A multiple axis robotic additive manufacturing system includes a robotic arm movable in six degrees of freedom. The system includes a build platform movable in at least two degrees of freedom and independent of the movement of the robotic arm to position the part being built to counteract effects of gravity based upon part geometry. The system includes an extruder mounted at an end of the robotic arm. The extruder is configured to extrude at least part material with a plurality of flow rates, wherein movement of the robotic arm and the build platform are synchronized with the flow rate of the extruded material to build the 3D part.

A latent elastic film laminate is provided including a film predominantly comprising olefin elastomers. The film is stretched and maintained in a stretched state in order to impart the desired level of latent elasticity such that the conditioned film laminate will shrink upon activation, such as by heating. The latent elastic film laminate can be advantageously used in the manufacture of various elasticated articles, including absorbent personal care articles, by activating the latent elasticity after attachment to the article and thereby shirring and elasticizing components to which the film laminate is attached.

Examples are described that generate control data for production of a three-dimensional object. Build material profile data is accessed for an indicated build material. The build material profile data for a given build material defines one or more parameter values that are dependent on the properties of the given build material and that are configured to generate a three-dimensional object with predefined build properties.

A method includes injection molding a preform using a two phase injection system having a first phase in which a material is injected into the preform and a second phase in which the material is injected into the preform. The preform is disposed in a mold. The preform is blow molded into an intermediate article. The intermediate article is trimmed to form a finished container. The first phase includes injecting a material into the preform to form a single layer of the preform and the second phase includes injecting the material to form inner and outer layers and an intermediate layer between the inner and outer layers. The inner and outer layers include the material and the intermediate layer includes at least one additive. Finished containers are disclosed.

A multiple axis robotic additive manufacturing system includes a robotic arm movable in six degrees of freedom. The system includes a build platform movable in at least two degrees of freedom and independent of the movement of the robotic arm to position the part being built to counteract effects of gravity based upon part geometry. The system includes an extruder mounted at an end of the robotic arm. The extruder is configured to extrude at least part material with a plurality of flow rates, wherein movement of the robotic arm and the build platform are synchronized with the flow rate of the extruded material to build the 3D part.

Ways of preparing a partially crystalline polycarbonate powder are provided that include dissolving an amorphous polycarbonate in a polar aprotic solvent to form a first solution of solubilized polycarbonate at a first temperature. The first solution is then cooled to a second temperature, the second temperature being lower than the first temperature, where a portion of the solubilized polycarbonate precipitates from the first solution to form a second solution including the partially crystalline polycarbonate powder. Certain partially crystalline polycarbonate powders resulting from such methods are particularly useful in additive manufacturing processes, including powder bed fusion processes.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a three-dimensional component by means of selective laser sintering (SLS), wherein a processing temperature T.sub.x is established in a build chamber, and a powder layer consisting of a thermoplastic polymer powder is provided in the build chamber. The thermoplastic polymer powder comprises a blend of a semicrystalline polymer, an amorphous polymer and a polymeric compatibilizer. The polymer powder is then melted in a spatially resolved manner by means of a directed beam of electromagnetic radiation, wherein binding of the regions of the melted and resolidified polymer layer by layer in multiple steps affords a three-dimensional component. In the process of the invention, the temperature in the build chamber during the performance of the individual steps varies by not more than +/−10% from the processing temperature T.sub.x set. In addition, the processing temperature T.sub.x differs by not more than +/−20 K from the processing temperature T.sub.x(A) of a polymer powder comprising the corresponding semicrystalline polymer as the sole polymeric component.

A method for preparing an object including at least one film including at least one layer including a composition including at least one semi-crystalline polyamide having a melt enthalpy of between 25 J/g and 75 J/g, the film having on all or part of at least one of its surfaces the texture of a texturing element, wherein the method includes: a. providing a mold set to a temperature less than or equal to 120° C.; b. applying to the wall of the mold, at least one texturing element, and having at least partially a textured surface, the textured surface being on the face opposite that facing the mold; c. applying to the textured surface of the texturing element, at least one film comprising at least one layer, the thickness of the layer being at least 10 μm; d. applying heat and pressure to the film.

A film is manufactured from a semi-crystalline plastics material by a method with multiple steps. In step a, the film is shaped using a calender, in which a melt coming from a slotted nozzle is introduced into a nip between two cooling or calibrating rollers. The film is calendered between the two cooling or calibrating rollers. In step b, The film is cooled in a cooling section, which has roller pairs arranged one after the other. A film temperature is changed by changing a temperature of downstream rollers, thereby achieving a maximum number of crystallization nuclei. The film temperature is detected using sensors. In step c, the film is cooled down further to a film temperature that allows the film to be spooled. The temperature of the film is kept in a defined temperature range between 128° C. and 138° C. in step b), thereby preventing the automatic formation of further crystals.

Ways of preparing a partially crystalline polycarbonate powder are provided that include dissolving an amorphous polycarbonate in a polar aprotic solvent to form a first solution of solubilized polycarbonate at a first temperature. The first solution is then cooled to a second temperature, the second temperature being lower than the first temperature, where a portion of the solubilized polycarbonate precipitates from the first solution to form a second solution including the partially crystalline polycarbonate powder. Certain partially crystalline polycarbonate powders resulting from such methods are particularly useful in additive manufacturing processes, including powder bed fusion processes.