Techniques for integrating a machine-readable matrix with a component of a mechanical structure using three-dimensional (3-D) printing are disclosed. Such techniques include generating at least one data model representing the component, and projecting a matrix pattern identifying one or more features of the component onto a selected surface portion of the component to produce a modified data model for use as an input to a 3-D printer.

The present invention is a method for manufacturing inflatable articles, or bladders for inflatable articles, that is time-efficient, simple, inexpensive and permits the uninterrupted manufacture of numerous and even customized article or bladder configurations and sizes, without expensive configuration-specific, metal tooling. The method includes the steps of applying a barrier material to a side of a first film, providing a second film with the first film so that the barrier material is disposed between the first and second films, adhering the first film to the second film so that the films are sealed together in areas except where the barrier material has been applied to form at least one inflatable compartment and sealed peripheral edge, and cutting along the sealed peripheral edge to form an inflatable article or bladder for use in an article of manufacture. The barrier material may be a paint, ink, paper or surface treatment that effectively prevents the first film from adhering to the second. The inflatable article or bladder of the present invention may be used as or in athletic equipment, for example, including footwear.

Methods and systems of fabricating a polymeric stent are disclosed herein.

A method of making a prepreg composite sheet comprising contoured charges includes receiving, at a computer-numerically-controlled (CNC) device, a mapping, corresponding to shapes of layers of a laminated precursor article to be formed from the contoured charges. The method also includes forming, by the CNC device using the mapping, precursor outline regions in a resin film layer, wherein the precursor outline regions have the shapes of the layers of the laminated precursor article, and wherein the resin film layer has a viscosity. The method further includes impregnating a fiber reinforcement having fibers with the resin film layer to form non-impregnated outline regions that define the contoured charges in the prepreg composite sheet, wherein the non-impregnated outline regions correspond to the precursor outline regions in the resin film layer.

A multi-cavity mould (1) for a thermoforming machine used in the process of high-volume, continuous thermoforming of a plurality of thin-gauge plastic products (2) from a preheated thin-gauge thermoplastic sheet (3) comprising an upper tool (11) and a lower tool (12) arranged in a cooperating manner; the lower tool (12) comprising a plurality of cavities (8) in which cavity moulds (8) are placed and a plurality of base plates (91) from which a plurality of supporting blocks (92) extend perpendicularly over a predetermined total height (a), situated between adjacent cavities (8), each of said supporting block (92) has a stepped profile comprising three substantially rectangular shaped zones (92a, 92b, 92c) and a fourth substantially isosceles trapezoid shaped zone (92d) in a vertical cross section, having a common symmetry axis.

A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional formed object includes cutting a material block so as to fabricate a bottom portion that includes an upwardly projecting underlying layer portion. The method also includes forming a molten material into a single layer or a plurality of layers on a top of the underlying layer portion so as to fabricate a first layer portion in contact with the underlying layer portion.

A shaped tile and its manufacturing method are described. The manufacturing method for fabricating a shaped tile comprises a thermoforming process, which comprises using a thermoforming mold to perform heat-compression on an intermediate tile so as to melt and deform the intermediate tile while heat-compression is applied, and to form a molding edge on at least one periphery of the intermediate tile such that the intermediate tile is turned into a shaped tile. By employing the proposed present invention, it is advantages of maintaining a final configuration of the shaped tile without getting any distortion.

Polymeric stents having fracture toughness and resistance to recoil after deployment are disclosed along with methods of manufacturing such stents. Improvements to mechanical characteristics and other improvements may be achieved by having polymer chains within individual stent struts oriented in a direction that is closer to or in line with the axis of the individual stent struts. The struts are connected to each other by hinge elements that are configured to bend during crimping and deployment of the stent. Ring struts form ring structures. A ring structure can have an overall curvilinear length from about 12 mm to about 15 mm.

Techniques for integrating a machine-readable matrix with a component of a mechanical structure using three-dimensional (3-D) printing are disclosed. Such techniques include generating at least one data model representing the component, and projecting a matrix pattern identifying one or more features of the component onto a selected surface portion of the component to produce a modified data model for use as an input to a 3-D printer.

A thermoformable sheet transfer system is provided having at least one frame, and upstream conveyor, a sheet cutter, and a downstream sheet manipulator. The upstream conveyor is configured to deliver a series of shots of formed articles in a thermoformed sheet from an exit end of an article forming station. The sheet cutter is carried by the at least one frame provided proximate the conveyor downstream of the article forming station and is configured to cut a leading edge of the formed articles and sheet sufficiently formed to index within dies of an article trim press. The downstream sheet manipulator is carried by the at least one frame and is configured to transport the leading edge and the sufficiently formed articles and sheet for delivery in sequential shots from downstream an article forming station to upstream an article trim station. A method is also provided.