A method for green-to-fired shrinkage control in honeycomb ceramic article manufacture, including: measuring, prior to mixing, the particle size distribution properties of at least one fine particle size graphite pore former ingredient of a provided ceramic source batch mixture; calculating the expected shrinkage of the green body to the fired ceramic article based on the measured particle size distribution properties of the at least one fine particle graphite pore former; making the honeycomb ceramic article; measuring the shrinkage of the resulting fired honeycomb ceramic article; and adjusting the ceramic source batch mixture in a subsequent batch material schedule, as defined herein, wherein the adjusted ceramic source batch mixture provides finished honeycomb ceramic articles having controlled green-to-fired shrinkage.

A line for decorating and controlling products, in particular ceramic tiles and the like, includes a conveyor of products to be decorated, at least one decorating device of the jet type actuated by piezoelectric-control nozzles adapted to apply at least one layer of enamel on the products passing on said conveyor; the line further includes at least one control and diagnostic module of the decorated products, provided with means for detecting decoration and/or structural defects of the products themselves.

The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) objects, 3D printing processes, as well as methods, apparatuses and systems for the production of a 3D object. Methods, apparatuses and systems of the present disclosure may reduce or eliminate the need for auxiliary supports. The present disclosure provides three dimensional (3D) objects printed utilizing the printing processes, methods, apparatuses and systems described herein.

The present invention relates to a method for the automated production of a workpiece having at least one diaphragm, including a workpiece for an electrochemical sensor, including providing a workpiece that has a wall with at least one continuous opening through the wall, wherein a diaphragm body is affixed in the at least one opening, such that the diaphragm body completely fills a cross-section of the opening, and processing the diaphragm body by means of a laser.

Laser scanning systems and methods are disclosed herein that can provide quick and efficient measurement of extruded ceramic logs, particularly related to log shape, during manufacture. Two two-dimensional laser scans from respective laser scanners are performed and the resulting laser scan data is combined to form a three-dimensional surface shape measurement of the ceramic log. The systems and methods disclosed herein enable a non-contact measurement of the extruded ceramic log, which reduces the risk of physically damaging the log. The measurement results can be used to adjust the extrusion process of the extruder that forms the extruded ceramic logs.

The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) objects, 3D printing processes, as well as methods, apparatuses and systems for the production of a 3D object. Methods, apparatuses and systems of the present disclosure may reduce or eliminate the need for auxiliary supports. The present disclosure provides three dimensional (3D) objects printed utilizing the printing processes, methods, apparatuses and systems described herein.

An extrudate transport apparatus comprises a free floating roller assembly, wherein the roller assembly controls a rotational pitch of a cylindrical green ceramic extrudate as the green ceramic extrudate moves longitudinally from a first location to a second location within the extrudate transport apparatus. The free floating roller assembly has a predetermined effective weight and comprises a contact roller having a deformable outer surface for frictionally contacting an outer surface of the green ceramic extrudate in motion adjacent thereto, while maintaining a constant contact force upon said green ceramic extrudate.

An in situ inspection system and method to inspect a honeycomb body (122) skin in a skinning system. The inspection system includes a line illuminator (148) to generate a line illumination on the skin (136) perpendicular to an axial direction (112) of the honeycomb body travel, and a detector (152) to detect the line illumination scattered from the skin (136) and generate a signal based on the detected line illumination. A controller (184) is configured to receive the signal generated by the detector (152), compare the received signal to a previously stored defect free signal in real-time, and control at least one skinning process parameter based on the comparison. The method includes in situ inspecting the skin (136) and controlling at least one skinning process parameter based on the inspection. In the method, the in situ inspection includes illuminating a line of the skin (136) perpendicular to the axial direction (112) and detecting the illuminated line scattered from the skin (136).

A method comprising: a) determining the bow (28) in the extension direction of one or more linear paths on an outer surface or outer surfaces (11,13,14,16) of an extruded ceramic part (10) so that maximum extrusion direction bow (28) of the one of more linear paths or outer surfaces (11,13,14,16) may be determined of the extruded ceramic greenware part (10); b) identifying the linear path on the outer surface or the outer surfaces (11,13,14,16) having maximum convex bow; c) placing the greenware part (10) on a carrier with the linear path on the outer surface or the outer surface location having the maximum convex shape in contact with the carrier; and d) processing the greenware part (10) while disposed on the carrier with the linear path on the outer surface or the surface having the convex shape on the carrier, such that the bow (28) is reduced as a result of the process.

The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) objects, 3D printing processes, as well as methods, apparatuses and systems for the production of a 3D object. Methods, apparatuses and systems of the present disclosure may reduce or eliminate the need for auxiliary supports. The present disclosure provides three dimensional (3D) objects printed utilizing the printing processes, methods, apparatuses and systems described herein.