Implementations described herein are directed to forming objects including one or more layers of a polymeric material that include a magnetic material. The objects can be produced by forming one or more first layers that include a first polymeric material. The one or more first layers can be free of a magnetic material. Additionally, the object can be produced by forming one or more second layers that include a second polymeric material having a magnetic material. For example, the one or more second layers can include a polymeric material embedded with magnetic particles. The one or more first layers and the one or more second layers can be formed by extruding the first polymeric material and the second polymeric material onto a substrate according to a pattern. A magnetizing device can be used to magnetize the magnetic material included in the one or more second layers.

A method and apparatus for manufacturing a duct bank comprising the steps of loading a frame with a series of templates, positioning the frame adjacent a pipe extruder, aligning a set of a plurality of holes with a die of the pipe extruder, extruding a pipe of a first length into the set of holes, repeating the steps of aligning and extruding for each set of holes, thereby forming the duct bank, banding the duct bank, and removing the duct bank from the frame.

In a cost-effective and qualitatively better method for producing spacers for a winding unit of an electrical high-voltage device, at least two starting components are mixed together in a mixing chamber under vacuum to form a component mixture. The component mixture is transferred to an extrusion housing, likewise under vacuum, of an extruder in which a transport device is arranged and which is equipped with a mouthpiece delimiting an outlet opening. The extrudate exiting from the mouthpiece is cured by the addition of heat in a vacuum in order to obtain the spacers.

Ophthalmic suture materials made from biocompatible and biodegradable polymers with high tensile strength for use in drug delivery, methods of making them, and method of using them for ocular surgery and repair have been developed. The suture materials are made from a combination of a biodegradable, biocompatible polymer and a hydrophilic biocompatible polymer. In a preferred embodiment the suture materials are made from a poly(hydroxyl acid) such as poly(1-lactic acid) and a polyalkylene oxide such as poly(ethylene glycol) or a polyalkylene oxide block copolymer. The sutures entrap (e.g., encapsulate) one or more therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic agents and provide prolonged release over a period of at least a week, preferably a month.

The present invention provides a method for producing a non-woven fiber fabric by spinning a molten polymer. Thus, a non-woven fiber fabric which is substantially free from a solvent, different from the case of spinning a polymer solution, but yet has an extremely small fiber size (diameter of 0.5 m or less) is provided. The non-woven fiber fabric comprises an olefin-based thermoplastic resin fiber, said fiber having an average fiber size of 0.01-0.5 m, and said non-woven fiber fabric having an average pore size of 0.01-10.0 m and being free from a solvent component.

Ophthalmic suture materials made from biocompatible and biodegradable polymers with high tensile strength for use in drug delivery, methods of making them, and method of using them for ocular surgery and repair have been developed. The suture materials are made from a combination of a biodegradable, biocompatible polymer and a hydrophilic biocompatible polymer. In a preferred embodiment the suture materials are made from a poly(hydroxyl acid) such as poly(l-lactic acid) and a polyalkylene oxide such as poly(ethylene glycol) or a polyalkylene oxide block copolymer. The sutures entrap (e.g., encapsulate) one or more therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic agents and provide prolonged release over a period of at least a week, preferably a month.

The invention provides a 3D printing device (500) comprising a printer nozzle (502) for depositing a material on a support structure (550) for the formation of a 3D object (10), wherein the printer nozzle (502) and the support structure (550) are arranged to be translated relative to each other with a translation speed in a translation direction (52, 62), and a vibration actuator arranged for providing a vibrating motion (50, 60) of at least a first part of the support structure (550) relative to the printer nozzle (502) in a direction different from the translation direction (52, 62).

A sizer for cooling an extrudate, which includes a core and a housing. The core includes an extrusion channel which accommodates the extrudate, a core cooling channel, and a core vacuum channel in fluid communication with the extrusion channel. The housing includes a housing cooling channel and a housing vacuum channel. The core cooling channel is in fluid communication with the housing cooling channel, and the core vacuum channel is in fluid communication with the housing vacuum channel.