A fabric material includes a plurality of synthetic yarns, the yarns including staple fibers having a range of denier values. The polyester staple fibers have deniers ranging from about 0.5 denier per filament to about 2.0 denier per filament. Additionally, more than 50% of the staple fibers present in the fabric possess a length of greater than 1 inch.

A formable resin sheet includes a thermally expansive layer formed on a first side of a base and including a thermally expandable material. A breaking strength of the thermally expansive layer is greater than a peeling strength of the thermally expansive layer from the base, and the thermally expansive layer is peelable from the base. The formable resin sheet can easily be shaped by using a thermal conversion layer to cause the thermally expansive layer to distend and cause the base to deform as the thermally expansive layer distends. The thermally expansive layer can be removed after the shaping of the base.

A three-dimensional printer includes: a machine mainframe, formed with a carrying plane; a three-dimensional printing module, installed on the machine mainframe, and used for forming a three-dimensional object on the carrying plane according to a three-dimensional model data; and a color spraying nozzle module, installed on the machine mainframe and used for coloring a surface of the three-dimensional object according to the three-dimensional model data, wherein the color spraying nozzle module includes at least one color spraying nozzle and at least one screen member, the color spraying nozzle is formed with at least one nozzle hole, the screen member is formed with at least one screen hole, the screen hole is arranged corresponding to the nozzle hole, and the area of the screen hole is smaller than the area of the nozzle hole thereby enabling the color spraying nozzle module to more efficiently color the three-dimensional object.

A method and system are disclosed. A method of printing onto a base having an upper surface spaced from a lower surface by a base thickness includes dispensing a yarn from a nozzle of a printing system and selectively attaching the yarn to a first attachment region. The step of dispensing the yarn includes dispensing a heat-moldable material and a melt-resistant material. The step of selectively attaching the yarn to the first attachment region includes moving the nozzle into the first attachment region. The step of moving the nozzle into the first attachment region reduces the base thickness by a prodding distance. The heat-moldable material bonds to the first attachment region.

A thermoplastic laminate plank is described wherein the thermoplastic laminate plank includes a core, a print layer, and optionally an overlay. The core includes at least one thermoplastic material and has a top surface and bottom surface wherein a print layer is affixed to the top surface of the core and an overlay layer is affixed to the top surface of the print layer. An underlay layer can be located and affixed between the bottom surface of the print layer and the top surface of the core. In addition, a method of making the thermoplastic laminate plank is further described which involves extruding at least one thermoplastic material into the shape of the core and affixing a laminate on the core, wherein the laminate comprises an overlay affixed to the top surface of the print layer and optionally an underlay layer affixed to the bottom surface of the print layer.

A method and system are disclosed. A method of printing onto a base having an upper surface spaced from a lower surface by a base thickness includes dispensing a yarn from a nozzle of a printing system and selectively attaching the yarn to a first attachment region. The step of dispensing the yarn includes dispensing a heat-moldable material and a melt-resistant material. The step of selectively attaching the yarn to the first attachment region includes moving the nozzle into the first attachment region. The step of moving the nozzle into the first attachment region reduces the base thickness by a prodding distance. The heat-moldable material bonds to the first attachment region.

A process (method, system, etc.) for the manufacturing of slabs made of resin-bonded mineral grits comprises at least the phases of: supply of at least one mixture made of mineral grits and resins; compaction of the mineral grits and resins to obtain a compacted slab; hardening of the compacted slab to obtain a finished slab provided with at least one exposed surface and having an intrinsic degree of porosity; decoration with ink by digital printing of the exposed surface according to at least one predefined design; and, prior to the decoration and subsequently to the hardening, at least one phase of increase in the intrinsic degree of porosity of the finished slab, adapted to promote the penetration of the ink in the finished slab.

A multi-shot moulding part structure includes a first structural part, an ink decoration layer, and a second structural part. The first structural part has a first area surface, a second area surface, and a joining surface located on the second area surface. The joining surface is non-parallel to the second area surface. The ink decoration layer is spread on the first area surface and the second area surface, but not on the joining surface. The second structural part is combined with the first structural part and covers the second area surface. The second structural part touches the joining surface. By the second structural part touching the joining surface of the first structural part that is not coated with the ink decoration layer, the structural bonding strength between the first structural part and the second structural part is enhanced.

A hybrid component is provided for automotive applications, and includes a sheet metal component and at least one plastic support component. The at least one plastic support component is positively connected to the sheet metal component. A decor section of the sheet metal component includes a colour coating pattern generating a dedicated aesthetic design appeal.

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.