Method of manufacturing a structural member includes moving fibers (130) along an assembly line (100), applying binder to spaced apart fibers (130) extending across a first area, and applying a traction agent (178) to at least one of the fibers and the binder. A tapered die (180) has a first portion (195) with a first greater diameter positioned to receive the fibers and a second portion with a second lesser diameter positioned downstream of the first portion. Guiding the fibers along the die and decreasing a distance between the plurality of fibers with the die. After decreasing the distance between the plurality of fibers, the fibers extend across a second area that is smaller than the first area, and the plurality of fibers are shaped with a shaping station. Traction agent increases friction between at least one of the fibers and either an adjacent fiber or the die during shaping.

The present invention provides biodegradable compositions for making biodegradable plastic. The composition comprise about 25% to about 50% by weight starch; about 0.5% to about 10% by weight ground plant waste material; about 20% to about 50% a polymer derived from ethylene, vinyl alcohol and/or an ester of vinyl alcohol; about 10% to about 30% of a plasticizer; and about 3% to about 10% a filler and optionally a processing agent.

The invention provides an endoscopic video camera having a polymeric knob assembly, wherein the polymeric material used for manufacturing the knob assembly includes polyphenylsulfone resin, titanium dioxide, tin oxide, and colored metallic additives, is capable of withstanding sterilization, and has a metallic cosmetic appearance. The invention also provides methods of manufacturing the knob assembly by plastic injection molding processes, wherein undesirable molding characteristics are concentrated on portions of the knob assembly that are removed by secondary machining or post machining.

In one aspect, composite build materials for use with a 3D printing system are described herein. In some embodiments, a composite build material described herein comprises a carrier ink comprising a curable material; and pigment particles dispersed in the carrier ink, wherein the pigment particles comprise mica. In some cases, the carrier ink is present in the composite build material in an amount of about 80-98% by weight, and the curable material comprises one or more species of monomeric and/or oligomeric (meth)acrylates. Additionally, in some instances, the pigment particles are present in the composite build material in an amount of about 2-8% by weight and comprise up to about 85% by weight mica, based on the total weight of the pigment particles. The pigment particles, in some cases, can also comprise TiO.sub.2 and/or Fe.sub.2O.sub.3.

A method for forming a thermoplastic prepreg is disclosed. The method includes supplying continuous fibers to a first extrusion device, supplying a first thermoplastic feedstock to the first extrusion device, wherein the feedstock comprises a first thermoplastic polymer, pre-heating, tensioning, and spreading the continuous fibers, extruding the continuous fibers and the first feedstock within an impregnation die to form a first extrudate in which the continuous fibers are embedded with a matrix of the first thermoplastic polymer, twisting the first extrudate, supplying a second thermoplastic polymer to a second extrusion device, extruding the first extrudate and the second thermoplastic feedstock within an impregnation die to form a second extrudate in which the second feedstock forms a layer around the first extrudate, while the first extrudate is twisted and under tension, and forming a sleeve of the second extrudate having the second feedstock forming a layer around the first extrudate.

A consumable material for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, the consumable material comprising a length and a cross-sectional profile of at least a portion of the length that is axially asymmetric. The cross-sectional profile is configured to provide a response time with a non-cylindrical liquefier of the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system that is faster than a response time achievable with a cylindrical filament in a cylindrical liquefier for a same thermally limited, maximum volumetric flow rate.

In one aspect, composite build materials for use with a 3D printing system are described herein. In some embodiments, a composite build material described herein comprises a carrier ink comprising a curable material; and pigment particles dispersed in the carrier ink, wherein the pigment particles comprise mica. In some cases, the carrier ink is present in the composite build material in an amount of about 80-98% by weight, and the curable material comprises one or more species of monomeric and/or oligomeric (meth)acrylates. Additionally, in some instances, the pigment particles are present in the composite build material in an amount of about 2-8% by weight and comprise up to about 85% by weight mica, based on the total weight of the pigment particles. The pigment particles, in some cases, can also comprise TiO.sub.2 and/or Fe.sub.2O.sub.3.

A consumable material for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, the consumable material comprising a length and a cross-sectional profile of at least a portion of the length that is axially asymmetric. The cross-sectional profile is configured to provide a response time with a non-cylindrical liquefier of the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system that is faster than a response time achievable with a cylindrical filament in a cylindrical liquefier for a same thermally limited, maximum volumetric flow rate.

The invention provides an endoscopic video camera having a polymeric knob assembly, wherein the polymeric material used for manufacturing the knob assembly includes polyphenylsulfone resin, titanium dioxide, tin oxide, and colored metallic additives, is capable of withstanding sterilization, and has a metallic cosmetic appearance. The invention also provides methods of manufacturing the knob assembly by plastic injection molding processes, wherein undesirable molding characteristics are concentrated on portions of the knob assembly that are removed by secondary machining or post machining.

The invention provides an endoscopic video camera having a polymeric knob assembly, wherein the polymeric material used for manufacturing the knob assembly includes polyphenylsulfone resin, titanium dioxide, tin oxide, and colored metallic additives, is capable of withstanding sterilization, and has a metallic cosmetic appearance. The invention also provides methods of manufacturing the knob assembly by plastic injection molding processes, wherein undesirable molding characteristics are concentrated on portions of the knob assembly that are removed by secondary machining or post machining.