Systems, methods, and devices for producing appliances for expansion of the arch of a patient are provided. An arch expanding appliance comprises a force generating portion to apply an arch expansion force and a retention portion to hold the force generating portion on the teeth. The retention portion comprises a flexible portion and a stiff portion. The force generating portion applies a force to move teeth associated with the flexible portion, while the stiff portion resists movement of its associated teeth. The orthodontic appliances can be designed according to the specifications provided herein and manufactured using direct fabrication methods.

Full-automatic microelectronic printer comprising a printing platform, a control component, a feeding component, a camera component, a machine vision device, an ink droplet observation device, and a CAD/CAM system. The printing platform comprises a four-axis linkage system, a printing worktable, a base, a protective housing, an automatic ink cartridge turning device, and an automatic cleaning device; the feeding component comprises a switching control device, an ink cartridge, and an auxiliary processing component; the control component comprises a core control integrated circuit board, a plurality of drive control circuit boards, and a control module interface. The feeding component switches the ink cartridges and the auxiliary processing components to the printing platform in response to the control component which drives the ink cartridges and auxiliary processing components to print, and the protective housing removes fine particles and gas odors. CAD/CAM system assists in designing, generating, and sending instruction to the control component, printing platform, and feeding component to operate and realize full-automatic multi-layer printing.

This disclosure describes substrate(s) formed with a three-dimensional (3D) feature thereon, and method(s) of printing the same. One method includes identifying a plurality of locations on a substrate surface where the three-dimensional feature will be formed, determining a height value of the three-dimensional feature at each location, assigning a grayscale value to each location based on the height value, and applying ink to the substrate surface at each location according to the assigned grayscale value.

A method and apparatus for mass production of AR diffractive waveguides. Low-cost mass production of large-area AR diffractive waveguides (slanted surface-relief gratings) of any shape. Uses two-photon polymerization micro-nano 3D printing to realize manufacturing of slanted grating large-area masters of any shape (thereby solving the problem about manufacturing of slanted grating masters of any shape on the one hand, realizing direct manufacturing of large-size wafer-level masters on the other hand, and also having the advantages of low manufacturing cost and high production efficiency). Composite nanoimprint lithography technology is employed (in combination with the peculiar imprint technique and the composite soft mold suitable for slanted gratings) to solve the problem that a large-slanting-angle large-slot-depth slanted grating cannot be demolded and thus cannot be manufactured, and realize the manufacturing of the slanted grating without constraints (geometric shape and size).

A tool and die set and related method of use of the tool and die set in a press for the compaction of a powder metal into a preform involves an uneven amount of positional deflection of at least two lower or upper tool members. This asymmetrical elastic response under load may help to eliminate cracking of the part after the compressive load is removed.

A tool and die set and related method of use of the tool and die set in a press for the compaction of a powder metal into a preform involves an uneven amount of positional deflection of at least two lower or upper tool members. This asymmetrical elastic response under load may help to eliminate cracking of the part after the compressive load is removed.

Some variations provide an aluminum alloy feedstock for additive manufacturing, the aluminum alloy feedstock comprising from 79.8 wt % to 88.3 wt % aluminum; from 1.1 wt % to 2.1 wt % copper; from 3.0 wt % to 4.6 wt % magnesium; from 7.1 wt % to 9.0 wt % zinc; and from 0.5 wt % to 2.8 wt % zirconium as a grain-refiner element. The aluminum alloy feedstock may be in the form of an ingot powder. In some variations, the aluminum alloy feedstock comprises from 81.3 wt % to about 87.8 wt % aluminum; from 1.2 wt % to 2.0 wt % copper; from 3.2 wt % to 4.4 wt % magnesium; from 7.3 wt % to 8.7 wt % zinc; and from 0.5 wt % to 2.8 wt % zirconium.

Some variations provide an aluminum alloy feedstock for additive manufacturing, the aluminum alloy feedstock comprising from 79.8 wt % to 88.3 wt % aluminum; from 1.1 wt % to 2.1 wt % copper; from 3.0 wt % to 4.6 wt % magnesium; from 7.1 wt % to 9.0 wt % zinc; and from 0.5 wt % to 2.8 wt % zirconium as a grain-refiner element. The aluminum alloy feedstock may be in the form of an ingot powder. In some variations, the aluminum alloy feedstock comprises from 81.3 wt % to about 87.8 wt % aluminum; from 1.2 wt % to 2.0 wt % copper; from 3.2 wt % to 4.4 wt % magnesium; from 7.3 wt % to 8.7 wt % zinc; and from 0.5 wt % to 2.8 wt % zirconium.

An additive layer manufacturing method, preferably using selective laser sintering, for manufacturing a solid article, the method including applying a layer of a powder, the powder including at least one powdered (co)polymer, onto a solid substrate in a processing chamber; fusing the powder layer onto the solid substrate; subsequently depositing successive layers of the powder, wherein each successive layer is selectively fused prior to deposition of the subsequent layer of powder so as to form the article. In some embodiments, the powder further includes abrasive particles having a hardness greater than or equal to that of aluminum oxide.

Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for additive manufacturing that allow for control of composition and/or porosity of components being manufactured. More particularly, in exemplary embodiments, a secondary material can be used in conjunction with a primary feedstock material in a spatially controlled manner during an additive manufacturing process to control a composition of materials and/or porosity of a manufactured component. Systems, devices, and methods for additive manufacturing are also disclosed that allow for control of a pressure of an atmosphere surrounding a build surface during an additive manufacturing process. More particularly, a pressure of an atmosphere surrounding a build surface can be raised to a pressure greater than standard atmospheric pressure. Various features of the exemplary embodiments of the systems, devices, and methods disclosed can be used together to further control for composition and/or porosity and quality of a manufactured part.