In an example method of forming a waveguide film, a photocurable material is dispensed into a space between a first mold portion and a second mold portion opposite the first mold portion. Further, a relative separation between a surface of the first mold portion with respect to a surface of the second mold portion opposing the surface of the first mold portion is adjusted. The photocurable material in the space is irradiated with radiation suitable for photocuring the photocurable material to form a cured waveguide film. Concurrent to irradiating the photocurable material, the relative separation between the surface of the first mold portion and the surface of the second mold portion is varied and/or an intensity of the radiation irradiating the photocurable material is varied.

A caul plate assembly for applying compaction pressure to a composite structure includes caul plates arranged side-by-side on the surface of the composite structure. The caul plates include overlapping edges of compliant material which form a continuous face applying even pressure and shear across gaps between the caul plates.

An open/close counting device to be attached to one of a first die and a second die which constitute a die, the die being opened by relatively moving the first die and the second die, the open/close counting device counting the number of open/close times of the die. The open/close counting device includes an open/close detecting section provided so as to face a target face of the other of the first die and the second die and to detect relative displacement of the target face along a die moving direction in non-contact condition, and includes an output section to output the open/close times counted based on detection of open/close by the open/close detecting section.

A seal system includes a male body and a female body that are slidable in relation to one another in an axial direction and between which an interstice is arranged. Plastics in pasty state pass through the interstice to a chamber partially defined by at least one of the aforementioned bodies. An elastic strip is arranged in the interstice to prevent leakage of the plastics.

An optical mount includes a support substrate defining an aperture configured to receive an optical element. A support assembly is positioned proximate a perimeter of the aperture. The support assembly includes a resilient member configured reflects in response to relative motion between the optical element and the support substrate. A support plate is positioned on the resilient member and is in contact with the optical element.

A method and an apparatus of forming a three-dimensional object, wherein the method includes providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, said carrier and said build surface defining a build region therebetween; filling said build region with a polymerizable liquid, continuously or intermittently irradiating said build region with light through said optically transparent member to form a solid polymer from said polymerizable liquid, continuously or intermittently advancing (e.g., sequentially or concurrently with said irradiating step) said carrier away from said build surface to form said three-dimensional object from said solid polymer, said optically transparent member comprising a build plate for a three-dimensional printer comprising: an optically transparent first channel layer; an optically transparent, gas permeable second channel layer on the first channel layer; and a flexible, optically transparent, gas-permeable sheet having an upper and lower surface, the sheet upper surface comprising a build surface for forming a three-dimensional object, the sheet lower surface being positioned on the second channel layer.

A process for the additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional metal part consists of successively solidifying successively deposited layers of metal powder by melting with a laser beam (120), and defining in each of these successive layers at least one core region (210) and/or at least one shell region. The melting of said core regions (210) is effected with said laser beam (120) so as to form weld beads (211) that have identical widths (L), are mutually parallel and are juxtaposed or spaced apart or overlap over a distance less than X % of their width, and the melting of said shell regions is effected similarly to form weld beads that have identical widths to one another and to the weld beads of the core, are mutually parallel and that overlap over a distance greater than X % of their width, X being greater than 0 and less than 100.

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.

The present invention concerns an apparatus for making a three-dimensionally curved object, said apparatus comprising a membrane having a moulding surface, which is configurable into a predetermined shape by individually adjusting an array of actuators acting on the surface opposite the moulding surface of said membrane, wherein the membrane is a ferromagnetic membrane and the actuators are provided with magnetic joints at the distal ends of said actuators.

A cutting insert has a substantially triangular or square basic shape with a top surface and a base surface that are connected together by lateral flanks. A cutting edge is formed at the transition between at least one flank and the top surface. The cutting edge extends between cutting corners, and the cutting edge has a portion that is convex in side view of a flank. The convex portion of the cutting edge is bounded on both sides by concavely curved portions.