Abstract: A foam board cutter configured with dual retractable cutting blades that may be extended and retracted by dual blade actuation mechanisms which may be parallel to one another and independently operable. Each blade actuation mechanism of the cutter may include a slider button assembly operably connected to a blade holder configured to hold a blade.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a knife, the knife including a blade having a cutting edge and a tang, wherein the cutting edge comprises a serrated portion having a plurality of serrations, the plurality of serrations positioned between a proximal end of the blade and a distal tip of the blade, wherein the serrated portion further comprises a plurality of recessed portions, and wherein each of the plurality of serrations is positioned adjacent at least one recessed portion; and wherein each recessed portion includes a top edge, a bottom edge, and at least one tapered portion, wherein one or more of the at least one tapered portion of each recessed portion is positioned adjacent at least one of the plurality of serrations.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a shaver head assembly including a shaver screen provided with outer fixed blades along an edge, an annular wall, and a blade holder that are coaxially provided. An outer peripheral entry groove is formed between adjacent outer fixed blades. The blade holder has outer movable blades. The outer movable blades and the outer fixed blades cooperate to cut the hairs. An annular collecting groove is formed between the edges of the shaver screen and the annular wall at an end approaching skins. The shaver head assembly further includes guide comb teeth provided on a periphery of the annular wall; the guide comb teeth extend substantially along an axial direction of the shaver screen. Each guide comb tooth has a tooth body for combing and shunting the hairs; a shunt channel is formed between adjacent guide comb teeth. The present disclosure can improve shaving efficiency and protect the skins.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cutter system for an electric shaver and/or trimmer, comprising a pair of comb-like cutting elements with cooperating toothed cutting edges and movably supported relative to each other by a support element, wherein lateral ends of at least one of the cutting elements are provided with lateral protection elements having rounded and/or chamfered edge contours for soft skin engagement, wherein the lateral protection element is enveloping and covering a gap movably receiving the other cutting element and/or enveloping the support element.

Abstract: A shaving razor. A first and second blade assembly each have a cutting edge oriented to shave in the same direction. The first and second blade assemblies are each displaceable along a respective first and second path substantially parallel to their cutting edge. First and second linkages couple together a first ends and second ends respectively of the first and second blade assembly. The linkages are configured such that a displacement of the first blade assembly in a first direction along the first path causes a displacement of the second blade assembly in an opposite direction along the second path. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A razor blade including: a substrate having a tip portion including a tip region, a blade body including a base, and first and second outer sides disposed opposite a split line of the substrate, in which the first and second outer sides converge at a tip, the first outer side comprises a first coating disposed substantially thereon and extending from the tip region toward the base, and a first portion of the second outer side is substantially free of any coating, the first portion extending from the tip region toward the base or being spaced apart from the tip region and the base. Also provided is a method of coating the razor blade.

Abstract: Provided is a rotary cutting unit including (i) a frame, (ii) a rotary cutter including a rotary cutting drum having a rotary cutting surface with a first axis of rotation. At least one knife member is anchored on the rotary cutting surface. The rotary cutting unit further includes (iii) an anvil including an anvil portion having an anvil surface configured to directly contact the at least one knife member with a second axis of rotation. Further provided is a rotary cutting system including a plurality of rotary cutting units.

Abstract: An automated pizza cutter with a blade and a pizza resting on a working surface. Horizontal, vertical and/or rotational relative movement between the blade and the pizza is effected by different embodiments. The working surface can be moved rotationally relative to the blade, and the blade may be moved horizontally and/or vertically relative to the working surface. In one embodiment, a rotatably driven table supports a pizza while a blade disposed above the table is configured to move vertically and horizontally. A programmable user interface allows operation of the cutter. After the cutting process is completed, a blade cleaner wipes the blade of debris, which eliminates cross contamination between different types of pizzas.

Abstract: An edge band cutting device includes a base reciprocated along a direction parallel to a conveying path between a front cutting position and a rear cutting position, a baffle component disposed to the base and having a baffle configured to be reciprocated along a direction parallel to the conveying path between an initial position and a compression position, and reciprocated along a direction perpendicular to the conveying path between a lifting position and a lowering position, and a cutting component disposed to the base and having a saw blade configured to be reciprocated up and down along a cutting path perpendicular to the conveying path. By operation of the baffle component and the cutting component, only one saw blade is used to cut a front protrusion and a rear protrusion of an edge band, such that the structural design is greatly simplified.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing an environmentally-friendly high-strength wood composite material, which includes the following steps: S1. pulverizing wood into a wood flour, adding the wood flour to an acid solution to obtain a first mixture, ball milling the first mixture to obtain a ball milled mixture, and filtering the ball milled mixture, to obtain a dually-treated wood flour; S2. adding the dually-treated wood flour to a first alkaline solution, and performing a neutralization reaction, to obtain a second mixture; S3. adding an alkaline solution to the second mixture to remove part of lignin, to obtain a lignin-partially removed wood flour; S4. washing the lignin-partially removed wood flour with anhydrous ethanol and drying, to obtain a dried lignin-partially removed wood flour; S5. subjecting the dried lignin-partially removed wood flour to hot pressing, followed by cooling, to obtain the environmentally-friendly high-strength wood composite material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a manufacturing method of a composite panel, comprising: a providing step of providing a flexible sheet; an attaching step of forming a lamellar structure by attaching at least one lamellar board to cover the flexible sheet; and a cutting step of cutting a plurality of longitudinal grooves in the lamellar structure layer to form a plurality of lamellar strips, thereby obtaining the composite panel that is able to be bent laterally into a curved configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed are a hollow artificial log and a manufacturing method thereof. The method includes: splicing and fixing veneers along a length direction and a width direction, respectively, to obtain a spliced veneer; gluing the spliced veneer on one side to obtain a glued veneer; subjecting the glued veneer to winding and forming around a forming die along a length direction of the glued veneer to obtain a formed body; subjecting the formed body to hot-pressing curing in a hot-pressing die to obtain a cured body; and taking out the cured body from the forming die to obtain the hollow artificial log; wherein an adhesive for the gluing comprises a melamine-urea-formaldehyde copolycondensation resin, and the forming die is a cylinder.

Abstract: An internal rotor type nail drive device of electric nail gun, comprising a nailing rod and an internal rotor type rotary actuator that can output a specific rotation angle and can drive the nailing rod to move downward for nailing. Specifically, the rotary actuator comprises a stator and a rotor arranged inside the stator, even groups of electromagnetic mutual action components are configured in pairs between the stator and the rotor, to generate a tangential force to drive the rotor to rotate for a specific rotation angle, and to drive the nailing rod to move for a nailing stroke. The nailing stroke can be determined by a specific rotation angle. Thus, through the above configuration of the rotary actuator, the structure of the electric nail gun can be simplified, and the kinetic energy for nailing can be increased.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a stud plate connector are disclosed. The system can include a base plate having a first cam slot and a second cam slot, where the second cam slot is approximately a mirror image of the first cam slot. The system can include a first upper cam-follower located within the first cam slot. The system can include a second upper cam-follower located within the second cam slot, where the first and second cam-followers hold opposite sides of a first lumber and move the first lumber to contact a second lumber. The system can include a first lower gripper and a second lower gripper for holding the second lumber in a perpendicular direction with respect to the first lumber.

Abstract: A method for producing a compressed cellulosic fiber product and a compressed cellulosic fiber product manufactured from cellulosic raw material using this method. The method comprises the steps of: (i) providing cellulosic raw material comprising cellulosic fibers; (ii) treating the cellulosic raw material with an adhesive composition to obtain a raw mass; and (iii) compressing the raw mass in a pre-defined form to effect condensation to obtain the compressed cellulosic fiber product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a feedstock composition comprising inorganic particles having a multi-modal particle size distribution and comprising a collection of irregular fine particles having a fine particle size distribution and an average fine particle diameter, and a collection of irregular coarse particles having a coarse particle size distribution and an average coarse particle diameter that is in a range from 4 to 7 times the average fine particle diameter. The feedstock composition further comprising a binder composition that is adapted to solidify to form a body comprising the inorganic particles and solidified binder composition. Additionally, the present composition provides a method of forming a shaped body that comprises inorganic particles dispersed in binder composition as well as a method of forming a low porosity inorganic sintered body.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an additively manufactured transport structure. The transport structure includes cavities into which components that use an external interface are inserted. A plurality of components are assembled and integrated into the vehicle. In an embodiment, the components and frame are modular, enabling reparability and replacement of single parts in the event of isolated failures.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a three-dimensional printing apparatus including a stage, and first and second discharge nozzles, and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: In a method of additively manufacturing a component from a building material, a material output unit deposits the building material in layers along a defined print pathway. At least, one load transfer element extends into the print pathway. The material output unit deposits the building material onto the load transfer element present in the print pathway, and a load transfer element present in a movement pathway of the material output unit is at least temporarily pushed out of the print pathway by the material output unit while the material output unit deposits the building material along the defined print pathway.

Abstract: An arthroscopic or other surgical cutter has features which facilitate fabrication by ceramic molding. The arthroscopic cutter includes a cutter body having a longitudinal axis and a window, an interior channel, and a plurality of cutting edges extending radially outwardly from an outer surface thereof. The features include non-helical, longitudinally aligned cutting edges, controlled thicknesses of the cutting edges, controlled heights of the cutting edges, controlled areas of the windows, controlled diameters of the internal channels, controlled rake angles of the cutting edges, and other parameters.

Abstract: A method includes providing a continuous mandrel body disposed along an axis. The mandrel body defines, in order along the axis from a first end thereof, a pilot lead-in section, a first article section, a tapered transition section, and a second article section. Beginning at the pilot lead-in section, a continuous fabric sleeve is progressively formed on the mandrel body to the first article section, to the tapered transition section, and then to the second article section to form a fabric-covered mandrel. The portions of the continuous fabric sleeve that are on the first article section and the second article section form, respectively, a first article preform and a second article preform. The fabric-covered mandrel is then divided to separate the article preforms, followed by densifying the article preforms with a ceramic matrix material to thereby form CMC articles.

Abstract: A system for delivery ingredients to a cement mixing barrel has a container. The container is divided into a plurality of compartments, each compartment used to store one ingredient for making cement. A dispensing opening is formed in a bottom area of each of the plurality of compartments. A delivery trough is positioned below each dispensing opening transferring the ingredient from each of the plurality of compartments to the cement mixing barrel.

Abstract: An assembly for use with a glove manufacturing system is provided. There may be an assembly having first and second holders that engage a glove mold. The first and second holders have respective ledges that each engage respective first and second sides of an edge that defines a slot in the glove mold. With the first and second holders coupled to the glove mold, a connector can connect the first and second holders to a support structure to thereby couple the glove mold the support structure. Then, the gloves may be formed through the use of the glove mold.

Abstract: A forming mold for a drum-shaped shaft tube and a demolding method therefor are provided. The forming mold includes a rotating body having a through hole that passes through the center of the body in an axial direction. The body is divided into multiple parts in a longitudinal direction. The parts are combined in a circumferential direction to form the rotating body. A longitudinal maximum material size of each part is less than a minimum diameter of the through hole. Two side edges of a cross section of at least one part are deflected toward adjacent parts with respect to radial lines at which two end points of an outer arc of the cross section are located, and a chord length of the outer arc of the cross section is less than a chord length of an inner arc of the cross section. The body has a forming section.

Abstract: A retaining wall block having a false joint and a system of retaining wall blocks. The retaining wall block includes a body having a first textured surface and a second textured surface and a false joint dividing the first and second textured surface. The false joint can have a depth divided by the width greater than two inches. The false joint can have an interior angle of less than ten degrees. The system includes a plurality of retaining wall blocks and a first course of retaining wall blocks engaged with a second course of retaining wall blocks below. Each block in the system comprising a front face having a first textured surface and a second textured surface and a false joint dividing the first and second textured surface. The false joint can extend a predetermined depth of a third surface.

Abstract: A press molding method of a glass optical element using a mold, the method including plural steps with pressurizing, in each of which load is imposed on a piece of glass material at a temperature above the glass transition temperature, and a step without pressurizing between two steps with pressurizing, wherein in a step without pressurizing between a first step with pressurizing and a second step with pressurizing, the second step with pressurizing being the next step with pressurizing after the first step with pressurizing, the temperature of the mold is reduced by 50 degrees centigrade or greater with respect to the temperature of the mold in the first step with pressurizing and then the mold is heated before the start of the second step with pressurizing.

Abstract: A mould for the production of closures with tear-off membrane in a compression moulding machine, includes: a male die element including a first abutment surface and a female die element. movable relative to each other along a moulding orientation. The mould is positionable between a closed configuration, in which the male die element and the female die element are in contact with each other, and an open configuration, in which the male die element and the female die element are spaced apart. The female die element includes: a first block, a second block and a third block, aligned with each other and movable along the moulding orientation; a first spring, interposed between the first block and the second block; a second spring, interposed between the second block and the third block and configured to apply an opening force along the moulding orientation.

Abstract: A metal member—polyarylene sulfide resin member complex superior in airtightness between the metal member and the polyarylene sulfide (PAS) resin member and a production method therefor, in which the complex comprises a metal member and a PAS member combined together into a one-piece shaped article by injection molding and satisfies conditions 1) and 2) as described, and the PAS resin member contains a PAS resin and a modified ethylene copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical field of chip package, in particular to a semiconductor package injection molding mold, a semiconductor package injection molding device and a semiconductor package injection molding method. The semiconductor package injection molding mold includes a bottom mold and a top mold. The upper surface of the bottom mold is fitted with the lower surface of a substrate to form a semiconductor package structure; the top mold is matched with the bottom mold; the top mold has a cavity; the cavity is oriented toward the upper surface of the substrate and is used to accommodate a plastic package layer formed on the upper surface of the substrate; through holes that penetrate through the bottom mold are formed at positions corresponding to the substrate in the bottom mold; and the through holes are connected with an external pressure source.

Abstract: An outer shell for a dispenser and a method for making same are provided, the outer shell including first and second injection molded plastic component parts. The first and second component parts each include an outer surface and an inner surface, with the first component part having a first mating surface directed to the outer surface of the first component part and the second component part having a second mating surface directed to an inner surface of the second component part. The first and second component parts are joined to each other along a seam by mating the first mating surface and the second mating surface during injection moulding. A plurality of recesses is formed in the inner surface of the first component part along the seam and/or on a gate protrusion extending away from a free end of the first mating surface of the first component part.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus for generally toroidal or donut-shaped articles having a hollow interior includes a hollow-interior forming member that is positioned within the mold cavity during injection to form the hollow interior of the article, and that is moved away from the mold cavity to allow removal of the molded article when the injection molding apparatus is opened following molding. The hollow-interior forming member includes an open section or gap that is closed by a gap-filling member when the injection molding apparatus is closed. When the injection molding apparatus is opened following molding, the gap-filling member vacates the open section or gap to enable the molded article to be manually separated from the annular member.

Abstract: An information processing device displays information related to manufacturing of a molding product by an injection molding machine, and the information processing device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires information related to a shot in injection molding and estimated data of information indicating a molding result in the shot estimated based on information obtained in the shot; and a display unit that displays, for each shot, the information related to the shot and the estimated data in the shot in association with each other, based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit.

Abstract: An information processing device receives an operation of setting an adjustment condition for an automatic adjustment function in an injection molding machine capable of automatically adjusting a molding condition, and the information processing device includes: a first input reception unit that receives an input of a quality item related to maintaining a quality of a molding product as the setting of the adjustment condition; and a second input reception unit that receives an input of an adjustment item as an adjustment target for maintaining the quality of the molding product as the setting of the adjustment condition.

Abstract: A polymer processing aid (PPA) reduces melt defects in extruded polyolefins in the absence of fluoropolymers. The polymer processing aid comprises a polyalkylene glycol such as a polyethylene glycol together with a high pressure low density polyethylene (LDPE) and reduces melt defects well in a thermoplastic polyolefin such as a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE).

Abstract: The invention describes a feeding device for feeding fluff and granules into an extruder having a supplying apparatus with an outlet-side pipe piece for the granules, with which the granules can be fed while forming a granule column, wherein the pipe piece is connected to an inlet opening of the extruder, having a funnel with a funnel outlet for supplying fluff, wherein an auger is provided within the funnel for conveying fluff, which projects through the funnel outlet and into the pipe piece, wherein the fluff is conveyable within the granule column. The auger is configured in order to also convey parts of the granules and/or to compact the fluff.

Abstract: A method for producing an extruder screw, the method including a. sequentially sliding screw segments onto a tensioned longitudinally extending cylindrical tension rod, the screw segments including: i. radially protruding functional elements configured to feed, mix and/or knead an extrudate, ii. a through bore oriented in a longitudinal direction of the extruder screw (1), and iii. an inner spline extending in the through bore in the longitudinal direction of the extruder screw; b. inserting cylindrical coupling pieces including an outer coupling piece spline into the through bore with positive form locking so that the cylindrical coupling pieces connect adjacent screw segments torque proof; and c. axially supporting the screw segments at a tip of the tension rod and clamping the screw segments against the tip of the tension rod, wherein the inner spline extends over an entire length of the through bore.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a resin container having a flat cross-sectional shape includes a temperature adjusting step of preliminarily blowing a resin preform in a first mold to mold an intermediate molded body having a diameter larger than a diameter of a container short diameter side and adjusting a temperature of the intermediate molded body in the first mold, and a blow molding step of bringing the temperature-adjusted intermediate molded body into contact with a second mold to compress the intermediate molded body in a container short diameter direction, and then stretching and blow molding the intermediate molded body in the second mold to manufacture the resin container.

Abstract: A vacuum form tooling is configured for a press or vacuum lamination system. The vacuum form tooling comprises a negatively pressurized lower mold supporting at least one substrate element to be laminated or to provide at least one molding tool to be molded. The vacuum form tooling further comprises a negatively pressurized upper mold. The vacuum form tooling includes a clamping frame adapted to clamp a film portion to be laminated on the at least one substrate element or to be molded onto the at least one molding tool. Said clamping frame is moveable from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the clamped film portion can be sucked at least partially into the negatively pressurized upper mold. In the second position, the clamped film portion can be sucked for lamination on the at least one substrate element.

Abstract: A parison tube former utilizes a radial compression heater to heat a very specific portion of a preform tube for stretching. The heater has a plurality of compression dies that form a central cavity for receiving the preform tube. The working surfaces of the compression dies close down onto the outer surface of the preform tube to heat the tube via conduction, which more accurately and precisely heats the preform tube. A first stretched portion of the preform tube is produced by stretching the preform tube after heating. A second portion of the preform tube is then located within the central cavity and is also heated by the radial compression heater and stretched to produce a second stretched portion of the preform tube and an unexpanded portion of the preform tube, or balloon portion of the parison tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a protective film to a film attachment target includes a protective film guide around which a protective film is wound in a roll form; a protective film unwinding roller configured to unwind the protective film from the protective film guide; a vacuum suction guide configured to vacuum-suction one end of the unwound protective film, and to transfer the vacuum-suctioned one end of the protective film to a corresponding end of an area of the film attachment target; a pressing means configured to: press and attach the vacuum-suctioned end of the protective film to the corresponding end of the area of the film attachment target; and then press and attach the protective film to a remaining area of the film attachment target while moving and pressing an area of the protective film overlapping the remaining area; and a cutter for cutting the protective film.

Abstract: It is provided a device for bonding at least one material segment to a steering device. The device comprises at least two form fitting segments, wherein at least one of the form fitting segments is movably mounted relative to the at least one other form fitting segment, wherein the form fitting segments are configured in such a way that they can at least sectionally enclose the steering device, in particular the steering wheel rim of the steering device; a receptacle for receiving the steering device; a drive mechanism for moving the at least one movably mounted form fitting segment towards the steering device.

Abstract: An out-of-oven system for free-form fabrication of continuous carbon fiber composites includes a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) applicator configured to create an electric field proximal to the continuous carbon fiber composite. The DBD applicator includes a first electrode disposed within a dielectric barrier, and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode. The first and second electrodes are configured to allow the continuous carbon fiber composite to pass therebetween to cure the continuous carbon fiber composite. The system uses Joule heating to cure the continuous carbon fiber composite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (1) for producing a three-dimensional object.

Abstract: A sensor includes a grayscale digital light processing (g-DLP) 3D printed monolithic substrate with at least one microfluid channel. The monolithic substrate is formed from a resin configured to form a solid polymer using g-DLP 3D printing with a Young's modulus ranging from 0.1 MPa to 100 MPa. The resin includes a donor moiety, an acceptor moiety different than the donor moiety, a rigid moiety, a photoinitiator, and a photoabsorber. The donor moiety is in the form of an acrylate monomer with a side group, the acceptor moiety is in the form of an acrylate monomer with a side group, and the rigid moiety is in the form of an acrylate monomer with a side group. Also, the sensor can include a sensor fluid disposed within the at least one microfluid channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for photo-curing 4D printing of a multi-layer structure with an adjustable shape recovery speed, and a multi-layer structure printed thereby. The multi-layer structure printed by the method for photo-curing 4D printing of the multi-layer structure with the adjustable shape recovery speed includes a plurality of deformation units sequentially connected in series, and each of the plurality of the deformation units includes two slow layers, a fast layer, and a transition layer; and the fast layer is arranged between the two slow layers, and the transition layer is arranged between at least one of the two slow layers and the fast layer. In the present disclosure, a low cross-linking layer is doped with a nanocarbon light-absorbing material to solve the problem that the low cross-linking layer is prone to over-curing when a high cross-linking layer is printed on the low cross-linking layer.

Abstract: Methods of creating additive manufactured parts include selectively dispensing, in a shape area according to a layer of a part to be created by additive manufacturing, a second composition onto a top surface of a first composition in a vat, wherein a polymerization component is in the second composition. In some cases, polymerization components for formation of the layer are kept separate from each other until the dispensing. In some cases, a first polymerization component is in the first composition, and a second polymerization component is in the second composition. The top surface is illuminated to expose the first composition and the second composition to light having a polymerization wavelength, thereby causing polymerization of the layer of the part only in the shape area. The dispensing comprises customizing a reaction variable of the polymerization to customize reaction kinetics in different portions of the shape area.

Abstract: A method and system for in situ cross-linking of polymers, Bitumen, and other materials to produce arbitrary functional or ornamental three-dimensional features using electron beams provided by mobile accelerators comprises defining a desired pattern for imparting on a target area, mapping the target area, defining at least one discrete voxel in the target area according to the desired pattern to be imparted on the target area, assigning an irradiation value to each of the at least one discrete voxels, and delivering a dose of irradiation to each of the at least one discrete voxels according to the assigned irradiation value.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a 3-dimensional model object by a powder bed fusion method using a resin granular material, in which the resin granular material comprises a resin powder (A) and a flow aid (B), a sphericity of the resin powder (A) is 80 or more and 100 or less, the resin powder (A) has a D80 particle size of 60 ?m or less and a D20 particle size of 1 ?m or more, the flow aid (B) is contained at an amount of more than 0.01 part by mass and less than 5 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the resin powder (A), and steps (a) to (c) are performed in this order repeatedly.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for the additive manufacturing of at least one three-dimensional object (2) by selectively compacting layer by layer at least one compactible building material (3) by means of at least one energy beam (5) generated by at least one radiation generating device (4), comprising at least one radiation generating device (4) for generating at least one energy beam (5) for compacting at least one compactible building material (3), at least one coating device (8) for carrying out at least one coating operation to apply a defined building material layer (9) of at least one compactible building material (3) to a building plane (10) or to a building material layer (9) of at least one compactible building material (3) that has previously been applied in the course of carrying out a previous coating operation, and also at least one recording device (11) for recording layer information describing, at least for certain portions, the quality, in particular of the surface, of a buildin

Abstract: A method for producing objects by additive manufacturing including the steps of providing an apparatus for producing objects by additive manufacturing, assigning a production job to the apparatus, acquiring, during use of the apparatus to produce one of the objects, information pertaining to an operating condition of the apparatus determinative of an output performance of the apparatus, and controlling, based on the acquired information, at least one of current production of the object and allocation for future production of a further object. In embodiments, the acquired information pertains to at least one of a calibration status of the apparatus, a time to service of the apparatus, a time remaining to complete the current production of the object, and a quality measure.