The invention relates to a method for applying a joint (2, 102) onto a plate (3), in particular a plate having shape defects. An edge of interest is defined on a portion of the plate (3) onto which the joint (2, 102) is intended to be applied. The plate (3) is then placed on a tool (4, 104) comprising a supporting element (5, 105) made of solid material and a supporting element (6, 106) made of flexible material, in such a way that the edge of interest rests on a portion of the supporting element made of flexible material. While the joint is applied onto the edge of interest, the plate is maintained in a predetermined reference position and the element made of flexible material is pushed against the plate, perpendicularly to an outer surface of the element made of flexible material, the outer surface being opposite to the surface on which the edge of interest rests.

Provided is a powder moldable vinyl chloride resin composition for a real-stitched surface skin that is capable of providing a molded product having excellent flexibility at low temperatures and real stitching properties. The powder moldable vinyl chloride resin composition for a real-stitched surface skin contains vinyl chloride resin particles (a) having an average degree of polymerization of at least 1,200 and no greater than 5,000, a trimellitate plasticizer (b), and vinyl chloride resin fine particles (c) having an average degree of polymerization of at least 1,000 and no greater than 5,000.

Provided is a powder moldable vinyl chloride resin composition for a real-stitched surface skin that is capable of providing a molded product having excellent flexibility at low temperatures and real stitching properties. The powder moldable vinyl chloride resin composition for a real-stitched surface skin contains vinyl chloride resin particles (a) having an average degree of polymerization of at least 1,200 and no greater than 5,000, a trimellitate plasticizer (b), and vinyl chloride resin fine particles (c) having an average degree of polymerization of at least 1,000 and no greater than 5,000.

A method for fabrication includes providing a substrate having an upper surface with pattern of one or more recesses formed therein. A laser beam is directed to impinge on a donor film so as to eject droplets of a fluid from the donor film by laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) into the one or more recesses. The fluid hardens within the one or more recesses to form a solid piece having a shape defined by the one or more recesses. The substrate is removed from the solid piece. In some embodiments, the recesses are coated with a thin-film layer before ejecting the droplets into the recesses, such that the thin-film layer remains as an outer surface of the solid piece after removing the substrate.

A method for fabrication includes providing a substrate having an upper surface with pattern of one or more recesses formed therein. A laser beam is directed to impinge on a donor film so as to eject droplets of a fluid from the donor film by laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) into the one or more recesses. The fluid hardens within the one or more recesses to form a solid piece having a shape defined by the one or more recesses. The substrate is removed from the solid piece. In some embodiments, the recesses are coated with a thin-film layer before ejecting the droplets into the recesses, such that the thin-film layer remains as an outer surface of the solid piece after removing the substrate.

A method for production of a tubular body applying the following steps: Pressureless application of at least one first curable plastic layer made of reactive polyurethane materials with a core via a rotational molding process, Curing the at least one plastic layer, Winding at least one reinforcement layer onto the at least one first plastic layer, Pressureless application of at least one second curable plastic layer, wherein the reinforcement layer is embedded without holes between the two plastic layers, and Removal of the core after completion of the body. Because of this, the position of the reinforcement layer 7 can be individually established and it can be ensured that the reinforcement layer will not penetrate into the first plastic layer during winding after the curing of the first plastic layer.

An apparatus for making a biocompatible three-dimensional object including at least one delivery unit arranged to deliver at least one biocompatible fluid substance towards a 3D mold having a matrix surface to obtain a coating layer of a predetermined thickness configured for coating the matrix surface. The three-dimensional object may be a heart valve. Furthermore, a handling unit is provided arranged to provide a relative movement according to at least 3 degrees of freedom between the 3D mold and each delivery unit. The 3D mold is arranged to be coated by the delivered biocompatible fluid substance, in order to obtain a three-dimensional object having an object surface copying the matrix surface of the support body.

An apparatus for making a biocompatible three-dimensional object including at least one delivery unit arranged to deliver at least one biocompatible fluid substance towards a 3D mold having a matrix surface to obtain a coating layer of a predetermined thickness configured for coating the matrix surface. The three-dimensional object may be a heart valve. Furthermore, a handling unit is provided arranged to provide a relative movement according to at least 3 degrees of freedom between the 3D mold and each delivery unit. The 3D mold is arranged to be coated by the delivered biocompatible fluid substance, in order to obtain a three-dimensional object having an object surface copying the matrix surface of the support body.

Described herein are additive manufacturing systems and methods for printing 3D objects.

A thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) resin powder includes spherical particles of a thermoplastic elastomer resin. The spherical particles have an average particle diameter of 50 m to 300 m. The thermoplastic elastomer resin powder is suitable for a powder slush molding (PSM) process, and the molded article produced therefrom has excellent surface characteristics.