Abstract: An insulation system includes a panel that is configured to fit with a hot runner of an injection molding machine. The panel has panel walls that define a closed interior cavity. There is an insulation material disposed in the closed interior region. The panel has a panel geometry that is complementary to the geometry of the hot runner such that the panel fits intimately with the hot runner.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an injection mold for production of marbled moldings, including at least one hot runner, a cavity, an entry opening into the injection mold and an inlet into the cavity, where the hot runner has at least two ducts that are connected at a first end of each duct to the inlet into the cavity and at a second end of each duct to the entry opening into the injection mold, where the at least two ducts each at least partly form a spiral, and the at least two ducts are bounded by a one-piece component. Further disclosed herein is a process for producing the injection mold and a process for producing marbled moldings.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process to manufacture an interconnected stack of thermoplastic frames having two sides by stacking the thermoplastic frames to obtain a stack of frames such that the facing sides of two neighbouring frames are in contact with each other at a contact area. When stacking a longitudinal conduit is formed which runs along the length of the stack and a branched conduit is formed at the contact area. The interconnected stack of thermoplastic frames are obtained by supplying a pressurised melt of a plastic material to the elongated conduit and branched conduits.

Abstract: A fluid cooled mold plate is disclosed. The fluid cooled mold plate has a front side, a rear side, and a perimeter that extends between its front and rear sides. A cooling chamber is formed within the mold plate. The cooling chamber has a front wall, a rear wall, and a perimeter wall that extends between the front and rear walls. An inlet fluid duct extends from a first side of the mold plate perimeter to a first end of the cooling chamber and an outlet fluid duct extends from a second side of the mold plate perimeter to a second end of the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber is occupied by a turbulence generating dispersion mesh that is secured between the front and rear walls the cooling chamber.

Abstract: A reinforcement learning method of a learning machine including a first agent adjusting a manufacture condition of a manufacturing device based on observation data obtained by observing a state of the manufacturing device and a second agent having a functional model or a functional approximator representing a relationship between the observation data and the manufacture condition in a different way from the first agent, comprises: adjusting the manufacture condition searched by the first agent that is performing reinforcement learning, using the observation data and the functional model or the functional approximator of the second agent; calculating reward data in accordance with a state of a product manufactured by the manufacturing device under the manufacture condition adjusted; and performing reinforcement learning on the first agent and the second agent based on the observation data and the reward data calculated.

Abstract: A display unit displays a display screen including information on injection molding, and the display screen displays an actual result information display field that displays actual result information on power consumption measured at a time of performing the injection molding and a comparative information display field that displays comparative information on power consumption of the injection molding to be compared with the actual result information on the power consumption in the same display form as a display form of the actual result information display field together.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic device for supplying a plurality of work units (3a, 3b), in particular on a plastics injection moulding machine, said device comprising at least one controller (7), at least one valve regulator and/or one valve controller and a central drive (1). A regulating valve (13a, 13b) with a regulating-valve geometry is provided on at least one of the work units (3a, 3b). Pressure sensors (8) detect at least one pressure both upstream and downstream of the regulating valve (13a, 13b), the load pressure (10a, 10b) of at least one of the work units (3a, 3b), and the system pressure (9).

Abstract: Polymer-based sheet materials having a variegated appearance are provided. The polymer-based-sheet material may have a core with one or more caps. The cap(s) may be on a first primary surface, a second primary surface, and/or sides. The variegation may be within and/or on the cap and/or the core. Methods, systems, articles, and materials effective for a polymer-based sheet material having a variegated appearance are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a melt conductor (1), in particular a melt distributor or melt mixer, for an extruding die (2) of an extrusion facility (3), comprising a melt conductor block (4) with a multi-channel system (5), the multi-channel system (5) being arranged inside the melt conductor block (4) with three-dimensional extension and having at least one input (6) and at least one output (7) for polymer melt, between one input (6) and one output (7) fluidically connected to the input (6) several branchings (8) arranged in series and several levels (9a) of sub-branches (10) being formed over several levels (12a, 12b) of divided melt channels (11a, 11b); with m melt channels (11a) of the ath level (12a) with Xth local cross-sections and n melt channels (11b) of the bth level (12b) with yth local cross-sections being present, wherein n>m if b>a, the yth local cross-sections of the melt channels (11b) of the bth level (12b) being smaller than the Xth local cross-sections of the melt channels (11a) of the a

Abstract: A method for pinning the edges of an extruded polymeric mass and an edge-pinning group are described.

Abstract: A method for pinning the edges of an extruded polymeric mass and an edge-pinning group are described.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a container includes forming a top portion of a preform by injecting a first material into a mold. A bottom portion of the preform is formed by injecting a second material into the mold to form inner and outer layers of the bottom portion and injecting a third material into the mold to form an intermediate layer of the bottom portion that is positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer. The third material includes virgin polyethylene terephthalate and an additive.

Abstract: A preform configured to be blow-molded into a container. The preform includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is an active oxygen scavenger layer including an oxygen scavenger, a catalyst, and a first material having up to 25% recycled polymer. The second layer includes a second material having at least 25% recycled polymer.

Abstract: A producing method for a resin container includes a first injection molding step of injection-molding an intermediate molded body that has a bottomed cylindrical shape and is made of resin, a second injection molding step of injection-molding a resin material into the intermediate molded body to produce a multilayer preform in which a resin layer is laminated on the intermediate molded body, and a blow molding step of blow-molding the multilayer preform in a state of having residual heat from injection molding to produce a resin container. The multilayer preform is formed such that a bottom portion is thicker than a body portion. In the blow molding step, at least one surface of the bottom portion of the multilayer preform is pressed with a mold, and a three-dimensional pattern corresponding to the mold is transferred to a thick bottom portion of the resin container.

Abstract: A method of forming a vacuum insulated structure includes providing a structural envelope an insulating cavity defined within the structural envelope. An expanding device is attached to opposing outer walls of the structural envelope and the interior cavity is expanded by pulling the opposing outer walls away from one another to define an expanded state. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating cavity to occupy substantially all of the insulating cavity in the expanded state. Gas is expressed from the insulating cavity to collapse the structural envelope to a final state and a final interior volume that is less than the expanded interior volume. The final state of the structural envelope defines a densified state of the insulating material within the insulating cavity. The vacuum port is then closed to hermetically seal the insulating cavity.

Abstract: In the present invention, a laser pointer is mounted on an upper mold and formed to mark a position of an auxiliary raw material disposed on a raw material disposed on a lower mold so that everyone can easily accurately arrange the auxiliary raw material at a predetermined position and molds the auxiliary raw material to improve a molding efficiency. In particular, in the present invention, the laser pointer is formed to mark vertex positions of the auxiliary raw material so that an operator can arrange vertexes of the auxiliary raw material at the predetermined position to quickly arrange the auxiliary raw material at the predetermined position and accurately mold the auxiliary raw material. In this case, in the present invention, at least two laser points are mounted along an edge of the upper mold to mark vertices of the auxiliary raw material so that the auxiliary raw material can be more quickly accurately disposed at the predetermined position and integrally molded.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a structure is provided in which a burr portion can be more reliably cut. In a burr portion shaping step, the burr portion is sucked to an engaging portion by a suction part to shape the burr portion along the engaging portion, and in a cutting step, ae movable portion is moved relative to first and second split molds with the burr portion being shaped along the engaging portion, thereby the burr portion is cut from a molded main body along a cutting line.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for manufacturing a hybrid component including a first thermal supplier configured to heat a steel plate, a rolling roll for undercut configured to pressurize the steel plate heated by the first thermal supplier, and to form an undercut on one surface of the steel plate, a first molding roll configured to pressurize the steel plate formed with the undercut to mold the steel plate in a shape of a component to be manufactured, a composite material feeder configured to supply a composite material tape to be seated on one surface of the steel plate formed with the undercut through the first molding roll, and a composite material pressurization roll configured to pressurize the steel plate on which the composite material tape is seated.

Abstract: Provided is method of making a three-dimensional object comprising polyurea, which may include: (a) dispensing a one part (1K) dual cure resin into a stereolithography apparatus, the resin comprising or consisting essentially of a photoinitiator, a reactive blocked polyisocyanate, optionally a catalyst such as a polyurethane blowing catalyst, and optionally a polyepoxide; (b) additively manufacturing from said resin an intermediate object comprising the light polymerization product of said reactive blocked polyisocyanate; (c) optionally cleaning said intermediate object; and (d) reacting said polymerization product in said intermediate with water in the presence of a catalyst such as a polyurethane blowing catalyst (which may be included in the resin, the water, or both) to generate polyamine in situ that sequentially reacts with the remainder of the polymerization product to form urea linkages and thereby produce a three-dimensional object comprising polyurea.

Abstract: Additives for three-dimensional build materials or inks are described herein which, in some embodiments, can impart one or more structural enhancements to articles printed from the build materials. In one aspect, a polymerizable liquid comprises at least one additive including a plurality of cyclopolymerizable functionalities separated by an aliphatic linker or alkylene oxide linker.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for printing a three-dimensional object. In an example, a method for printing a three-dimensional object can comprise: (i) a metallic build material being applied; (ii) a binder fluid being applied on at least a portion of the metallic build material; (iii) the selectively applied binder fluid can be flash fused to bind the metallic build material and the selectively applied binder fluid by application of an energy flux having an energy density of from about 0.5 J/cm2 to about 20 J/cm2 for less than about 1 second. In the example, (i), (ii), and (iii) can be repeated at least one time to form the three-dimensional object.

Abstract: This disclosure describes three-dimensional printing kits, methods, and systems for three-dimensional printing with triethylene glycol fusing agents. In one example, a three-dimensional printing kit can include a powder bed material including polymer particles and a fusing agent to selectively apply to the powder bed material. The fusing agent can include water, a radiation absorber, and triethylene glycol in an amount from about 20 wt % to about 35 wt %. The radiation absorber can absorb radiation energy and convert the radiation energy to heat to fuse the powder bed material.

Abstract: Build material handling unit for a powder module for an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, which apparatus is adapted to successively layerwise selectively irradiate and consolidate layers of a build material which can be consolidated by means of an energy source, wherein the build material handling unit is coupled or can be coupled with a powder module, wherein the build material handling unit is adapted to level and/or compact a volume of build material arranged inside a powder chamber of the powder module by controlling the gas pressure inside the powder chamber.

Abstract: A head (1) for an additive production machine having an extruder (3) that can be moved in a plane to deposit material in the plane and to which the head (1) is connected, the extruder (3) having a longitudinal shaft. The head (1) includes a nozzle (4) having an elongate outlet for depositing a bead of printing material, the nozzle (4) varying the deposition width, wherein the device for varying the deposition width has a device for rotating the nozzle (4) with respect to the longitudinal shaft of the extruder (3), such that the rotation of the nozzle (4) with respect to the direction of movement of the head (1) varies the width of the bead of deposited material.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object in which a three-dimensional shaped object is shaped by discharging a shaping material from a nozzle and laminating layers in a lamination direction includes: a first step of stopping the discharge of the shaping material from the nozzle; and a second step of moving the nozzle from a discharge stop position at which the discharge of the shaping material is stopped to a discharge restart position that is located in the same layer as the discharge stop position and at which the discharge of the shaping material is restarted.

Abstract: Provided herein is an additive manufacturing system having a build chamber, a plurality of tools and a plurality of tool bays where each tool bay is arranged to store one tool. A gantry is arranged to select one tool and removes the selected tool from a tool bay. A tool mount is slidably arranged on the gantry and to detachably couple the selected tool to the gantry. Two guide rails extend in a first direction and are arranged to receive the selected tool. The guide rails are movable along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, so as to enable alignment of the guide rails with one of the tool bays at a time. Channel seals expand or contract based on a relative movement between the tools and the sliders.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing technique uses digital mask-based illumination and a polar-based build environment for increased throughput. In one embodiment, the build environment comprises a rotating element having a surface. A coater is configured to deposit photopolymer material on the rotating element at a given flow rate. As the element rotates and the coater deposits the photopolymer material, a radiation source of an image scanning system projects an array of point sources (an image) onto the photopolymer material for an exposure time to cure a given layer. As the photopolymer material is deposited layer-upon-layer, and for each layer, a control system adjusts a relative position of the coater with respect to the surface, adjusts a speed of rotation of the rotating element, and maintains the flow rate and the exposure time constant.

Abstract: A three-dimensional modeling apparatus (1) includes a layer formation mechanism (12) for forming a material layer in a modeling space (30), an optical head (11) for irradiating the material layer with light, and a head moving mechanism (13) for moving the optical head (11) in a head moving direction parallel to the material layer. The optical head (11) includes a light source, a diffractive optical modulator having a plurality of modulation elements which are linearly arranged, an illumination optical system for guiding light emitted from the light source to the optical modulator, and a projection optical system for forming a projection image of the optical modulator on the material layer and moving the projection image in a scan direction (+X) crossing a direction corresponding to an arrangement direction of the plurality of modulation elements and crossing the head moving direction (+Y) by changing an orientation of a mirror.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides various three-dimensional (3D) objects, some of which comprise a wire or 3D plane. Disclosed herein are methods, apparatus, software, and systems for their generation that may reduce or eliminate the need for auxiliary support during the formation of the 3D objects. The methods, apparatuses, software, and systems of the present disclosure may allow the formation of objects with short, diminished number, and/or spaced apart auxiliary support structures. These 3D objects may be objects with adjacent surfaces such as hanging structures and planar hollow 3D objects.

Abstract: A method of monitoring and influencing an additive layer manufacturing process, in which selective fusing of powder material in successively applied layers is carried out to manufacture a three-dimensional article, comprises delivery to a work space, for example in a vacuum chamber (12) of electron beam additive layer manufacturing apparatus (10), of a quantity of the powder material in excess of that required to form a layer of a given volume in a build zone of the space and spreading the powder material within the work space by a spreader (17) to form the layer in the build zone and also an accumulation of excess powder material in an accumulation zone adjoining the build zone.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping device includes a stage, an ejection portion configured to selectively eject, as a shaping material, a first material containing a crystalline resin and a second material containing an amorphous resin to an upper side of the stage, a moving portion configured to relatively move the stage and the ejection portion, and a control unit. The control unit executes first stacking processing when a plurality of slice layers are stacked using the first material as the shaping material and executes second stacking processing when a plurality of slice layers are stacked using the second material as the shaping material.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a resin cleaning device and method. The resin cleaning device includes a control system, a treatment unit, a driving unit, and a feedback assembly. The treatment unit, the driving unit, and the feedback assembly are respectively in communication connection with the control system. The treatment unit is configured for treating a member-to-be-cleaned so as to reduce a viscosity of resin on the member-to-be-cleaned. The driving unit is configured for driving the member-to-be-cleaned to rotate. The feedback assembly is configured for acquiring a position signal of the member-to-be-cleaned and feeding the position signal back to the control system, such that the control system controls the treatment unit and the driving unit according to the position signal. Through the above manner, a more intelligent resin cleaning process with a better cleaning effect may be realized.

Abstract: Disclosed in the disclosure are a method and apparatus for calibrating an exposure surface of an optical system, and a computer device and a storage medium. The method includes: performing flat-field correction on a photographing module; acquiring a grayscale distribution image; segmenting the grayscale distribution image into a mesh image including a plurality of segmented regions, and calculating a fitting grayscale value of each segmented region; selecting, as a reference grayscale value, a minimum fitting grayscale value from all the fitting grayscale values obtained through calculation, and calculating grayscale compensation coefficients corresponding to the other segmented regions, so as to generate a digital mask; and performing mask compensation, by using the digital mask, on a light projection image projected by the optical system, so as to obtain a printed image of which the exposure surface has a uniform irradiance value.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of manufacturing a mold, wherein the methods comprise: (a) applying one or more input parameters to determine effect on process constraints in making a solid mesh; (b) printing a block of a micro-architected material; (c) determining porosity of the block; (d) determining feasibility of the micro-architected material to print; (e) defining architecture parameters of the mold based on solid mesh input parameters; (f) printing the mold, wherein the feasibility is an ability to print the solid mesh without clogging solid mesh; wherein if the micro-architected material is found not feasible at step (d), the solid mesh input parameters are adjusted and steps (b)-(d) are repeated.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for computer-aided design, digital treatment planning, and direct additive manufacturing of dental appliances are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a treatment plan for a patient's teeth, the treatment plan specifying a target arrangement for the teeth and a plurality of treatment stages to reposition the teeth from an initial arrangement toward the target arrangement. The method can include identifying appliance design parameters for one or more dental appliances to implement at least one treatment stage of the plurality of treatment stages. The appliance design parameters can include one or more manufacturability parameters corresponding to an additive manufacturing process to be used to directly fabricate the one or more dental appliances. The method can further include determining an appliance geometry for the one or more dental appliances using the set of appliance design parameters.

Abstract: Provided are a control apparatus and method for three-dimensional (3D) printer post-processing equipment. The control apparatus includes a processor, and a memory configured to store an instruction executed by the processor, wherein the processor analyzes a computer-aided design (CAD) file to extract basic information of a product, analyzes a slicing file to extract output analysis information, then extracts output feature information on the basis of the basic information and the output analysis information, analyzes the output feature information to extract a parameter for controlling post-processing equipment, and controls the post-processing equipment according to the parameter.

Abstract: A determination device used in a shaping device in which a three-dimensional shaped object is shaped on an upper surface of a film adhered to a pallet, the determination device determining whether the film is adhered to the pallet based on imaging data of the pallet.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods for dynamic sensor printing and deployment. Aspects include receiving, from one or more symptom tracking sensors disposed on an apparatus, data regarding a condition of the apparatus and analyzing the data regarding the condition of the apparatus. Aspects also include determining, based on the analysis, one or more required additional measurements of the apparatus and creating, by a three-dimensional printer, one or more sensors configured to measure the one or more required additional measurements. Aspects further include placing the one or more sensors on the apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing apparatus for a 3D surface, which performs printing by ejecting a droplet onto a 3D surface and controlling an electric field on an impact path of the droplet, the printing apparatus including: a ejecting environment information provider configured to provide ejecting environment information between a nozzle and an impact point; and a controller configured to predict a result of printing on an actual substrate by accumulating previous printing results according to printing conditions and the ejecting environment information into a database, and perform the printing on the 3D surface while changing the printing conditions provided by the database based on the ejecting environment information provided by the ejecting environment information provider.

Abstract: A computing device comprising a controller is disclosed herein. The controller is to access print data of a virtual build volume including a 3D object to be generated by a 3D printer; modify the print data to include a 3D structure at a location within the build volume to encapsulate an amount of build material; receive powder degradation data corresponding to the powder degradation of the encapsulated amount of build material; and calibrate an additive manufacturing parameter based on the powder degradation data.

Abstract: A three-dimensional molding method in which both a support material 2 and a test piece 3 are separately joined to partial regions of a part to be produced 1, which is molded by dispersion of a powder by traveling of a squeegee and sintering of the powder by irradiation of a laser beam or an electron beam, or the test piece 3 is separately joined to a plurality of the support materials 2, or the test piece 3 is joined to a partial region of the part to be produced 1 to mold the support material 2 and the test pieces 3 in the same step.

Abstract: An extrusion-based additive manufacturing process including the step of selectively depositing a molten thermoplastic material (P) on a film or sheet made from or containing a polymer blend obtained by melt blending a mixture made from or containing: (A) 60% to 98.8% by weight of a polyolefin; (B) 0.1% to 30% by weight of a compatibilizer; (C) 0.05% to 20% by weight of an amino resin; and (D) 0% to 5% by weight of an additive, wherein the amounts of (A), (B), (C) and (D) are based on the total weight of (A)+(B)+(C)+(D).

Abstract: Methods and systems relate to receiving oral characteristic data of a patient, processing the oral characteristic data in a server to determine dentition data and a forward mandibular position to enable the patient to breathe during sleep by opening an airway of the patient, forming a dental appliance using the dentition data and the forward mandibular position, including a lower dental tray and an upper dental tray, the upper dental tray including a pair of upper dental tray plateaus, the lower dental tray including a pair of lower dental tray plateaus, ultrasonically welding a first pair of button protrusions onto the pair of lower dental tray plateaus, and ultrasonically welding a second pair of button protrusions onto the upper dental tray plateaus to provide a dental when two connectors are attached to connect the upper dental tray to the lower dental tray.

Abstract: Provided is a resin profile joining method of joining a pair of resin profiles. The method includes: holding one resin profile and another resin profile of the pair of resin profiles with a first mold and a second mold, respectively; heating the end surfaces of the pair of resin profiles in no contact with the end surfaces of the pair of resin profiles to melt the pair of resin profiles; after the heating, moving each of the first mold and the second mold relative to the pair of resin profiles in a longitudinal direction of a corresponding resin profile of the pair of resin profiles; and crimping the end surfaces of the pair of resin profiles to each other while keeping the first mold and the second mold in contact with the surfaces of the pair of resin profiles.

Abstract: A bonding apparatus for bonding a second object to a first object, including a holding unit configured to hold a sheet with the second object stuck thereto, a protrusion mechanism configured to protrude the second object to a side of the first object via the sheet held by the holding unit, a measurement unit configured to measure, with respect to the first object, a position of the second object stuck to the sheet held by the holding unit, and a processing unit configured to perform a process of positioning the first object and the second object based on the position measured by the measurement unit in a state in which the second object is protruded to the side of the first object by the protrusion mechanism.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced composite material (K), containing a thermoplastic polymer matrix and at least one natural-fiber component, is technically advantageous if it contains at least 45% (v/v) of a styrene (co)polymer (A) as polymer matrix, 30-55% (v/v) of a natural-fiber sheet material (B) as natural-fiber component, optionally 0-10% (v/v) of an additional polymer component (C), and optionally 0-10% of at least one additive (D), the volume percentages of components (A) to (D) adding up to 100 volume percent of the composite material (K).

Abstract: A discrete segmented pre-preg ply is provided along with a method for manufacturing same, a discrete segmented multilayer pad manufactured by stacking discrete segmented pre-preg plies and a method for manufacturing composite parts from discrete segmented multilayer pads. The discrete segmented pre-preg ply includes a discrete segmented pre-preg layer 3ds having a thickness and including unidirectional fibres arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction (D), the fibres being embedded in a resin matrix, and a discrete anti-adhesive liner 2d applied to one face of the discrete segmented pre-preg layer 3ds. Only the discrete segmented layer 3ds includes segments which are cut along its entire thickness and arranged in staggered rows.

Abstract: A tape laying device includes a tape transmission mechanism, a compaction head mechanism, a cutter mechanism, a heating mechanism and a motion mechanism. The tape transmission mechanism is configured to transmit the pre-impregnated tape. The compaction head mechanism, connected with the tape transmission mechanism, is configured to depress and drive the pre-impregnated tape transmitted by the tape transmission mechanism to follow a moving path so as to adhere the pre-impregnated tape onto the mould surface. The cutter mechanism is configured to cut the pre-impregnated tape. The heating mechanism, disposed downstream to the cutter mechanism, is configured to heat the pre-impregnated tape. The motion mechanism is used to have the cutter mechanism having an active path to move toward the moving path while the cutter mechanism cuts the pre-impregnated tape.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for manufacturing a composite part includes a mold, a composite material including fiber material and matrix material on a forming surface of the mold. To provide a simple and cheap technology for forming and optionally curing the component at the mold, the method includes providing a pressing tool made of semi-crystalline thermoplastic material in an amorphous state on the forming surface of the mold, forming the pressing tool by applying a pressure, that can be by expanding a hollow mandrel, and pressing the pressing tool against the mold, conducting crystallization of the pressing tool material by increasing the temperature of the pressing tool so material of the pressing tool is crystallized. Afterwards, the composite part may be hardened, such as by curing the composite part between the mold and the crystallized tube mandrel.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for photolithographically forming an ophthalmic lens (L) comprises: a container (2) comprising a container bottom (20) with an inner surface (200) including a concave portion (201); a piston (4) comprising a distal piston end face (400) with a convex portion (401); wherein the piston (4) is arranged in the container (2) such that the convex portion (401) faces the concave portion (201), and wherein the piston is movably arranged in the container (2); a light source (5, 50) being arranged beneath the container bottom (20) for emitting light towards the container bottom (20); a mask (6) arranged between the light source (5, 50) and the container bottom (20), the mask (6) comprising a plurality of pixels (60) which are configured to be individually controlled to either allow the light emitted from the light source (5, 50) to pass through the individual pixels (60) and to impinge on that part of the container bottom (20) having the concave portion (201) of the inner surface (200), or to not al