The invention is directed to straight, consistent body scores on plastic corrugated boxes and a process for making the body scores.

A print head is disclosed for use with an additive manufacturing system. The print head may include a nozzle having a base end, a tip end, and a cylindrical passage extending from the base end to the tip end. The print head may also include a compactor located at least partially inside of the nozzle at the tip end.

A print head is disclosed for use with an additive manufacturing system. The print head may include a housing configured to receive a prefabricated woven sleeve, and a fiber guide disposed at least partially inside the housing and configured for insertion into the prefabricated woven sleeve. The print head may also include a diverter connected to an end of the fiber guide inside of a downstream mouth of the housing, and at least one cure enhancer located at the mouth of the housing.

A method and apparatus for applying a bone attachment coating to a prosthetic component, the bone attachment coating being formed from a plurality of particles applied to a surface of the prosthetic component. The method comprising: locally exciting the particles so as to increase the kinetic and/or thermal energy of the particles; and applying pressure to the particles by virtue of a press arranged so as to press the particles against the surface of the prosthetic component at an interface between the press and the prosthetic component. The kinetic and/or thermal energy of the particles causes localised heating of the component such that the particles may be embedded into the surface of the prosthetic component.

A tension mechanism is disclosed for use with a print head of an additive manufacturing system. The tension mechanism may include a first guide roller configured to receive a continuous reinforcement making up a portion of a composite structure. The tension mechanism may also include a second guide roller spaced apart from the first guide roller and configured to receive the continuous reinforcement in a straight-line trajectory from the first guide roller. The tension mechanism may further include a dancer located between the first and second guide rollers and configured to bias the continuous reinforcement away from the straight-line trajectory. At least one of the first and second guide rollers may have a concave outer profile configured to axially spread out the continuous reinforcement.

An additive manufacturing system may include a head configured to discharge a matrix-coated reinforcement, a support configured to move the head during discharging, and a cure enhancer configured to cure the matrix as the matrix-coated reinforcement discharges from the head. The additive manufacturing system may also include a controller in communication with the head, the support, and the cure enhancer. The controller may be configured to receive specifications for a structure to be fabricated, and to determine an anchor point from which the matrix-coated reinforcement will be pulled during fabrication of the structure. The controller may also be configured to regulate operation of the head, the support, and the cure enhancer to manufacture the structure and the anchor point.

A head is disclosed for use with an additive manufacturing system. The head may include a matrix reservoir, and a plurality of nozzles simultaneously fluidly connected to the matrix reservoir. The head may also include at least one hinge connecting the plurality of nozzles.

A method of bonding a first object to a second object, including the steps of: providing a profile body having a first profile body portion; providing the first object, wherein the first object has thermoplastic material; providing the second object, wherein the profile body is separate from and attachable to the second object or wherein the second object includes the profile body; embedding the profile body in the first object such that the first profile body portion is within the thermoplastic material of the first object. Embedding the profile body in the first object is caused by mechanical energy impinging on the first object and/or on the second object while the first object and the second object are pressed against each other.

A corrugated plastic box and a method for manufacturing a corrugated plastic box from a blank are provided. The method includes the steps of forming rounded edge seals on the perimeter edges of the blank, pre-sealing portions of the blank to form a plurality of areas in which major and minor flap slots and a glue tab are desired, ultrasonically scoring the blank to form a plurality of flap score lines, and cutting the blank through the plurality of pre-sealed flap slots and glue tab, leaving a sealed edge.

The invention is directed to straight, consistent body scores on plastic corrugated boxes and a process for making the body scores.