Implementations describe systems and methods for manufacturing and performing quality assessment of dental appliances. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a dental appliance comprises receiving, at a holder, a feature of the dental appliance, the feature comprising a first surface having a first shape, wherein the holder holds the feature of the dental appliance at a reference position. The method further includes automatically placing an object against the feature at the reference position using a robot arm, wherein the object comprises a second surface having a second shape that mates with the first shape. The method further includes applying pressure to press the object against the feature of the dental appliance and bonding the object to the feature of the dental appliance while applying the pressure.

A method for producing a channel-shaped hollow profile component from a nonwoven material includes providing first and second nonwoven material layers arranging the first and second nonwoven material layers in a mold tool having first and second mold tool halves and a core body wherein a formation of the first and second nonwoven material layers and the core body is arranged between the first and second mold tool halves, and wherein the core body is arranged between the first and second nonwoven material layers in the formation, and simultaneously forming the first and second nonwoven material layers in the mold tool to form a first nonwoven partial shell and a second nonwoven partial shell.

A method for producing a channel-shaped hollow profile component from a nonwoven material includes providing first and second nonwoven material layers arranging the first and second nonwoven material layers in a mold tool having first and second mold tool halves and a core body wherein a formation of the first and second nonwoven material layers and the core body is arranged between the first and second mold tool halves, and wherein the core body is arranged between the first and second nonwoven material layers in the formation, and simultaneously forming the first and second nonwoven material layers in the mold tool to form a first nonwoven partial shell and a second nonwoven partial shell.

A method for making a capsule provided with a body containing a filtering element suitable for receiving a product for preparing a beverage, including: supplying a first film of thermoplastic material and a second film of filtering material to a forming mold according to a supplying direction, superimposing the second film on the first film, the forming mold including a lower half mold in which a plurality of cavities is obtained and an upper half mold provided with a plurality of stretching elements, one for each cavity, which are movable in one direction that is perpendicular to the supplying direction; pre-heating to a softening temperature the first film of thermoplastic material, by a pre-heating device arranged upstream of the forming mold; closing the forming mold bringing the lower half mold and the upper half mold towards one another until they clamp between one another the first film of thermoplastic material and the second film of filtering material; simultaneously forming in the cavities the bodies of the capsules and the respective filtering elements, using the stretching elements. An apparatus for making a capsule provided with a body containing a filtering element suitable for receiving a product for preparing a beverage, including: one forming mold including a lower half mold wherein a plurality of cavities is obtained and an upper half mold provided with a plurality of stretching elements, one for each cavity, movable in one direction, a supplying means that is movable in one advancement direction that is perpendicular to the direction, to supply simultaneously to the forming mold and to keep taut a first film of thermoplastic material and a second film of filtering material, a pre-heating device for pre-heating at least the first film of thermoplastic material before it is supplied to the forming mold.

A method for making a capsule provided with a body containing a filtering element suitable for receiving a product for preparing a beverage, including: supplying a first film of thermoplastic material and a second film of filtering material to a forming mold according to a supplying direction, superimposing the second film on the first film, the forming mold including a lower half mold in which a plurality of cavities is obtained and an upper half mold provided with a plurality of stretching elements, one for each cavity, which are movable in one direction that is perpendicular to the supplying direction; pre-heating to a softening temperature the first film of thermoplastic material, by a pre-heating device arranged upstream of the forming mold; closing the forming mold bringing the lower half mold and the upper half mold towards one another until they clamp between one another the first film of thermoplastic material and the second film of filtering material; simultaneously forming in the cavities the bodies of the capsules and the respective filtering elements, using the stretching elements. An apparatus for making a capsule provided with a body containing a filtering element suitable for receiving a product for preparing a beverage, including: one forming mold including a lower half mold wherein a plurality of cavities is obtained and an upper half mold provided with a plurality of stretching elements, one for each cavity, movable in one direction, a supplying means that is movable in one advancement direction that is perpendicular to the direction, to supply simultaneously to the forming mold and to keep taut a first film of thermoplastic material and a second film of filtering material, a pre-heating device for pre-heating at least the first film of thermoplastic material before it is supplied to the forming mold.

Method of forming a plate including providing a sheet of polyethylene terephthalate foam and thermoforming the polyethylene terephthalate foam into a plate. The plate comprising a bottom wall having an outer perimeter, an upper surface, and a lower support surface defining a horizontal reference plane. The plate further comprising a sidewall extending upwardly and outwardly from the outer perimeter at an angle “a” of between about 30° to about 35° relative to a vertical axis perpendicular to the horizontal reference plane. The plate further including a rim extending laterally outwardly from an upper edge of the sidewall and a turndown flange extending downwardly from an outer edge of the rim and terminating at a free end.

A system and method for forming plastic sheet into a three-dimensional shape. The plastic sheet may include one or more sheet-mounted components, such as electronics, that must be shielded from excessive heat, pressure, and/or crushing when the formation of the sheet occurs. A recess will be formed to protect against directly contacting sheet-mounted component. The recess may be aligned along the heating plate and/or the form core and/or along a protective blanket which may be set over (and under) sheet prior to heating/forming. The sheet is registered (with or without a blanket) onto a base plate, and preferably over a form core. The sheet is then raised to contact with a heating plate, and then placed downward over the (optionally heated) form core. Recess(es) align in locations corresponding to mounted component to protect same.

A pressure forming machine is provided. In one embodiment, the pressure forming machine integrates a heater in its pressure chamber, so the heater and pressure chamber are movable together with respect to a base of the pressure forming machine. The pressure chamber and base can contain locking mechanisms to create a seal between the pressure chamber and a plastic sheet used for forming. The base can also contain a separable air compressor component, so the air compressor can be physically distanced to reduce the noise experienced by a user. Other embodiments are provided.

A die comprises a concave die, a blank holder, and a punch passing through the blank holder. The concave die has a first reference surface, a second reference surface that forms the bottom of a concave shape, and an upright surface connecting the first reference surface and the second reference surface. The blank holder has a blank holder surface that sandwiches a prepreg together with the first reference surface. The punch has a punch surface that sandwiches the prepreg together with the second reference surface, and a punch side face that sandwiches the prepreg together with the upright surface. There is a prescribed relationship between R1, which is the radius of curvature of the corner formed by the second reference surface and the upright surface, and R3, which is the radius of curvature of the corner formed by the punch surface and the punch side face.

The present invention relates to a medical thread which has on one end thereof a stopper that has a polygonal cross-section, and which exhibits excellent end adhesive force and penetration resistance, and to a manufacturing method for same.