An example system for molding a photocurable material into a planar object includes a first mold structure having a first mold surface, a second mold structure having a second mold surface, and one or more protrusions disposed along at least one of the first mold surface or the second mold surface. During operation, the system is configured to position the first and second mold structures such that the first and second mold surfaces face each other with the one or more protrusions contacting the opposite mold surface, and a volume having a total thickness variation (TTV) of 500 nm or less is defined between the first and second mold surfaces. The system is further configured to receive the photocurable material in the volume, and direct radiation at the one or more wavelengths into the volume.

A method for producing a counter-form (20) for manufacturing a part having a complex shape (24) by pressure sintering densification. The counter-form (20) is formed from successive layers produced by numerically-controlled three-dimensional (3D) additive printing according to the following steps: numerically recording a three-dimensional negative of the part to be produced (24) in a control unit of a three-dimensional additive printing system in order to constitute the positive form of the counter-form to be produced; producing the counter-form (20) using a 3D additive printing technique. The part having a complex shape (24d) is then manufactured by pressure sintering, then separated from the counter-form which is also sintered (20).

An example system for molding a photocurable material into a planar object includes a first mold structure having a first mold surface, a second mold structure having a second mold surface, and one or more protrusions disposed along at least one of the first mold surface or the second mold surface. During operation, the system is configured to position the first and second mold structures such that the first and second mold surfaces face each other with the one or more protrusions contacting the opposite mold surface, and a volume having a total thickness variation (TTV) of 500 nm or less is defined between the first and second mold surfaces. The system is further configured to receive the photocurable material in the volume, and direct radiation at the one or more wavelengths into the volume.

A method for preventing detachment of a three-dimensional object from a printing tray of a printing apparatus is disclosed. The method includes printing a carpet of building material below and around the base of a three-dimensional object to be printed; and printing said three-dimensional object. The portions of the carpet that protrude out of the boundaries of the base of the three-dimensional object are coated with one or more layers of support material to help keep the carpet flexible and adhesive in texture.

Provided are a vehicle seat member in which even when a foamed resin molded body forming the vehicle seat member shrinks after being demolded, influence of the shrinkage behavior on a frame member embedded in the foamed resin molded body can be prevented, and thus a change in the position of a protrusion, which serves as a part to be anchored to a vehicle body, of the frame member can be prevented, whereby the vehicle seat member can be attached to the vehicle body side easily and reliably, and a vehicle seat including such a vehicle seat member. A vehicle seat member includes a foamed resin molded body and a frame member integrally formed therewith, the frame member including a body portion embedded in the foamed resin molded body and protrusions each protruding from the body portion and having a tip end protruding outward from the foamed resin molded body.

A method for preventing detachment of a three-dimensional object from a printing tray of a printing apparatus is disclosed. The method includes printing a carpet of building material below and around the base of a three-dimensional object to be printed; and printing said three-dimensional object. The portions of the carpet that protrude out of the boundaries of the base of the three-dimensional object are coated with one or more layers of support material to help keep the carpet flexible and adhesive in texture.

An apparatus for measuring a degree of cure and a specific volume of a packaging material is provided, including: an upper load module configured for driving the rotation of an upper ball screw via an upper servo motor such that a force plate coupled to the upper ball screw moves downward and is thus positioned; a lower load module having a lower ball screw operating and moving via a lower servo motor such that a load joint group connected to the lower ball screw generates a corresponding displacement; an upper film cavity module connected to the upper load module; and a lower film cavity module disposed on the lower load module. The displacement of the load joint group enables a push rod to move upward. A heating pipe keeps constant the temperature of a subject to be measured in a cavity of the lower film cavity module.

An example system for molding a photocurable material into a planar object includes a first mold structure having a first mold surface, a second mold structure having a second mold surface, and one or more protrusions disposed along at least one of the first mold surface or the second mold surface. During operation, the system is configured to position the first and second mold structures such that the first and second mold surfaces face each other with the one or more protrusions contacting the opposite mold surface, and a volume having a total thickness variation (TTV) of 500 nm or less is defined between the first and second mold surfaces. The system is further configured to receive the photocurable material in the volume, and direct radiation at the one or more wavelengths into the volume.

There is disclosed a method of manufacturing a composite component. A preform for the component is laid-up on a lay-up tool so that a first surface of the preform conforms to a lay-up profile of the tool. The preform is transferred to a forming tool comprising opposing first and second forming surfaces, each having a near net shape profile corresponding to a respective side of the component. The preform is formed in the forming tool to a near net shape of the component. The preform has a preform bulk in excess of the near net shape of the component prior to forming, and the lay-up profile is offset relative to the near net shape profile of the first forming surface to accommodate a proportion of the preform bulk. Accordingly, both the first surface and an opposing second surface of the preform displace during forming to conform to the respective near net shape profiles of the forming surfaces.

An example system is configured to photocure a photocurable material to form a polymer film. The system includes a first chuck configured to support a first substantially planar mold, a second chuck configured to support a second substantially planar mold, and an actuable stage coupled to the first chuck and/or the second chuck. The actuable stage is configured to position the first chuck and/or the second chuck so that the first and second molds are separated by a gap. The system also includes a sensor arrangement for obtaining measurement information indicative of a distance between the first and second molds and/or a pressure between the first and second chucks at each of at least three locations. The system also includes a control module configured control the gap between the first and second molds based on the measurement information.