A system for additively manufacturing a composite part is disclosed. The system may include a vat configured to hold a supply of resin, and a build surface disposed inside the vat. The system may also include a print head configured to discharge a matrix-coated continuous reinforcement onto the build surface, and an energy source configured to expose resin on a surface of the matrix-coated continuous reinforcement to a cure energy.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object, wherein said three-dimensional object is a footwear sole, heel, innersole or midsole, is described. The method may use a polymerizable liquid, or resin, useful for the production by additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object, comprising a mixture of (i) a light polymerizable liquid first component, and (ii) a second solidifiable component that is different from said first component.

A decorative optical element that has an appearance of a glass optical element includes an optically transparent body having a faceted globular portion defined by a solid volume of polymeric material. A luminaire, such as for a street light, employs the decorative optical element and an LED circuit board mounted to the circuit board.

A method for providing high-speed three dimensional (3D) printing is provided. The method includes producing at least one three dimensional (3D) printed part. Producing the 3D part includes continuously constructing to extend outwardly a diameter of a rotating cylindrical core via continuous deposition of a layer, and defining a first pattern in the continuously deposited layer corresponding to a cross-section of the at least one 3D printed part.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object (e.g. comprised of polyurethane, polyurea, or copolymer thereof) is carried out by: (a) providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; (b) filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, the polymerizable liquid comprising a mixture of: (i) a light polymerizable liquid first component, and (ii) a second solidifiable component that is different from the first component; (c) irradiating the build region with light through the optically transparent member to form a solid blocked polymer scaffold and advancing the carrier away from the build surface to form a three-dimensional intermediate having the same shape as, or a shape to be imparted to, the three-dimensional object, with the intermediate containing the second solidifiable component; and then (d) contacting the three-dimensional intermediate to water to form the three-dimensional object.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object, comprises providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid; irradiating the build region through the optically transparent member to form a solid polymer from the polymerizable liquid while concurrently advancing the carrier away from the build surface to form the three-dimensional object from the solid polymer, while also concurrently: (i) continuously maintaining a dead zone of polymerizable liquid in contact with the build surface, and (ii) continuously maintaining a gradient of polymerization zone between the dead zone and the solid polymer and in contact with each thereof, the gradient of polymerization zone comprising the polymerizable liquid in partially cured form. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also described.

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 method of forming a three-dimensional object, is carried out by (a) providing a carrier and a build plate, the build plate comprising a semipermeable member, the semipermeable member comprising a build surface with the build surface and the carrier defining a build region therebetween, and with the build surface in fluid communication by way of the semipermeable member with a source of polymerization inhibitor; (b) filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, the polymerizable liquid contacting the build surface; (c) irradiating the build region through the build plate to produce a solid polymerized region in the build region, while forming or maintaining a liquid film release layer comprised of the polymerizable liquid formed between the solid polymerized region and the build surface, the polymerization of which liquid film is inhibited by the polymerization inhibitor; and (d) advancing the carrier with the polymerized region adhered thereto away from the build surface on the build plate to create a subsequent build region between the polymerized region and the build surface; (e) wherein the carrier has at least one channel formed therein, and the filling step is carried out by passing or forcing the polymerizable liquid into the build region through the at least one channel. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also described.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object, is carried out by (a) providing a carrier and a build plate, the build plate comprising a semipermeable member, the semipermeable member comprising a build surface with the build surface and the carrier defining a build region therebetween, and with the build surface in fluid communication by way of the semipermeable member with a source of polymerization inhibitor; (b) filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, the polymerizable liquid contacting the build surface, (c) irradiating the build region through the build plate to produce a solid polymerized region in the build region, while forming or maintaining a liquid film release layer comprised of the polymerizable liquid formed between the solid polymerized region and the build surface, wherein the polymerization of which liquid film is inhibited by the polymerization inhibitor; and (d) advancing the carrier with the polymerized region adhered thereto away from the build surface on the build plate to create a subsequent build region between the polymerized region and the build surface while concurrently filling the subsequent build region with polymerizable liquid as in step (b). Apparatus for carrying out the method is also described.

The present disclosure provides a measurement method for a molding system comprising an upper mold and a lower mold forming a mold cavity. The method includes applying a pressure difference to a molding resin for driving the molding resin to flow into a preform in the mold cavity; detecting a flow front of the molding resin at a first position and a second position in the mold cavity; and calculating a flowing property of the molding resin based on the first position, the second position, a travelling time of the flow front from the first position to the second position, and the pressure difference.