A method and an apparatus for extrusion of fiber-reinforced plastic material for the additive manufacture of a component is disclosed. The fiber-reinforced plastic material is supplied to the extrusion apparatus and heated in a heating zone of the extrusion apparatus in order to then supply the fiber-reinforced plastic material to an extrusion nozzle of the extrusion apparatus, at which a material thread comprising fiber-reinforced plastic material is extruded for the component to be manufactured. In order to convey the fiber-reinforced plastic material through the heating zone, a screw conveyor of the extrusion apparatus is utilized, which has a length-diameter ratio of less than a set value. In the heating zone a maximum volume is provided for the fiber-reinforced plastic material and a rotational speed of the screw conveyor is limited to a maximum of speed.

An extrusion additive manufacturing process including the step of extruding a polyethylene composition having a melt flow index MIE of at least 0.1 g/10 min., the composition made from or containing: A) from 1% to 40% by weight of a polyethylene component having a weight average molar mass Mw, as measured by GPC (Gel Permeation Chromatography), equal to or higher than 1,000,000 g/mol; B) from 1% to 95% by weight of a polyethylene component having a Mw value from 50,000 to 500,000 g/mol; and C) from 1% to 59% by weight of a polyethylene component having a Mw value equal to or lower than 5,000 g/mol.

A continuous, wavy and intersecting pattern of filaments is deposited on a surface of a house wrap membrane using a plurality of hot melt nozzles and a controller that controls, positionally and temporally, the relative positions and flow of hot melt of the nozzles and the top surface of the membrane. Water drainage channels may be provided by depressions or viaducts.

A nozzle assembly for a printer head of a 3D printer includes a guide held in a fixed position relative to the printer head and extending from a first end to a second end along a longitudinal axis. A drive mechanism extends from a feed end to a discharge end along the longitudinal axis. The feed end defines a feed opening for receiving a filament from a feed system, and the discharge end defines a discharge opening for discharging the filament from the nozzle assembly. The drive mechanism is movable relative to the guide, and the drive mechanism includes a drive surface for engaging the filament and causing the filament to move from the feed opening to the discharge opening, in response to the drive mechanism moving relative to the printer head. The nozzle assembly further includes a motor for moving the drive mechanism relative to the printer head.

A modular extrusion system for forming an article includes a support frame and a plurality of print head modules removably connected to the support frame. Each of the print head modules includes a printer head, a printer nozzle, a hopper, and an integrated control module. The hoppers are configured for holding a plurality of polymer pellets. The printer heads of the plurality of print head modules each include a body defining a barrel, a rotating extrusion screw extending through the barrel, and one or more heaters at least partially surrounding the barrel for melting the plurality of polymer pellets into a polymer resin formulation. The printer nozzles are configured for printing and depositing the polymer resin formulation onto a substrate to form the article. The modular extrusion system also includes a control system communicatively coupled to each of the integrated control modules for controlling the modular extrusion system.

A machine for making a protective joint has a guide system, which is selectively clampable about a pipeline on opposite sides with respect to the annular junction portion and configured for defining an annular path about the annular junction portion; at least one heating unit moveable along the annular path and configured for heating the annular junction portion and moveable along the annular path; at least one spray unit moveable along the annular path and configured for applying at least one polymer material to the annular junction portion; and an extrusion die moveable along the annular path and configured for applying a protective foil about the annular junction portion.

A die plate changing system holds first and second die plates and selectively transitions the first and second die plates into and out of communication with a material source. The die plate changing system has a frame having a body defining a first recess that receives the first die plate and a second recess that receives the second die plate, where the frame is heats the first and second die plates when the first and second die plates are disposed in the first and second recesses, respectively. The die plate changing system also includes a movement assembly operably coupled to the frame and that selectively moves the frame between a first position, where the first die plate receives material from the material source, and a second position, where the second die plate receives the material from the material source.

A device may generate a multi-layer stack of sheets that may be adhered into a slab-shaped preform for thermal drawing. The sheets may include sublayers. Stacking the sub-layered sheets results in accumulation of layers in the final fabricated preform. The stacking process may use mechanical translation and conveyance to support placement of the sheets and fabrication of the stack.

A three-dimensional (3D) printing system and method for printing with the 3D system. The 3D system includes a pneumatic dispense gun for mixing a thermoset resin and catalyst and dispensing a catalyzed resin to a rotary dispense valve for application of the catalyzed resin to a substrate on a movable table. The dispense gun contains a catalyst injection unit and a mixer for mixing the catalyst with the thermoset resin. The mixer is downstream of the catalyst injection unit and the catalyst injection unit includes a catalyst injector and a distribution ring surrounding the catalyst injector. One or more first pumps are provided for pumping the thermoset resin from a storage container to the pneumatic dispense gun. A second pump is provided for pumping the catalyst from a storage container to the dispense gun.

An apparatus, a system, and a method for improvements in fused filament fabrication (FFF). Characteristics of a filament may be measured during production of the filament and the characteristics stored in a memory for retrieval by a 3D printer. The 3D printer adjusts print settings as necessary based on the measured characteristics, thereby resulting in better print quality.