plurality of insert parts that are positioned one after another in the annular groove.

Abstract: Hydraulic press which comprises: a structure which comprises at least one support for supporting the hydraulic press on the floor, a working table intended to house a set of pieces from which at least one piece is separated or removed by means of a compressive force exerted by the hydraulic press. a collection area positioned below the working table receiving the piece separated or removed from the set, and a damper connected between the working table and the structure, capable of being expanded to cause the ascent of the working table with respect to the structure and is capable of being compressed to allow the retained descent of the working table with respect to the structure.

Abstract: A blank for being repeatably assembled into a box configuration without the use of adhesives. The blank has a bottom panel, a side panel foldably attached to the bottom panel, an end panel foldably attached to the bottom panel, and a locking structure configured to secure the side panel and the end panel in respective orthogonal positions with respect to the bottom panel. The locking structure includes an overlay panel foldably attached to the end panel and foldable toward an overlying position in which it overlies a portion of the side panel. The locking structure also includes a slot in the bottom panel, a flap foldably attached to the bottom panel and extending into the slot, and a tab foldably attached to the overlay panel for being lockingly received in the slot to secure the overlay panel in the overlying position.

Abstract: Provided herein are adhesion systems comprising a first substrate at least a portion of the surface of which having an array of micropillars, at least a distal portion of said micropillars having a plurality of particles embedded therein, and a second substrate at least a portion of the surface of which having an array of micropillars, at least a distal portion of said micropillars having a plurality of particles embedded therein. Adhesive materials comprising a substrate at least a portion of the surface of which having an array of micropillars, at least a portion of said micropillars having a plurality of particles embedded therein, and methods of forming the same, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A composite material includes a honeycomb layer with top and bottom sides. The honeycomb layer includes a plurality of walls defining a plurality of cells therein. A first adhesive layer is disposed adjacent to the top side of the honeycomb layer. A second adhesive layer is disposed adjacent to the bottom side of the honeycomb layer. A third adhesive layer is disposed adjacent to the first adhesive layer on the top side of the honeycomb layer. A first composite layer is disposed adjacent to the third adhesive layer on the top side of the honeycomb layer. A second composite layer is disposed adjacent to the second adhesive layer on the bottom side of the honey comb layer. At least the third adhesive layer comprises viscous properties that discourage the creation of channels within the first composite layer when co-cured.

Abstract: A method of making a core-stiffened structure includes the steps of providing a honeycomb core having an adhesive disposed on first and second surfaces thereof, providing a first skin and a second skin, and assembling the first skin, the second skin, and the honeycomb core to form the core-stiffened structure. The method further includes the steps of curing the core-stiffened structure and inhibiting at least one of the first skin and the second skin from protruding into at least one cell of the honeycomb core during the step of curing the core-stiffened structure.

Abstract: Nonwoven webs/nonwoven laminates for use in absorbent articles are disclosed. The nonwoven laminate includes a first nonwoven web with continuous spunbond crimped fibers and a second web joined to the first nonwoven web. A plurality of apertures extend through at least one of the first nonwoven web or the second web. The nonwoven web includes a plurality of continuous spunbond crimped fibers wherein a plurality of apertures extend through the nonwoven web.

Abstract: An anti-slip sheet to be used around water can be easily fixed onto the floor or bathtubs, etc., by simply adhering. The sheet resists curling (coiling) or separation, has low surface irritation on skin, and even under humid environment has excellent anti-slip properties.

Abstract: A molded plastic core structure acceptable to numerous uses and characterized by high structural strength to weight ratio. The structure typically comprises a two-sided array of cell-like receptacles having inwardly sloping walls that form floors. Receptacles in one side are inverted relative to receptacles in the opposite side and are inter-nested between one another to minimize the volume of plastic used. The walls and floors can be circular, square or triangular in plan view. Where square or triangular, the walls include both major and minor wall sections alternatingly interspersed with one another. Two or more core structures can be joined to one another with the receptacles of one panel being aligned with the receptacles of the joined other panel to form closed, syntactic cells that give the resulting structure high enclosed volume to surface area and weight ratios.