Abstract: A razor cartridge according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a plurality of shaving blades, a blade housing including a blade seating space configured to receive the plurality of shaving blades in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction, and a pair of retainer clips configured to secure the plurality of shaving blades in the blade seating space, each retainer clip mounted at a corresponding side of the blade housing, wherein the pair of retainer clips are symmetrically shaped to each other, and wherein each of the pair of retainer clips includes a base portion positioned at a corresponding blade seating space, a first holding leg extending from the base portion in the first direction and wrapped around the blade housing, and a second holding leg extending from the base portion in the second direction and wrapped around the blade housing.

Abstract: A razor blade assembly has a handle, a head having a cutting blade assembly of one or more cutting blades connected to the handle; and a spacer which is mounted to or is formed as part of the head to space the cutting edges of the blades from the skin of a user to create and maintain a 5 o'clock shadow appearance beard in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm in thickness.

Abstract: A knife and sheath system includes a knife with a protrusion on its blade and a sheath having a blade guard with a pocket for the knife blade and a protrusion that extends in to its pocket and cooperates with the knife's protrusion. Additionally, a resilient action is positioned on the blade guard across from the protrusion and attaches to the blade guard at one end. When removing or inserting the knife, the action temporarily displaces, returning to its original shape once the knife is fully seated in the sheath or entirely removed. When fully seated in the sheath, the action locks the knife in place by applying force on the knife in the direction of the sheath protrusion. The sheath optionally also includes sheath supports on opposing sides so that a user can attach the sheath to his gear on either his left or right side.

Abstract: A cutting module adapted to trim a covering material of a window covering is disclosed, including a main body, a blade, and an elastic holding member. The main body has a first side, a second side, and a through hole communicating the first and the second sides, wherein the through hole can be passed through by the covering material. The blade is provided corresponding to the second side, and can be moved back and forth. The blade has a cutting edge, which passes over the through hole as the blade slides, whereby to cut off a part of the covering material beyond the second side. The elastic holding member is provided corresponding to the through hole to maintain the covering material at a predetermined position for cutting.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method for the control of water flow within a hydraulic food cutter assembly having a pump, a pump discharge line, a cutter assembly a product supply tank, and a fluid transport medium and comprises a method for increasing the flow of fluid transport medium through the pump while maintaining a preselected velocity for the flow of the fluid transport medium in pump discharge line by using a frustoconical accelerator tube attached to the discharge line of the pump having a plurality of apertures through which the fluid transport medium may flow out of the accelerator tube into fluid tight housing encasing the accelerator and a throttling valve operatively attached to the fluid tight housing discharge line for regulating the pressure of the fluid medium being discharge from the pump so as to maximize fluid medium flow through the pump at a preselected pressure in the discharge line.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a splitter profiler apparatus may include at least one profiler head and at least one circular saw mounted to a common arbor. The circular saw may be mounted to a saw arm, and the saw arm may be coupled with an actuator that is selectively operable to move the circular saw along the arbor. The circular saw may be used in a profiling position, in which the circular saw and profiler head are in close proximity, such that the profiler head and circular saw function collectively to form a sideboard edge with a sawn finish. The circular saw may also be used in a splitting position, in which the circular saw is at a distance from the profiler, to divide the sideboard into narrower sideboards before the sideboards are sawn from the primary workpiece. Corresponding methods and systems are also described herein.

Abstract: A method of producing a thermally modified and impregnated wooden product is described herein. One or more pieces of wood are thermally modified. The thermally modified wood is formed into a wooden object by hand, tool, machine, a computer numerical controlled machine, or combinations thereof. The wooden object is then impregnated with one or more treatment agents to produce the thermally modified and impregnated wooden product. The wooden object is impregnated by applying pressure or heat while the object is in the presence of the one or more treatment agents. Minimal, if any, deformation of the thermally modified wooden object occurs during impregnation.

Abstract: A method for casting a construction element includes: using a CAD technique designing mould bodies 12 comprising mould-halves 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8; printing the mould-halves on a 3D printer which includes an adhesive dispensing system; providing a locating formation 16 on mould-half 12.7; reinforcing the mould-halves with two polyurethane or polyurea coatings; applying form wax to the mould-halves; printing a conduit 18 on a 3D printer; locating the mould-halves at a construction site and securing the mould halves to one another; locating the conduit 18 relative to the mould-halves by means of the locating formation 16; pouring concrete into the assembled mould so as to embed the conduit 18 within the concrete; and allowing the concrete to cure; removing the mould-halves and repeating a desired number of times.

Abstract: A ceramic component is provided that is suitable to be placed in high temperature environment. The component includes a first member that is formed of a first material, and a ceramic layer that is bonded to a surface of the first member, which is a side exposed to the high temperature environment and that is formed of a ceramic material having a higher heat resistance than that of the first member. A bonding portion between the first member and the ceramic layer is formed of a composite material having the first material and the ceramic material, and a gradient composition in which an abundance ratio of the first material gradually decreases and an abundance ratio of the ceramic material gradually increases in a direction from the first member to the ceramic layer.

Abstract: A ceramic formed body extrusion method for forming a ceramic formed body having a wall-shaped or plate-shaped formed portion by using an extrusion die provided with a slit for extrusion of a ceramic formed body from a raw material for forming, the slit including a slit former stage unit located on an upstream side in an extrusion direction in the extrusion and a slit latter stage unit located on a downstream side in the extrusion direction, the slit latter stage unit having a width of three to 27 times a width of the slit former stage unit, and by extruding a raw material containing a first particle having an aspect ratio of two or more and less than 300 such that the raw material passes though the slit former stage unit of the extrusion die and then passes through the slit latter stage unit.

Abstract: A ceramic formed body extrusion method for forming a ceramic formed body having a wall-shaped or plate-shaped formed portion by using an extrusion die provided with a slit for extrusion of a ceramic formed body from a raw material for forming, the slit including a slit former stage unit located on an upstream side in an extrusion direction in the extrusion and a slit latter stage unit located on a downstream side in the extrusion direction, the slit latter stage unit having a width of three to 27 times a width of the slit former stage unit, and by extruding a raw material containing a first particle having an aspect ratio of two or more and less than 300 such that the raw material passes though the slit former stage unit of the extrusion die and then passes through the slit latter stage unit.

Abstract: A liner for a form is provided. The form allows for the creation of a precast concrete wall to be formed. The liner allows a building material, for example, brick veneer, to be placed in the liner in a pattern. The pattern may be a soldier course that can formed over openings in the precast concrete wall. When liquid concrete is poured into the mold and then hardens, the concrete holds the building material in place in the pattern produced by the liner.

Abstract: A device for supporting stripper head on a mold box of a concrete product machine mold assembly. The device includes a set of attachment hardware that connects a stand-off leg to a stripper head plate to support the stripper head with the stripper head plungers disposed in respective protected positions within respective plunger receptacles of the mold box. The hardware set comprises a ferrous metal portion configured to be carried by the stripper head plate and a magnetic portion carried by the stand-off leg in a position to magnetically engage the ferrous metal portion and allow for removable attachment of the stand-off leg to the stripper head plate when the ferrous metal portion is carried by the stripper head plate.

Abstract: A machine (12) for cutting slabs of stone or stone-like material comprises a work bench (13), two lateral support structures (14, 16) between which a beam (18) runs. On the beam (18) there is arranged a first machining unit (20) comprising: a carriage (22) adapted to slide along the beam (18); a sleeve (24) adapted to slide with respect to the carriage (22) in the vertical direction; a machining head (26), connected to the end of the sleeve (24) and adapted to rotate relative to the sleeve (24) about a vertical axis (28). The machining head (26) comprises a spindle (30) on which a cutting disc (32) is mounted. Manipulator means (34) for slabs or portions thereof, engaged with the head or the sleeve, are also provided. The machine comprises a second machining unit (36) mounted slidably on the said beam (18) and comprising at least one second machining head (38) with fixed orientation, adapted to be moved in the vertical direction and comprising a spindle (42, 44) on which a cutting disk (46, 48) is mounted.

Abstract: The invention describes an advanced mixing and metering technology with online analytics for a supply of formulated liquid thermosetting resins into an open or closed mold. The application addresses where a precise control of the composition of formulated components is required. Composite structures used in primary and secondary structural aerospace applications manufactured in Infusion or RTM processes are possible examples.

Abstract: A parison separation device (30) according to an embodiment includes a cutter (31) with a cutting edge (35), the cutting edge (35) extending in a one direction and facing upward, and a block (33), the cutter being attached to an upper part of the block (33), inclined surfaces (37) being formed on both sides of the block (33) in a thickness direction of the cutting edge (35), each of the inclined surfaces (37) including a component that is inclined increasingly downward as it gets closer to one direction side end, in which the parison separation device (30) is disposed on a discharging direction side of a discharging port of a parison and configured to cut the parison discharged from the discharging port.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a wind turbine rotor blade, to a wind turbine rotor blade obtainable by said method, to a pultrusion process for producing an elongated preform (97) for embedment in a wind turbine rotor blade and to an elongated preform (97) obtainable by said process. The blade manufacturing process involves a pultrusion process to obtain the preform (97), embedding the preform (97) within one or more parts of the blade, infusing a resin into said one or more blade parts containing the preform (97), and assembling the rotor blade including said one or more blade parts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a frame (2) including at least one part that is intended to support a skin (3) for receiving a part made from a composite material to be polymerized in an autoclave, said skin (3) defining the general shape of said part. The frame (2) is characterized in that it is a single-piece foundry piece.

Abstract: A wind blade finishing system is provided that is robust, cost effective, and has low volatile organic compounds while reducing overall process time. The wind blade finishing system combines a gel coat, putty, and top coat and has weather resistant properties, and takes the place of processes for producing turbine wind blades covered by gel coat, contouring putty, pore filler, top coat, and leading-edge coating. The finishing system significantly reduces the need for sanding before applying the top coat, and in turn up to 11 hours of time associated with the sanding process, as well as preventing pin holes from showing through the surface of the wind blade without the need of a secondary product/operation thus eliminating pore filler, associated surface preparation and rework. The finishing system reduces overall system cure time, currently averaging 12 hours, and also reduces the number of products/steps needed to a minimum number.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a system for forming a flexible mat having an open mesh embedded in and interconnecting a plurality of blocks of a hardened paste includes a rotating drum having a plurality of mold cavities about an outer periphery thereof that receive a hardenable paste; a sheet of the open mesh that is fed over the mold cavities so that the mesh is embedded in the hardenable paste deposited in the mold cavities; and a flexible sheet that is placed against the outer periphery of the drum over the mold cavities containing the hardenable paste and the sheet of open mesh of the rotating drum to retain the hardenable paste within the mold cavities and retain the open mesh embedded in the hardenable paste as the hardenable paste solidifies to form the flexible mat.

Abstract: Provided are a mold case that prevents deformation of a microneedle array, and a manufacturing method of a microneedle array. The problems are solved by the manufacturing method of a microneedle array including: a filling step of filling needle-like recessed portions of a mold having flexibility and having a plurality of the needle-like recessed portions on a front surface, with a liquid material; and a drying step of drying the liquid material in a state where the mold filled with the liquid material is stored in the mold case which causes an edge portion of the mold to be sandwiched between the lid and the pedestal.

Abstract: An imprint apparatus that brings a mold and an imprint material on a substrate into contact with each other to form a pattern of the imprint material on the substrate is provided. The apparatus comprises a supplying unit configured to supply the imprint material to the substrate, and a control unit configured to control the supplying unit in accordance with arrangement data of the imprint material that indicates a position where the imprint material is to be supplied on the substrate, wherein the control unit determines the arrangement data based on a feature related to a spread of a droplet of the imprint material on the substrate.

Abstract: The rolling bearing seal includes a core metal and rubber adhered to the core metal by vulcanization. The rubber includes: a seal lip portion having, over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction, a plurality of projections that extend inward in the radial direction from the inner diameter side of the core metal, and slides on a seal sliding surface of an inner ring of a rolling bearing; and an attachment portion that is attached to an outer ring of the rolling bearing. A compression vulcanization molding mold includes a female mold and a male mold. The female mold has a guide portion for positioning the core metal and a rugged shape forming the projections on the seal lip portion. The male mold has an inner-diameter-side burr groove and an outer-diameter-side burr groove and the shape of a radially outermost portion of the inner-diameter-side burr groove is formed in a circle.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a composite structure includes laying at least one composite ply about a bladder, the bladder comprising a phase change material in a first phase having a first volume, positioning an outer mold about the bladder and the at least one composite ply, and curing the at least one composite ply to form the composite structure. Curing causes the phase change material contained within the bladder to change to a second phase to expand from the first volume to a second volume and apply a pressure to an interior surface of the composite ply and press an outer surface of the composite ply against the outer mold to form an interior cavity. The bladder is not removable from the formed interior cavity.

Abstract: This document discloses a process for injection moulded microcellular foaming various flexible foam compositions from biodegradable and industrially compostable bio-derived thermoplastic resins for use in, for example, footwear components, seating components, protective gear components, and watersport accessories wherein a process of manufacturing includes the steps of: producing a suitable thermoplastic biopolymer or biopolymer blend; injection moulding the thermoplastic biopolymer or biopolymer blend into a suitable mould shape with inert nitrogen gas; controlling the polymer melt, pressure, temperature, and time such that a desirable flexible foam is formed; and utilizing gas counterpressure in the injection moulding process to ensure the optimal foam structure with the least amount of cosmetic defects and little to no plastic skin on the outside of the foamed structure.

Abstract: A foam molding device includes an outer mold unit and an inner mold unit. The outer mold unit includes an outer upper mold and an outer lower mold that cooperatively define a receiving space. The inner mold unit is detachably disposed within the receiving space, and includes an inner upper mold and an inner lower mold. The inner upper mold and the inner lower mold cooperatively define a foaming space adapted for foam molding a foam material into a foamed object.

Abstract: A surface treatment method of a material, comprising: respectively immersing a material to be treated into a first inorganic acid solution and a fluoride acidic solution to perform surface etching, so that nano-sized holes are formed in the surface of the material to be treated. Further disclosed are a material product and a composite material.

Abstract: A process for the production of an article for the cladding of floors or walls, comprising the steps of, in a mold: a) optionally applying a gel coat layer, based on a first curing polymer resin, on the inside of the mold in order to obtain a coated mold, and b) introducing into the core of the mold or into the core of the coated mold from step a) a filling composition which is based on a second curing polymer resin supplemented with at least one mineral filler, wherein core contains at least 5% wt and at most 20% wt of curing polymer resin, relative to the dry amount of filling composition, and the filling composition contains only one single initiator in a concentration of 0.5% wt to 5.0% wt relative to the amount of curing polymer resin in the filling composition.

Abstract: A molding device includes first and second molds, and a material passage. The first mold includes a first porous layer including a first porous main body, a first molding surface and a first connecting tube formed in the first porous main body. The first mold has a first gas passage for a gas to be supplied into the first porous main body. The second mold includes a second porous layer including a second porous main body, a second molding surface cooperating with the first molding surface to define a cavity, and a second connecting tube formed in the second porous main body. The material passage extends through one of the first and second molds, and is spatially communicated with the cavity for entrance of a supercritical foaming material into the cavity.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a handling plate for handling or aftertreatment of a plurality of mouldings, wherein the handling plate has a plurality of handling and/or aftertreatment tools arranged in columns and rows. In order to provide a treatment plate which can be used in relation to different tools it is proposed according to the invention that the spacings between the handling and/or aftertreatment tools are variable within the columns and/or within the rows.

Abstract: A cooling system of an injection mold comprises an air cooling pathway formed in a mold core and having an inlet and an outlet, a vortex tube having a cold air output port, a hot air output port, and a compressed air input port, and a compressed air supply device in communication with the compressed air input port and configured to supply a compressed air to the vortex tube. The vortex tube separates the compressed air into a cold air with a temperature lower than that of the compressed air and a hot air with a temperature higher than that of the compressed air. The cold air is output from the cold air output port. The hot air is output from the hot air output port. The cold air output port communicates with the inlet and supplies the cold air into the air cooling pathway to cool the mold core.

Abstract: Methods and an apparatus are presented. A bulk molding compound is consolidated by sending the bulk molding compound through a die breaker and an extrusion die of a consolidation system.

Abstract: A flexible tube production apparatus includes a die composed of: a cylindrical inner die having an outer face in which a groove is formed; a tubular member that is housed inside the inner die, and has a through-hole that allows a blade wire to be inserted from one end to the other end thereof; and an outer die that surrounds the inner die such that a predetermined gap is generated between itself and the outer face of the inner die, and has an extrusion hole that extrudes the resins having been supplied to the gap, onto the outer face of the blade wire that is fed from the other end of the tubular member. A resin supply portion supplies a first resin and a second resin to the die while the motor rotates the inner die about a center axis.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of producing a liquid-impregnated surface includes forming a solid particle suspension including a plurality of solid particles with an average dimension of between about 5 nm and about 200 ?m. The solid particle suspension is applied to a surface by spray-depositing the solid particle suspension onto the surface. An impregnating liquid is also applied to the surface. The plurality of solid particles and the impregnating liquid collectively form a liquid-impregnated surface. The impregnating liquid can be applied after the solid particle suspension is applied, or the solid particle suspension can include the impregnating liquid, such that the solid particle suspension and the impregnating liquid are concurrently spray-deposited onto the surface.

Abstract: A forming unit (20) for forming plastic preforms into plastic bottles, wherein the forming unit comprises a blow mould (20) having a first lateral portion (4), a second lateral portion (6) and a bottom portion (2), wherein said lateral portions as well as the bottom portion (2) form a cavity (15), within which the plastic preforms (10) can be formed into the plastic bottles, wherein the bottom portion (2) can be moved relative to the lateral portions (4) in a closed condition of the blow mould, wherein the forming unit (20) comprises a drive unit in order to move the bottom portion (2) relative to the lateral portions (4, 6), wherein the drive unit preferably has a movable piston element (32) which ist movable along a predefined stroke path.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device and a method for controlling the throughflow of blow-molding fluid during the blow molding of containers. It is the intention to provide a control device and a control method which permit a controlled or defined growth and a defined propagation of the container bubble formed by the expanding preform in the pre-blowing phase of the blow molding process without the specification of a specific setpoint value profile or of a setpoint value curve.

Abstract: Systems and processes for thermoforming an article are disclosed. The system can include a first heating station that can include a first heating zone and a second heating zone. The system can further include a first cooling station for reducing the temperature of the heated article to a range of about 50° C. to about 70° C. while exposing the article to atmospheric pressure. The system can also include a second cooling station that can expose an article to a pressure above atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Various improved designs for expansion tool heads are disclosed herein that are structured (1) to provide improved and more-evenly distributed strain in the pipe during the expansion strokes of the tool head which can include more gradually inducing the strain in the pipe and/or (2) to avoid the induction of plastic deformation of the pipe in regions of seal formation between the radial-inwardly facing surface of the pipe and the radially-outward facing surface of the fittings (i.e., the ribs of the fitting) especially in instances in which the tool head is not rotated between separate expansion steps. This may be achieved, for example, by the use of convexly curved outer profiles that limit initial insertion depth of the tool in the pipe prior to expansions and/or by the use of a “hybrid” toothed profile.

Abstract: A structure stamp has a flexible stamp which has a microstructured or nanostructured stamp surface for embossing of an embossing structure which corresponds to the stamp surface on an embossing surface, and a frame for clamping the stamp. Moreover, the invention relates to a device for embossing an embossing pattern on an embossing surface with the following features: a stamp receiver for accommodating and moving a structure stamp, an embossing material receiver for accommodating and placing an embossing material opposite the structure stamp, and an embossing element drive for moving an embossing element along the structure stamp.

Abstract: According to an example, a three-dimensional (3D) printed object may include a body formed of an electrically non-conductive material. In addition, an electrically conductive channel, a sensing device, and a signal emitter may be embedded within the body. The sensing device may be in electrical communication with the electrically conductive channel such that the sensing device is affected by a disruption in a current applied through the electrically conductive channel. In addition, the signal emitter may emit a wireless signal in response to the sensing device being affected by a disruption in the applied current.

Abstract: At least one agent distributor may be to selectively deliver coalescing agent onto portions of a layer of build material at a first density and at a second density lower than the first density. A controller may be to control the at least one agent distributor to selectively deliver the coalescing agent at the first and second densities onto respective first and second portions of the layer in respective first and second patterns derived from data representing the three-dimensional object to be generated, so that when energy is applied to the layer the build material may coalesce and solidify to form a slice of the three-dimensional object in accordance with the first pattern. The second portion may be in proximity to a boundary of the first portion. Presence of the coalescing agent in the second portion may be to prevent at least some heat from flowing away from the first portion when the energy is applied.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for the creation of three dimensional objects by way of a layer-by-layer application of resin accompanied by temperature control and flashing by a light source. The temperature control associated with the apparatus allows for the three dimensional object to be created in the absence of any associated support structures. The dispenser used to apply each subsequent layer of resin is equipped with a heating element in order to raise the temperature of the resin upon deposition, while the build vat in which the object is being created is equipped with a cooling element in order to lower the temperature of the already-deposited layers in order to raise the viscosity to such a level that such already-deposited layers are capable of supplying adequate support to the object in order to sustain multiple layers of application.

Abstract: A method for producing a component is disclosed. In a first step, a planar component layer is produced on a base surface from a metal material which is above the melting temperature thereof. In a second step, shear stresses are introduced into the component layer produced in the first step by a friction pin which rotates about a rotation axis and which is pressed with a predetermined force onto an outer surface of the component layer opposite the base surface and which is moved along the entire outer surface of the component layer. Finally, in a third step, the first step is repeated on the outer surface as a base surface.

Abstract: A wiring harness assembly includes a plurality of electrical conductors having wires enclosed within insulative sheaths that are integrally formed of an electrically insulative material. The assembly also includes a lattice support structure that is attached to the insulative sheaths at multiple locations. The lattice support structure is configured to maintain a desired shape of the assembly. The lattice support structure is formed of filaments that may be formed using an additive manufacturing process The filaments may be arranged such that lattice support structure defines a plurality of hexagonally shaped apertures. A process for manufacturing the wiring harness assembly and an apparatus configured to manufacture the wiring harness assembly is also presented.

Abstract: An example system includes an object and a support frame supporting the object. The support frame constrains movement of the object relative to the support frame, and the support frame includes at least one of a cage or a shackle to non-rigidly constrain movement of at least a part of the object.

Abstract: The current invention refers to an Additive Manufacturing system that allows the increase of the dimensions of a part to manufacture and/or increase the production volume without proportionally increasing the fabrication time, while maintaining the sub-millimetric precision and finishing quality. The system is composed of at least one upper deposition module (3), or at least one lower deposition module (4), or by their combination, both being movable and interchangeable, coplanar between them and controlled in a coordinated manner, and by at least one platform module (2) movable and interchangeable and which control is done in a coordinated manner. The main rigid frame (1) is scalable. The number of upper deposition modules (3), the number of lower deposition modules (4) and the number of platform modules (2) are configurable according to the preferences of the user.

Abstract: Techniques for measuring a position of a build platform in an additive fabrication device are provided. Such techniques may include detecting the onset and/or dissipation of force applied to a build platform as it moves from being in contact with, to being out of contact with, a container. In some embodiments, the techniques described herein may be applied in a stereolithographic additive fabrication device. According to some embodiments, measurement of forces applied to a build platform may be used to provide for reliable and consistent measurements of the height of the build platform relative to a container by measuring such forces at various positions of the build platform and analyzing the pattern of the forces with distance from the container.

Abstract: Printing systems, compositions suitable for the printing system, use of the compositions, methods for additive manufacturing, and exposure systems, all allowing for improved 3D manufacturing of products, include the exposure of layers of photopolymer material by two different wavelengths coming from LEDs.

Abstract: An additive layer manufactured component has a first wall portion and a second wall portion with a volume defined between the first and second wall portions. The volume contains unconsolidated powder material. A technique for removing the unconsolidated powder involves saturating the unconsolidated powder material with a dipole fluid, reducing the temperature of the saturated unconsolidated powder material to a temperature below the freezing temperature of the dipole fluid, and then allowing the dipole fluid to freeze. The temperature of the saturated unconsolidated powder material is then raised to a temperature above the melting temperature of the dipole fluid, whereupon the unconsolidated powder material may be removed from the volume.

Abstract: A novel machine tool featuring a rotary tool changer is disclosed. In one embodiment, the tool changer is pre-tensioned, preferably by a counterweight, to improve repeatability when shifting from one tool to another. In another embodiment, the machine tool is principally a 3D printer, and features a novel cleaning mechanism that improves print quality, especially when printing elastomeric materials. In another embodiment, the machine tool features a rubbing tool that is heated and passed over the surface of a workpiece to improve the smoothness and precision of the workpiece.