A supply of build material such as a spool or cartridge is instrumented with a data tag that includes information about the build material. A three-dimensional printer can read the information from the tag and determine how to use the build material during fabrication of a three-dimensional object.

A thermoplastic composite structure is produced by extruding a bead of composite material to a desired cross sectional shape. An extruder extrudes the polymer bead containing reinforcing fibers, using a low compression first extruder stage where the polymer is mixed and de-gassed, and a high compression second stage where the polymer is consolidated and extruded. The cross sectional profile of the polymer bead may be altered using a variable extruder gate.

A tubular wall, which may be employed in a medical catheter or medical electrical lead, is formed by stranding together a plurality of polymer fibers and at least one metal filar, wherein the stranding forms a braid matrix of the polymer fibers and a coil of the metal filar interlaced therewith. Then, while the braid matrix secures a pitch of the coil, a polymer material is extruded around an entire length of the tubular wall, and, in some cases, the extrusion process causes the plurality of polymer fibers to melt and coalesce together with one another, while the pitch of the coil is maintained. Alternately, a reflow process, which follows extrusion, causes the polymer fibers to melt and coalesce along all, or just a discrete length of the tubular wall.

A method of continuously forming an axially extensible and retractable hose comprising: continuously forming an axially extending helix with axially spaced reinforcing coils from extruded thermoplastic material having a uniform cross-section along its length; and continuously bridging between an adjacent pair of the reinforcing coils with a continuous web of extruded thermoplastic material of substantially uniform width and relatively thin cross-section to form a continuous, helically extending sidewall, with the web having one of two opposite edge regions bonded continuously to a relatively flat outer bonding surface of a radially outwardly located portion of one of the adjacent pair of reinforcing coils, with the web having the other of the edge regions bonded continuously to a relatively flat inner bonding surface of a radially inwardly located portion of the other of the pair of reinforcing coils, and with the edge regions continuously radially separated from each other by the helix.

The present invention is related to a process for bordering a corrugated plastic panel and to a panel obtained through that process. In particular, the invention is related to a process for making a corrugated plastic panel comprising a bordering made in-line or out-line in order to close the openings outwards. The invention is also related to an apparatus for bordering according to that process. The panel is sealed and shock resistant thanks to the laying of thermoplastic elastomeric material.

The invention relates to a method for edge coating on work pieces, comprising the following steps: inducing a relative movement between a work piece (W) and an application unit (10), which application unit (10) is provided for applying a mass; setting an application region for applying the mass, in particular in accordance with the width of the edge of a work piece to be provided with the mass; applying the mass to an edge of the work piece (W) to form a three-dimensional body. Said work pieces can be, in particular elements or parts from the furniture or components industry.

A multilayered polymer composite film includes a first polymer material forming a polymer matrix and a second polymer material coextruded with the first polymer material. The second polymer material forms a plurality of fibers embedded within the polymer matrix. The fibers have a rectangular cross-section.

A method of producing a multi-lumen elongate body for a medical device. Unlike known methods requiring a solid core of material inserted into each lumen to maintain patency of the lumens during manufacture, the present method obviates the need for a solid core within one or more minor lumens, which saves cost and production complexity. One or more material overlay and mesh overlay steps may be used to produce the multi-lumen elongate body, but only the main lumen may include a solid core therein during all manufacturing steps. The one or more minor lumens may each be defined by a lumen tube having a sufficient stiffness to withstand external pressure during all manufacturing steps without the need for a solid core within.

This disclosure relates generally to corrugated pipe, and more particularly to corrugated pipe with a reinforcing stiffener. The corrugated pipe may include an axially extended bore defined by a corrugated outer wall having axially adjacent, outwardly-extending corrugation crests, separated by corrugation valleys. In some embodiments, a stiffener may be positioned within the corrugation valleys. In other embodiments, a stiffener may be positioned within the corrugation crests.

This disclosure relates generally to corrugated pipe, and more particularly to corrugated pipe with a reinforcing stiffener. The corrugated pipe may include an axially extended bore defined by a corrugated outer wall having axially adjacent, outwardly-extending corrugation crests, separated by corrugation valleys. In some embodiments, a stiffener may be positioned within the corrugation valleys. In other embodiments, a stiffener may be positioned within the corrugation crests.