Various embodiments related to three dimensional printers, and reinforced filaments, and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, a void free reinforced filament is fed into an extrusion nozzle. The reinforced filament includes a core, which may be continuous or semi-continuous, and a matrix material surrounding the core. The reinforced filament is heated to a temperature greater than a melting temperature of the matrix material and less than a melting temperature of the core prior to extruding the filament from the extrusion nozzle.

A method for replacing one or more components of a lip adjustment assembly mounted to a die body of an extrusion die is disclosed. Initially, a translating unit of the lip adjustment assembly is accessed through an exposed end of the lip adjustment assembly. Then, an adjustment actuator is removed from a translator of the translating unit. The translator is decoupled from a rod of the translating unit so that the translator is removable from the lip adjustment assembly and with respect to the rod. Next, the translator is removed from the lip adjustment assembly and a first component of the translating unit is replaced with a second component of the translating unit.

A plurality of trough extruders are supported upon a lift truck traveling in a circular travel path. The plurality of trough extruders continuously form one piece troughs as the lift truck travels its circular path. A lift mechanism progressively raises the extruders as the lift truck travels its circular path two form continuous one-piece helical water troughs for use in an agricultural growing structure.

An extrusion die includes a first die body having a first lip, and a second die body having a second lip. A lip adjustment assembly is mounted to the first die body and configured to adjust the position of the first lip relative to the second lip to thereby adjust a thickness of the extrudate that exits the gap. The lip adjustment has translating unit that includes translator, a mounting member coupled to the translator, and a rod coupled to the mounting member so that the translator is fixed with respect to the rod. The mounting member is configured to be accessible from the exposed end to decouple the translator from the rod so as to remove the translator from the lip adjustment assembly.

An adjustment system coupled to a die, and a die including an adjustment system, includes first and second adjustment modules. The first adjustment module includes a first body, a first plurality of studs, and a first actuator. Each of the first plurality of studs is slidably positioned within the first body. The first actuator is coupled to the first plurality of studs and is configured to move each of the first plurality of studs. The second adjustment module includes a second body, a second plurality of studs, and a second actuator. Each of the second plurality of studs is slidably positioned within the second body. The second actuator is coupled to the second plurality of studs and is configured to move each of the second plurality of studs. The number of studs composing the first plurality of studs is different from a number of studs composing the second plurality of studs.

A method for identifying an angle of roll for a multi-nozzle extruder includes moving the extruder in a first process direction to form a first set of swaths of extrusion material using two nozzles in the extruder and moving the extruder in a second process direction to form a second set of swaths of extrusion material. The method further includes identifying a location of one nozzle relative to the other nozzle in two dimensions based on cross-process direction distances between the first and second sets of swaths and identifying the angle of extruder roll for the extruder based on the location of the one nozzle and a predetermined geometry of the extruder.

The present invention relates to a device (10) for the generation of a negative pressure for stabilizing a melt strip (200) in the area of a transport device (120) of a film machine (100) particularly with a production process of a plastic film (230) comprising: at least one main chamber (20) for generating a first negative pressure in a first influence area (310) at least one auxiliary chamber (30) for generating a second negative pressure in a second influence area (320), wherein

the first influence area (310) is assignable to at least one main area (210) of the melt strip (200) and the second influence area (320) is assignable to at least one edge area (220) of the melt strip (200) adjacent to the main area (210), and wherein the first negative pressure differs from the second negative pressure in order to effect a stabilization of the melt strip (200).

Disclosed are bioprinters for rapidly fabricating biological tubes comprising extruding a bio-ink filament onto a rotating mandrel. Also disclosed are methods of rapidly fabricating biological tubes comprising extruding a bio-ink filament onto a rotating mandrel, maturing the deposited bio-ink filament, and removing the biological tube from the mandrel. Also disclosed are methods of fabricating a multilayered biological tube. Also disclosed are engineered biological tubes prepared using the disclosed methods.

A method for measuring a tubular strand exiting from an extrusion device comprises directing electromagnetic radiation from an inside of the tubular strand to an inner side of a tubular strand. The electromagnet radiation is radiated from at least one radiation source within a frequency range from 1 GHz to 6000 GHz. The electromagnetic radiation is reflected off of the tubular strand and received by at least one radiation receiver. A value for at least one of a diameter, a wall thickness, and a deviation in shape of the tubular strand is determined from the electromagnetic radiation received by at least one radiation receiver.

The invention relates to a system (10) for improved introduction of a separating device (40) into a flattened film tube (2) of a blown film line (1), with a cutting device (20) for severing only a first tube side (2.1) of the film tube (2), in particular the film tube (2) which has not yet been flattened. Furthermore, the invention relates to a blown film line (1), as well as a method (100) for producing and providing at least two film webs (6).