Abstract: A method of drying sticks, a related apparatus, resultant product and its uses where the method involves presenting a plurality of sticks in parallel as a single layer, pressing each stick with a bank of pressing members on and/or into at least one face of the sticks, each with plurality of protuberances, thereby to constrain the sticks against crook, and drying the sticks when so constrained. Preferably each bank of pressing members is an underside of a frame or lattice of a stack of such frames or lattices able to receive such a single layer of sticks between adjacent overlying/underlying frames or lattices, the protuberances preferably being only downwardly directed.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing a wood composite, comprising the steps of providing an reactive composite mixture (4) by mixing a reactive binder and vegetable fibres; supplying the reactive composite mixture to an extruder (5), discharging of the composite mixture from the extrusion device via an extrusion discharge (6) to a curing mould (8); filling the pores of the vegetable fibres with the reactive binder while simultaneously expensing the air from the pores at extrusion process conditions; reacting of the reactive binder around the vegetable fibres and in the pores of the vegetable fibres into a wood composite at the temperature of the extrusion process conditions.

Abstract: A filling apparatus for filling a mold volume of a mold with mold material. The filling apparatus comprises a frame, a retention plate mounted to the frame, and a shovel mounted to the frame, the shovel being complementary to the retention plate to define a reservoir for containing the mold material. The shovel is movable relatively the frame to open the reservoir for the mold material to fall onto the mold to fill up the mold volume, to scrape the surface of the mold and thereby to push exceeding mold material over the retention plate, and to abut the retention plate to form the reservoir. The filling apparatus is adapted to refill the reservoir with exceeding mold material once the mold volume is filled with mold material.

Abstract: A method for moving a mold assembly from a mounted position within a concrete products forming machine includes extending an extraction assembly forwardly from a retracted position at a rear of the concrete products machine to an intermediate position so that terminal ends of the extraction assembly are positioned below a carrying surface of the mold assembly. The extraction assembly is raised at the rear portion of the concrete products machine so that the terminal ends of the extraction assembly contact and raise the carrying surface of the mold assembly up off mold mounting surfaces on the concrete products machine. The extraction assembly is then moved to a fully extended position so that the mold assembly is moved forwardly from the mold mounting surfaces to an operative position whereby the mold assembly can be removed from the extraction assembly and replaced with a replacement mold assembly.

Abstract: A waterborne facility on a body of water includes a primary spoolable pipe and a pump. The end of the primary spoolable pipe may be guided from the waterborne facility to a location proximate to a selected site. The pump may be used to discharge a flowable material through the primary spoolable pipe. The waterborne facility may include a ready-mix concrete preparation system. However, the waterborne facility may deliver any flowable material to a selected site, which may be a land surface, underground, on a water surface, or underwater. Illustrative flowable materials include seawater, grout, cement, and sediment/mud.

Abstract: In the field of tire production, systems and methods utilize a feed belt (150) for directing a rubber mixture from an initial mixing installation (20) toward at least one of two mixing and cooling installations (100, 100?). It is possible to selectively carry out monopassage and multipassage rubber production sequences in a common rubber production facility. A tire is formed according to the methods described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for producing isotropized “ready-to-use” polymer pellets or granules that contain completely or substantially relaxed matrix molecules and entangled organic nanofibrils with long aspect ratios that will provide superior properties for the products without high cost. These pellets are cost-effectively produced using industrial-scale fiber spinning or melt-blowing/spun-bond equipment followed by an isotropizing pelletizer. These pellets enable one to mass-produce the micro-fibrillar or nanofibrillar composites with superior mechanical properties, because they are readily usable (“ready-to-use”) for industry-scale mass production systems with a very high throughput over 1000 kg/hr. The organic nanofibrils are well dispersed and entangled in the polymer matrix and have a long aspect ratio ranging hundreds to thousands, to tens of thousands.

Abstract: An installation for shaping an axisymmetric fiber preform presenting a profile that varies in radial section, includes a storage mandrel for storing a fiber texture in the form of a wound strip, one or more follower rollers, and an axisymmetric mold on which the fiber texture is to be shaped by being wound, the follower roller(s) being placed between the storage mandrel and the axisymmetric mold, the installation including at least one tension adjustment device for adjusting tension on the fiber texture, the device including at least one row of rods aligned in a first direction parallel to an axis of rotation of one or more follower rollers; each rod presenting an endpiece at a free end in order to come into contact with the fiber texture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing waste powder from generative production processes, by means of which three-dimensional objects are produced in layers from a powdery base material. The aim of the invention is to provide a method for the combined mechanical and material preparation of waste powder, wherein the waste powder is brought into such a structure that subsequently, by mixing with or even without new powder or mixtures of new and waste powders, a high-quality powdery material becomes available for generative production processes. This aim is achieved in that the waste powder is subjected to a mechanical treatment by reducing the waste powder to small pieces with a grinding mill.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for electromagnetic support tooling for use in composite part curing are described. In one example, a support tooling, such as a mandrel, includes an elastomeric housing that has ferromagnetic components. The mandrel also has electro-magnetic coils positioned within the elastomeric housing and operable to generate magnetic fields to repel or attract the ferromagnetic components of the elastomeric housing to the electro-magnetic coils. When the ferromagnetic components of the elastomeric housing are repelled by the electro-magnetic coils, the elastomeric housing has a rigid surface state. When the ferromagnetic components of the elastomeric housing are attracted to the electro-magnetic coils, the elastomeric housing is collapsed.

Abstract: An improved method for manufacturing plastic and rubber toys, including: (1) placing a fabric material into a mold for fixation according to a toy design requirement; (2) directly injecting a plastic or rubber material onto a surface of the material; (3) performing demolding to form a primary injection molded member, where the plastic and rubber material is wrapped with the fabric material; (4) when a product requires a fabric coverage rate of 100%, directly performing step (6); (5) when a product requires a fabric coverage rate of less than 100%, placing the primary injection molded member into another mold, performing secondary injection molding to form a secondary injection molded member larger than the primary; (6) placing two primary or secondary injection molded members into a mold of a hot melting machine to perform hot melt adhesion or apply a glue to complete adhesion, to form a finished product.

Abstract: A device for producing a composite part includes a first platen structure, a second platen structure, a first plate structure, a second plate structure, a first press pad, and a second press pad. The first platen structure, the first plate structure, and the first press pad form a first assembly. The second platen structure, the second plate structure, and the second press pad form a second assembly. A cavity for receiving a laminate is arranged between the first assembly and the second assembly, the cavity including a wall structure arranged to surround the laminate. The wall structure includes an insulating material. A process for the device is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a spreading device for a foaming furnace, including a first spreading component and a second spreading component symmetrically mounted on two sides in a hearth of a foaming furnace. Both the first spreading component and the second spreading component are provided with a spreading roll group composed of at least two spreading rolls, and a driving device for driving the spreading roll group. The spreading device further includes a fixing frame, the fixing frame including a first mounting seat and a second mounting seat. The spreading roll includes a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion. The first mounting portion is rotationally connected to the first mounting seat, and the second mounting portion is rotationally connected to the second mounting seat. The spreading device of the present invention has good stability during work, and significantly improves an unfolding effect.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a sealing device to improve the positioning accuracy of a parting operation while also improving manufacturing efficiency. The method includes molding an elastomeric cylindrical molded body (100a) with a plurality of cylindrical surface portions (130) and a plurality of annular outer peripheral convex portions (110) arranged alternately on an outer peripheral side thereof, and further provided with a plurality of cylindrical surface portions and a plurality of annular inner peripheral convex portions arranged alternately on an inner peripheral side thereof. The cylindrical surface portions on the outer peripheral side and the cylindrical surface portions on the inner peripheral side, as well as the outer peripheral convex portions and the inner peripheral convex portions are provided so as to be at the same positions in the axial direction.

Abstract: An injection molding machine for manufacturing the spiral bicolor LED hose light just needs a single process and equipment to greatly increase the production efficiency and save the equipment investment costs. The input channel terminal of the second flow channel connected with a first horizontal channel is gradually smaller, and the transportation end terminal of the first horizontal channel connected with a second horizontal channel of larger diameter is gradually larger. The transportation end terminal of the second extruder is connected with the input terminal of the third flow channels. The light strip input channel inputs the LED light strip to pass through the first and second flow channel, which the transparent molten plastic squeezed by the first extruder wraps and covers the LED light strip and the molten plastic with the other color squeezed by the second extruder is spirally wounded on the surface of the transparent molten plastic.

Abstract: A spacer for a foreign object detection sensor including an elongated hollow sheath, two conductive members, and two core wires buried in the two conductive members, the spacer being used for a terminal portion of the foreign object detection sensor and including a first member including an insertion portion configured to be inserted into a space between the two conductive members, and a concave-shaped second member including a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion at which a locking portion is provided to be locked to a first end of the first member, the second end portion which is opposed to the locking portion and is connected to a second end of the first member via an integral hinge, the second member containing one of the two conductor portions inside a closed cross-section formed between the first member and the second member.

Abstract: An injection molding machine with an injection system and a clamping system. The injection system may include a removable injection module defining a portion of the material flow path. The injection module may include all of parts that come in contact with the material between the material source and the mold. The injection module may include a valve arrangement movable between a fill position to load the injection module with material and an inject position to eject material from the injection module into the mold. The actuators for the injection module may be supported on the machine rather than the injection module. The clamping system may include a platen linear actuator to open and close the mold, and a hydraulic clamping system to apply clamping force to the closed mold. The hydraulic clamping system may include a free-float valve manifold assembly that selectively places the hydraulic cylinders in free-float mode.

Abstract: A method for controlling and/or monitoring a production plant for producing a multiplicity of articles, wherein the production plant has a machine tool; a machine tool part which interacts with the machine tool in order to produce an article; an RFID transponder connected to the machine tool part; two RFID reading devices which are arranged at a distance from one another and from the machine tool; and a control device which is connected to the RFID reading devices via data lines. The method includes determining a first location of the machine tool part at a first time with the first RFID reading device and/or with the second RFID reading device; and determining a second location of the machine tool part at a second time, which temporally follows the first time, with the first RFID reading device and/or with the second RFID reading device; and outputting at least one control signal with the control device on the basis of the first location and the second location.

Abstract: The invention provides a roll of a white heat-shrinkable polyester-based film containing titanium oxide which can suppress occurrence of a processing trouble of a label or the like cut out from the roll, even when widening the roll. The roll of the white heat-shrinkable polyester-based film satisfies the following requirements: (1) the length of the film is 1,000-20,000 m and the width of the film is 400-10,000 mm, (2) the heat-shrinkage ratio in a main shrinkage direction is 50-85%, (3,4) the difference between the maximum and minimum heat-shrinkage ratio in the main shrinkage direction is 0-3% among samples which are sampled in each of the width and longitudinal directions of the film, and (5,6) the difference between the maximum and minimum apparent specific gravity is 0-0.01 g/cm3 among samples which are sampled in each of the width and longitudinal directions of the film.

Abstract: A novel tubular or profile shapes of co-extruded multilayer polymers. These materials contain tens to thousands of layers of milli-, micro- to nano- polymer layers. These new shapes contain contiguous layers of milli- to nano- polymer layers in three dimensions and these contiguous layers may be twisted or turned to further expand the potential microlayer geometries.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor system for conveying preforms in a device for blow-forming finished containers, wherein the conveyor system comprises a conveyor chain, the chain links of which comprise a carrying element and a conveyor element, the conveyor system being characterized in that the conveyor element comprises a support structure and the carrying element comprises a mounting structure and at least some sections of the support structure and the mounting structure are designed and arranged to complement one another.

Abstract: A method of forming a container, the method comprising the steps of: providing an injection moulded preform composed of a biaxially-orientable thermoplastic material, the preform being substantially planar and having a peripheral edge and a central portion; clamping at least a portion of the peripheral edge of the preform in a frame; heating the preform; stretch blow moulding the heated preform, clamped with the frame, within a mould cavity defined by a first female mould to form an intermediate article having a bottom wall and an annular sidewall beneath an upper edge clamped within the frame, the stretch blow moulding step using a stretch rod to engage an inner side of at least the central portion of the preform and axially to stretch at least a part of the central portion of the preform prior to blowing a pressurized gas against the inner side which urges the opposite side of the preform radially outwardly against the mould; and shrinking the intermediate article, clamped with the frame, onto a second male

Abstract: Mold base including a base wall and a peripheral side wall which is connected to the base wall by a fillet, this mould base ending with a peripheral upper edge and including ribs forming cavities for grooves for strengthening the base of a container to be formed and which each straddle the fillet, this mould base also including decompression vents hollowed out of the moulding face and which include, for each rib, at least one pair of shallow side channels which extend on either side of the rib and open, at an upper end, on to the peripheral upper edge.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for deforming a web are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method involves feeding a web into a nip that is formed between at least two intermeshing rolls. The rolls are configured for deforming a web with at least two sets of deformations that are oriented in different directions relative to the surfaces of the web.

Abstract: A resin film formed of a resin containing a polymer containing an alicyclic structure and having crystallizability, wherein a crystallization degree of the polymer is 30% or more, and a thickness variation Tv of the resin film represented by the following formula (1) is 5% or less. The formula (1) is Tv [%]=[(Tmax?Tmin)/Tave]×100. In the formula (1), Tmax is a maximum value of the thickness of the resin film, Tmin is a minimum value of the thickness of the resin film, and Tave is an average value of the thickness of the resin film).

Abstract: Provided are: an imprinting method which suppresses volatilization of a photocurable resin applied on a transfer-receiving substrate by an inkjet method, satisfactorily maintains the wet-spreading property of the resin at the time of transfer, maintains cleanness of the environment for transfer, and can fill the environment for transfer with a particular gas appropriate for transfer; and an imprinting apparatus. Disclosed is an imprinting method of using a template having a concavo-convex pattern formed thereon, and transferring the pattern of the template by imprinting to a photocurable resin on a transfer-receiving substrate, characterized in that, in a space where the template and the photocurable resin are brought into contact, clean air is sent to the space through an air blowing port during a standby mode of not performing imprinting, and the flow rate of clean air in the space is reduced or clean air is not sent during an imprinting mode.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an article having an impact textured surface comprises a plurality of vertical pillars; and a plurality of annular impact features; wherein a first portion of the vertical pillars is located in an annulus of the plurality of annular impact features and a second portion of the vertical pillars is located in an area around the plurality of annular impact features; wherein a height of the plurality of annular impact features is at least 10 nanometers greater than a height of the plurality of vertical pillars. In another embodiment, a method of making the article comprises molding the impact textured surface from a mold comprising a plurality of holes and a plurality of annular track features; wherein the plurality of holes corresponds to the plurality of pillars and the plurality of annular track features corresponds to the plurality of annular impact features.

Abstract: This application present structures having surfaces with several multivariate and single property engineering applications that are associated with the surface and may be altered by the surface texture or tunable asperities themselves. Depending on the objective of the application, the tunable asperities address the energy requirement for an objective such as gripping or smooth-movement, as well as describes the critical conditions when slippage cannot be prevented. The use in several other energy intensive applications is also discussed as well as for solar, communication altering and color/hue manipulation objectives.

Abstract: A building apparatus having a configuration more suitable for building an object is provided. The building apparatus is configured to build an object in three-dimensional by ejecting ink. The building apparatus includes an ink container holder 202 that is a first container holder for holding an ink container 302 that is a first ink container, an ink container holder 204 that is a second container holder for holding an ink container 304 that is a second ink container, a first ejection head for ejecting ink supplied from the ink container 302, and a second ejection head for ejecting ink supplied from the ink container 304. The capacity of the ink container 302 is smaller than the capacity of the ink container 304.

Abstract: Bioactive glass compositions, composites of the bioactive glass compositions with polymers, and 3D printable filaments made from the same, along with methods of making and using the same, are described. In some embodiments, the compositions, composites, and filaments have antibacterial activity.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing of 3D objects is provided. The apparatus includes a number of material deposition heads terminated by nozzles, of which one or two nozzles are configured to deposit a first material to form a first and second pattern layers. The pattern layers are laterally shifted from each other such that when the first and second pattern layers are deposited, a space (empty volume) with a varying cross section is formed. In some examples, two or more nozzles could be used to deposit the corresponding first and second pattern layers. The nozzles could move independent of each other.

Abstract: A stereolithography color 3D printing method applied to a stereolithography color 3D printer (1) having a light module (11), a coloring module (12) and a curing platform (17) is provided. The method is to lower the curing platform (17) a default height (h), operate the light module (11) to irradiate stereolithography materials (180) on the curing platform (17) for curing the stereolithography materials (180) and manufacturing one layer of slice physical model (182, 30, 31) according to one layer of object print data, operate the coloring module (12) to color the slice physical model (182, 30, 31), and perform above-mentioned operations repeatedly until a color 3D physical model has been manufactured. Therefore, better printing performance can be achieved and colored 3D physical model with high definition can be manufactured by combining the stereolithography technology with the auto-coloring technology.

Abstract: A system for building a structure. The system includes a reservoir; an immiscible fluid in the reservoir; a membrane operatively connected to the reservoir; channels and delivery ports in the membrane; a microliter amount of curable resin; a delivery system for delivering the microliter amount of curable resin to channels and delivery ports in the membrane and to the reservoir in contact with the immiscible fluid in the reservoir; and an energy source adapted to deliver energy to the reservoir onto the microliter amount of curable resin for building the structure.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are directed to the use of vapor phase change in binder jetting processes for forming three-dimensional objects. In general, a vapor of a first fluid may be directed to a layer of a powder spread across a build volume. The vapor may condense to reduce mobility of the particles of the powder of the layer. For example, the condensing vapor may reduce the likelihood of particle ejection from the layer and, thus, may reduce the likelihood of clogging or otherwise degrading a printhead used to jet a second fluid (e.g., a binder) to the layer. Further, or instead, the condensing vapor may increase the density of the powder in the layer which, when repeated over a plurality of layers forming a three-dimensional object, may reduce the likelihood of slumping of the part during sintering.

Abstract: A method for 3D printing a 3D item (10), the method comprising providing a filament (320) of 3D printable material (201) and printing during a printing stage said 3D printable material (201) on a substrate (1550), to provide said 3D item (10), wherein the printing stage comprises (a) providing a layer (405) comprising particles (410) on the substrate (1550), wherein the particles (410) have a main axis (A1) having a main axis length (LI), and a minor axis (A2) having a minor axis length (L2), wherein the main axis length (LI) and the minor axis length (L2) have a first aspect ratio of at least 5, wherein in average the main axes (A1) of said particles (410) are configured parallel to a tangential plane (P) to the substrate (1550), wherein said particles (410) comprise light reflective material (411), and (b) printing said 3D printable material (201) on said layer (405) on the substrate (1550) to provide said 3D item (10) comprising said layer (405).

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3-D) printer includes build and support material development stations positioned to transfer layers of build and support materials to an intermediate transfer surface. The intermediate transfer surface transfers a layer of the build and support materials to a platen each time the platen contacts the intermediate transfer surface. A sensor detects the thickness of the layer on the platen, and a mechanical planer is positioned to contact and level the layer on the platen as the platen moves past the mechanical planer. Additionally, a feedback loop is electrically connected to the sensor and the mechanical planer. The mechanical planer adjusts the amount of the build material and the support material removed from the layer based on the thickness of the layer on the platen, as determined by the sensor.

Abstract: A production line for making tangible products by layerwise manufacturing. The production line comprises: (i) a first and a second building platform for carrying a tangible product; (ii) a deposition head for providing a layer of construction material onto the building platforms; (iii) a conveyor for conveying the building platforms in a conveying plane towards and away from the deposition head repeatedly; and (iv) height adjustment means to adjust the distance between the deposition head and the building platforms by displacing the building platforms relative to the conveyor in a direction perpendicular to the conveying plane. The production line may further comprise a picking unit for picking a product from the building platforms.

Abstract: A powder spreader is presented. The powder spreader includes a base element having at least a first side and a spreading element including a sheet having a curved portion protruding from the at least first side of the base element, where the curved portion of the sheet is substantially free of a discontinuity. An additive manufacturing apparatus including the powder spreader is also presented.

Abstract: A three-dimensional fabricating apparatus includes a forward layer fabricator, a backward layer fabricator, and a controller. The forward layer fabricator is configured to discharge a fabrication material in a forward path to form a forward fabrication layer. The backward layer fabricator is configured to discharge a fabrication material in a backward path to form a backward fabrication layer. The controller is configured to control the forward layer fabricator and the backward layer fabricator so that a total discharge amount of the fabrication material in the backward path is larger than a total discharge amount of the fabrication material in the forward path.

Abstract: Enclosed is a description of a high throughput 3D printing and imaging system that can be used for multiple laboratory purposes from bioassay fabrication to analysis. This compact system is designed to work with multiple microwell plates and slides. It also contains linear encoders for precise positional control in the XYZ direction. A syringe pump and 3 way select valve configuration and interrelated microfluidics are described and compact stepper motor driven linear actuators for moving tools on the gantry head is also explained. In addition, there is a visualization and sorting area for measuring droplets and for deflecting charged particles magnetized collection tubes. There is also an imaging module for quantifying fluorescence abundance and an analog signal triggered camera that can be synchronized with dispensers that can be used for synchronized imaging and data collection.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system for printing three-dimensional parts, the system including a build chamber having an opening with first and second opposing edges, and a platen in the build chamber. A baffle door expandable across the opening has a first baffle section attached at the first opposing edge and configured to extend between a first position adjacent the first opposing edge and a second position adjacent the second opposing edge, a second baffle section attached at the second opposing edge and configured to extend between a first position adjacent the second opposing edge and a second position adjacent the first opposing edge, and a third baffle section having a frame, a tool port in the frame, and baffles on either side of the tool port, the baffles configured to expand and contract in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction as the tool port moves within the frame. The baffle door insulates the build chamber.

Abstract: An optical shaping apparatus includes a light modulation element having a plurality of pixels and configured to modulate light from a light source for each pixel, a controller configured to control the light modulation element based on each of a plurality of two-dimensional shape data obtained from three-dimensional shape data, and a moving member configured to move a cured portion cured by the modulation light among the photocurable resin in a direction separating from the light-transmissive portion. The controller controls the light modulation element so as to irradiate the modulation light of an irradiation light amount corresponding to a light amount necessary for curing for each resin area, onto each of a plurality of resin areas in the photocurable resin based on a temperature distribution or a temperature change in the photocurable resin.

Abstract: A method of printing a 3D part with an additive manufacturing system includes printing a first portion of the part and pre-heating the first portion of the part along an upcoming tool path to a temperature at or above a material-specific bonding temperature and below a degradation temperature of the material. Material is extruding material onto the first portion along the pre-heated tool path while the temperature along the part surface remains at or above a material-specific bonding temperature and below the degradation temperature of the material thereby forming a newly extruded road. The method includes cooling the newly extruded road along the pre-heated tool path to remove heat imparted by the preheating step such that a thermally stable temperature is reached, wherein the preheating, extruding and cooling is performed in less than ten seconds.

Abstract: A method of printing a hollow part with a robotic additive manufacturing system includes extruding thermoplastic material onto a build platform movable in at least two degrees of freedom in a helical pattern along a continuous 3D tool path with an extruder mounted on a robotic arm, to thereby print a hollow member having a length and a diameter. The method includes orienting the hollow member during printing by moving the build platform based on a geometry of the hollow member wherein the movement of the build platform and the movement of the robotic arm are synchronized to print the part without support structures.

Abstract: There is provided a method of representing a three dimensional (3D) object using univariate curves, comprising: receiving an initial definition of a 3D object representation, calculate a covering set of univariate curves, the covering set comprising at least one non-planar univariate curve, wherein the covering set of univariate curves represent the volume of the 3D object within a tolerance requirement, and generating a representation of the 3D object based on the set of univariate curves, wherein the set of univariate curves represent the volume of the 3D object.

Abstract: Techniques of optically sensing fiducial targets, such as calibration patterns, within an additive fabrication device are provided. In some embodiments, fiducial targets may be disposed on a structure configured to contact source material of the additive fabrication device, the source material being a material from which the device is configured to fabricate solid objects. Indirect sensing means may be employed such that light emitted from a light source of the additive fabrication device scatters from the surface of a fiducial target. At least some of this scattered light can be measured by a sensor and used to determine a position of the fiducial target. In some embodiments, the fiducial target may be configured to move relative to the light source and/or sensor to provide additional information on the target's position via the light scattered from its surface.

Abstract: Plant (1), comprising at least one apparatus (2) for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects (3) by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material (4) which can be consolidated by means of an energy source (5), wherein the plant (1) comprises at least one operable component (7, 12-14), wherein a determination unit (9) is provided that is adapted to determine component data relating to at least one component (7, 12-14) of the plant (1), wherein a data storage (10) is provided for storing the component data, wherein the at least one apparatus (2) is adapted to manufacture the at least one component (7, 12-14) based on the component data.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects (2) by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material (3) which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam (4), wherein the apparatus (1) comprises an irradiation device (5) that is adapted to generate at least one energy beam (4) for irradiating the build material (3), wherein a safety device (10) is provided comprising at least one detection unit (11) adapted to detect process light (12) that is generated by the irradiation of build material (3), wherein the safety device (10) is adapted to control the irradiation device (5) dependent on the detection result.

Abstract: An optical shaping apparatus includes a first optical unit including a light modulation element that has a plurality of pixels and modulates light from a first light source for each pixel and irradiating modulation light from the light modulation element onto the photocurable resin through the light-transmissive portion, a second optical unit including a scanning member configured to deflect light from a second light source, the second optical unit being configured to irradiate scanning light from the scanning member onto the photocurable resin through the light-transmissive portion, the first and second optical units not including a common optical member, and a controller that controls the light modulation element and the scanning member so as to irradiate the modulation light onto a first resin area, and to irradiate the scanning light onto a second resin area in the photocurable resin.

Abstract: A technique for additive manufacturing that avoids the necessity of having a build plate. The illustrative embodiment comprises two anchor plates from which a structure is constructed that forms at least the initial support for the object to be manufactured. The envelope of the structure can be a cylinder, a box, an n-sided prism, a hyperboloid of one sheet, a cone, the frustum of a cone, a pyramid, and the frustum of a pyramid.