A method of injecting potting material into at least a portion of a workpiece, comprises positioning a potting press, containing the potting material, over a target area of the workpiece. The target area contains openings, passing entirely through the workpiece. Simultaneously with positioning the potting press over the target area of the workpiece, the potting material is injected into each one of the openings within the target area.

Systems and methods of electrostatically spraying a treatment solution are disclosed that include electrostatically charging, by a cartridge assembled with a handheld portable electrostatic device, a treatment solution. The handheld portable electrostatic device can include a housing, the cartridge removably disposed in the housing. The cartridge can include a cartridge housing, at least one electrode to electrostatically charge and ionize molecules of the treatment solution of the cartridge, and a nozzle positioned at a distal end of the cartridge housing, the nozzle of the cartridge being configured to deliver the electrostatically charged treatment solution and configured to be in fluid communication with an air supply tube in fluid communication with a pump in the housing.

An injection molding system includes a supplying unit configured to supply a flowable mixture; an injection unit communicable with the supplying unit, wherein the injection unit includes an outlet configured to discharge the flowable mixture; a molding device configured to receive the flowable mixture from the outlet and includes a mold cavity and a feeding port communicable with the mold cavity and engageable with the outlet; and a supporting device disposed between the injection unit and the molding device and configured to facilitate an engagement of the injection unit and the molding device. The supporting device includes a first element connected to the injection unit and a second element disposed on the molding device. The second element includes a slot configured to receive a protruding portion of the first element, the protruding portion of the first element is slidable within and along the slot of the second element.

A method for material handling and mold filling is provided which directs the flow of molten plastic material from an extruder and allocates the molten material to a plurality of nozzles through the use of independently operated, variable valves. The method therefore provides independent streams of molten plastic material having variable temperatures and flow rates or volumes to particular sections or regions of the mold. This independent temperature or flow of molten plastic material facilitates the complete, rapid and accurate filling of the molds, reducing turbulence and other temperature or flow-related imperfections in the finished components. A method of using a multiphase material handling system is also disclosed for expeditious sequential and simultaneous filling and pressing of the mold and extracting the completed component from the system.

A method for fabricating a composite object with a computer-controlled apparatus, and the apparatus therefor. The comprises a reservoir containing liquid, curable first material, means to selectively solidify the first material and means to selectively deposit a second material. The method involves the steps of selectively depositing portions of the second material, and selectively solidifying portions of the first material, such that the solidified portions of the first material and the deposited portions of the second material form the composite object.

A method is disclosed for additively manufacturing a composite structure. The method may include directing a continuous reinforcement into a print head, and coating the continuous reinforcement with a first matrix component inside of the print head. The method may further include coating the continuous reinforcement with a second matrix component, discharging the continuous reinforcement through a nozzle of the print head, and moving the print head in multiple dimensions during the discharging. The first and second matrix components interact to cause hardening of a matrix around the continuous reinforcement.

Various embodiments related to three dimensional printers, and reinforced filaments, and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, a void free reinforced filament is fed into an conduit nozzle. The reinforced filament includes a core, which may be continuous or semi-continuous, and a matrix material surrounding the core. The reinforced filament is heated to a temperature greater than a melting temperature of the matrix material and less than a melting temperature of the core prior to drag the filament from the conduit nozzle.

A method is disclosed for additively manufacturing a composite structure. The method may include directing a continuous reinforcement into a print head, and coating the continuous reinforcement with a first matrix component inside of the print head. The method may further include coating the continuous reinforcement with a second matrix component, discharging the continuous reinforcement through a nozzle of the print head, and moving the print head in multiple dimensions during the discharging. The first and second matrix components interact to cause hardening of a matrix around the continuous reinforcement.

The present disclosure provides method and systems for printing a three-dimensional (3D) object. A method for 3D printing may comprise providing a mixture comprising (i) a polymeric precursor, (ii) a photoinitiator configured to initiate formation of a polymeric material from the polymeric precursor, and (iii) a photoinhibitor configured to inhibit the formation of the polymeric precursor. The method may comprise exposing the mixture to (i) a first light to cause the photoinitiator to initiate formation of the polymeric material, thereby to print the 3D object, and (ii) a second light to cause the photoinhibitor to inhibit the formation of the polymeric material. During printing of the 3D object, a ratio of (i) an energy of the second light sufficient to initiate formation of the polymeric material relative to (ii) an energy of the first light sufficient to initiate formation of the polymeric material may be greater than 1.

Various embodiments related to three dimensional printers, and reinforced filaments, and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, a void free reinforced filament is fed into an extrusion nozzle. The reinforced filament includes a core, which may be continuous or semi-continuous, and a matrix material surrounding the core. The reinforced filament is heated to a temperature greater than a melting temperature of the matrix material and less than a melting temperature of the core prior to extruding the filament from the extrusion nozzle.