The present invention provides an apparatus for use in mixing and dispensing a curable fluid stream (stream) into an open mold to fill the mold to make polishing pads for chemical mechanical planarization of substrates. The apparatus comprises an actuator frame on which is mounted (i) a set of two plates releasably attached to the actuator frame and adapted to cut the stream when the mold is full and to release from the actuator frame after cutting the stream, and (ii) a dispenser unit for continuous pouring of the stream into an open mold, the apparatus adapted to enable removal of the released plates from the actuator during the continuous pouring after the mold is full, e.g. by raising the actuator frame and the (ii) dispenser unit, whereby one can place a container above the mold to catch the plates.

A runner for supplying resin to a cavity includes a sprue that is supplied resin from a nozzle of an injection molding machine, a first path formed in the runner, where the resin flows in the first path from the nozzle when the nozzle connects to the sprue, a first pin that moves to a first position to increase the size of the first path before the resin is supplied to the first path and moves to a second position to decrease the size of the first path before the nozzle separates from the sprue.

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 vacuum chuck adapted for mounting on a lower turret assembly. The lower turret assembly is part a sealant liner applicator. The sealant liner applicator includes an upper turret assembly and a sealant gun, under computer control. The sealant gun is used for applying a sealant around a periphery of an inside of a can or jar lid. The vacuum chuck includes in one embodiment an impeller, with spiral vanes, for creating vacuum air. The impeller is mounted on top of a lower chuck. A top portion of the impeller is adapted for receiving the can lid and held thereon using the vacuum air produced when the impeller and the lower chuck are spun at high speeds, in a range of 1000 to 4000 rpm, on a lower turret assembly.

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.

A three dimensional printing mechanism includes a plane receiving a first photocured material and a second photocured material which is different from the first photocured material. A first photocured material supplying mechanism is used for inputting the first photocured material into the plane, whereas a second photocured material supplying mechanism is used for inputting the second photocured material into the plane.

The present invention provides an apparatus for driving a filament spool of a 3D printer, which rotates the filament spool for wounding a wire-shaped filament in a forward or reverse direction, including a driving motor installed between an extruder for discharging the filament wound on the filament spool toward a hot end nozzle side and the filament spool and configured to generate a driving force in the forward or reverse direction; a feed roller configured to receive the driving force of the driving motor and to transfer the filament wound on the filament spool to an extruder side or to wound back the filament of the extruder on the filament spool; a filament spool driving roller installed between the feed roller and the filament spool and configured to receive the driving force of the driving motor and to rotate the filament spool; and a torque limiter installed between the driving motor and the feed roller and configured to cause a gear on a filament spool side to idle and only a gear on a driving motor side to rotate when a filament transferring force on the filament spool side is larger than the driving force on the driving motor side.

A vacuum chuck adapted for mounting on a lower turret assembly. The lower turret assembly is part a sealant liner applicator. The sealant liner applicator includes an upper turret assembly and a sealant gun, under computer control. The sealant gun is used for applying a sealant around a periphery of an inside of a can or jar lid. The vacuum chuck includes in one embodiment an impeller, with spiral vanes, for creating vacuum air. The impeller is mounted on top of an involute. A top portion of the impeller is adapted for receiving the can lid and held thereon using the vacuum air produced when the impeller and the involute are spun at high speeds, in a range of 1000 to 4000 rpm, on a lower turret assembly.

A pendulum device includes a base. A rotating plate is pivoted on the base. A movable member is eccentrically pivoted on the rotating plate by one of two ends thereof, and the other end of the movable member is for connecting to an article to be operated. A driving unit is at one side of the base. The driving unit is for driving the rotating plate of the base to perform a uniform circular motion. Because of the movable member eccentrically pivoted on the rotating plate, when the operating end is connected to the article, the operating end is dragged by the transmission of the rotating plate to perform a simple harmonic motion that is a variable accelerating linear motion relative to the rotating plate.