A consumable filament for use in an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, where the consumable filament comprises a core portion of a matrix of a first base polymer and particles dispersed within the matrix, and a shell portion comprising a same or a different base polymer. The consumable filament is configured to be melted and extruded to form roads of a plurality of solidified layers of a three-dimensional part, and where the roads at least partially retain cross-sectional profiles corresponding to the core portion and the shell portion of the consumable filament and retain the particles within the roads of the printed part and do not penetrate the outer surface of the shell portion.

This disclosure relates generally to corrugated pipe, and more particularly to corrugated pipe with an outer wrap. In one embodiment, a pipe includes an axially extended bore defined by a corrugated outer wall having axially adjacent, outwardly-extending corrugation crests, separated by corrugation valleys. The pipe also includes an outer wrap applied to the outer wall. The outer wrap may include fibers and plastic. The outer wrap may span the corrugation crests producing a smooth outer surface.

A method for manufacturing a luminescent timepiece component for a portable object includes producing a pre-mixture of a phosphorescent pigment in an amount of 10 to 40% by weight, a fluorescent pigment in an amount of 1 to 4% by weight and a plasticiser in a maximum amount of 10% by weight; mixing a polymer base with the pre-mixture and extruding a first time the mixture obtained to obtain a homogeneous polymer mixture; extruding a second time the polymer mixture to form a strip of a predetermined thickness; and cutting the strip to obtain the desired luminescent timepiece component.

A method for manufacturing a luminescent timepiece component for a portable object includes producing a pre-mixture of a phosphorescent pigment in an amount of 10 to 40% by weight, a fluorescent pigment in an amount of 1 to 4% by weight and a plasticiser in a maximum amount of 10% by weight; mixing a polymer base with the pre-mixture and extruding a first time the mixture obtained to obtain a homogeneous polymer mixture; extruding a second time the polymer mixture to form a strip of a predetermined thickness; and cutting the strip to obtain the desired luminescent timepiece component.

Improvements in the extrusion of thermohardenable materials are achieved by cooling the material in the initial zone of the extruder and reducing residence time by use of a prescribed length to diameter ratio and screw speed, particularly useful for intermittent application during robotically controlled mass production.

The invention relates to a molding composed of extruded foam, wherein at least one fiber (F) is present with a fiber region (FB2) within the molding and is surrounded by the extruded foam, while a fiber region (FB1) of the fiber (F) projects from a first side of the molding and a fiber region (FB3) of the fiber (F) projects from a second side of the molding, and the extruded foam is produced by an extrusion process comprising the following steps: I) providing a polymer melt in an extruder, II) introducing at least one blowing agent into the polymer melt provided in step I) to obtain a foamable polymer melt, III) extruding the foamable polymer melt obtained in step II) from the extruder through at least one die aperture into an area at lower pressure, with expansion of the foamable polymer melt to obtain an expanded foam, and IV) calibrating the expanded foam from step III) by conducting the expanded foam through a shaping tool to obtain the extruded foam.

A slot extruder for use with an additive manufacturing system, which includes a plenum configured to receive a photocurable resin, an elongated slot positioned at a bottom end of the plenum and configured to receive the photocurable resin from the plenum, one or more resin inlet ports extending into the plenum, and one or more mechanisms configured to controllably pressurize and depressurize the photocurable resin in the plenum.

A feedstock configured for use in an extruder in an additive manufacturing system is configured as a braided comingled tow filament. A method of producing the braided comingled tow filament includes providing a bundle of comingled tow material having a fiber count ranging from about 1,000 fibers to about 25,000 fibers having thermoplastic fibers comingled therewith, wherein the tow material in the filament ranges from about 50 to 75 volume percent and the volume percent of the thermoplastic material ranges from about 25 volume percent to about 50 volume percent. The method includes dividing the length of comingled tow material into sections, twisting each section into a strand to form a plurality of strands of twisted tow material, and braiding together the strands.

One or more embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for applying a mixture of a first compound and a second compound, the apparatus comprising a first extruder for processing a first compound and a second extruder for processing a second compound, wherein the outlet from the first extruder is in fluid communication with a first channel of a housing, and the outlet from the second extruder is in fluid communication with a second channel of the housing, wherein a gear pump is positioned in each channel, wherein a nozzle is in fluid communication with an outlet of the first channel and an outlet of the second channel, and a coextruded continuous strip is produced. The ratio of the first compound to the second compound may be adjusted instantaneously.

One or more embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for applying a mixture of a first compound and a second compound, the apparatus comprising a first extruder for processing a first compound and a second extruder for processing a second compound, wherein the outlet from the first extruder is in fluid communication with a first channel of a housing, and the outlet from the second extruder is in fluid communication with a second channel of the housing, wherein a gear pump is positioned in each channel, wherein a nozzle is in fluid communication with an outlet of the first channel and an outlet of the second channel, and a coextruded continuous strip is produced. The ratio of the first compound to the second compound may be adjusted instantaneously.