A system for manufacturing a three-dimensional object facilitates the removal of support material from the object. The system includes a controller configured to move a platen to position the object at a position opposite a microwave radiator and then operate the microwave radiator to change the phase of the support material from solid to liquid. The controller either monitors the expiration of a predetermined time period or a temperature of the object to determine when the microwave radiator operation is terminated. The microwave radiation does not damage the object because the support material has a dielectric loss factor that is greater than the dielectric loss factor of the object.

A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object facilitates the removal of support material from the object. The method includes moving the object to a position opposite a microwave radiator and operating the microwave radiator to change the phase of the support material from solid to liquid. A controller either monitors the expiration of a predetermined time period or a temperature of the object to determine when the microwave radiator operation is terminated. The microwave radiation does not damage the object because the support material has a dielectric loss factor that is greater than the dielectric loss factor of the object.

A process for removing protein contents from a rubber glove includes heating the rubber glove in water for 10-30 minutes; heating the rubber glove in a sodium carbonate solution for 50-70 minutes; and washing the rubber glove at least 2 times in washing water.

A method is provided for treating the surface of a shaped melded part produced with a plastic having ester, ketone and/or ether bonds. The plastic is selected from the group including a polymer, copolymer, polymer blend and combinations of the same. The method includes a pretreatment step for cationically modifying the surface of the melded shaped part. The cationic modification is carried out with a reactant dissolved in a solvent and having one or more amine, imine and/or amide groups.

There is described a method of separating excess lens forming material from a molded ophthalmic lens, in particular a contact lens. After polymerization and/or cross-linking of a lens forming material (P) within a mold cavity (4) of a mold (1) comprising female and male mold halves (2, 3) to form an ophthalmic lens non-polymerized and/or non-cross-linked lens forming material is flushed away from the mold halves (2, 3) with a jet of a fluid flushing medium, such as, e.g., water or a solvent or an inert gas. Subsequently the molded lens is dried. In accordance with the invention the flushing is accomplished with the mold halves (2, 3) still in the closed position. There is also described an apparatus for carrying out the method.

A system and a method for printing an object includes a display module arranged to display a two-dimensional representation within a two-dimensional space, the two-dimensional representation being arranged to represent a two-dimensional view of a three-dimensional object within the two-dimensional space; a processing module arranged to transform the two-dimensional representation into a plurality of two-dimensional expressions arranged to individually represent a portion of the three-dimensional object; and a printing module arranged to form the three-dimensional object from a fluid medium arranged to transform its physical state in response to a manipulated illumination exposed thereto, wherein the manipulated illumination exposed to the fluid medium is associated with the plurality of two-dimensional expressions disposed therebetween, and with the inner surface of the printed three-dimensional object being arranged to match the outer surface of a real-world object inserted therein.

An extrusion process for making a poly alpha-1,3-glucan food casing is disclosed.

The invention discloses a process for the preparation of a biodegradable stent which involves deforming an extruded biodegradable polymer tube axially at a first predefined temperature by applying an axial force for a first predefined time interval. The process is followed by radially expanding the axially stretched tube at a second predefined temperature by pressurizing the tube with an inert gas in one or more stages, the pressure applied in each successive stage being higher than the pressure applied in a previous stage. The process further comprises laser cutting a specific pattern of scaffold structure on the expanded tube and then crimping the laser cut stent on the balloon of delivery catheter in a sterile environment in multiple stages.

A process for making poly alpha-1,3-glucan formate films by extrusion is disclosed. These films are translucent or transparent and can be used in packaging applications.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object, which method includes a cleaning or washing step, is carried out by: (a) providing a carrier and a fill level, and optionally an optically transparent member having a build surface defining the fill level, the carrier and the fill level having a build region therebetween; (b) filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, the polymerizable liquid comprising a mixture of (i) a light polymerizable liquid first component, and (ii) a second solidifiable component that is different from the first component; (c) irradiating the build region with light, to form a solid polymer scaffold from the first component and also advancing the carrier away from the build surface to form a three-dimensional intermediate having the same shape as, or a shape to be imparted to, the three-dimensional object and containing the second solidifiable component carried in the scaffold in unsolidified and/or uncured form; (d) washing the three-dimensional intermediate; and (e) concurrently with or subsequent to the irradiating step, and/or the washing step, solidifying and/or curing the second solidifiable component in the three-dimensional intermediate to form the three-dimensional object.