A device for fabricating a continuous thermoplastic filament having a plurality of segments comprises first and second filament supply components for supplying first and second thermoplastic filaments and a filament cutting component for cutting each of the first and second thermoplastic filaments into segments. The device also includes first and second filament guide components for guiding the first and second thermoplastic filaments into position to be cut by the filament cutting component. The device further includes a filament segment joining section positioned after the filament cutting component to join the first and second thermoplastic filaments to form a continuous thermoplastic filament having a plurality of segments. The first and second filament guide components are movable so as to alternatively and sequentially permit the first and second thermoplastic filaments to be cut by the filament cutting component.

A spinning die for melt-blowing has plastic passages, a hot air passage, and an opening surface, in which discharge ports and blowing ports open. Adjacent and closest two of the discharge ports are first and second proximate discharge ports. One of the blowing ports corresponding to the first proximate discharge port is a first proximate blowing port, and one of the blowing ports corresponding to the second proximate discharge port is a second proximate blowing port. The first proximate blowing port includes a guide portion that projects away from the center of the first proximate discharge port. The guide portion is formed such that, as the distance from the opening surface increases, the hot air flow guided by the guide portion flows to be separated away from the hot air flow blown onto the molten plastic discharged from the second proximate discharge port.

An apparatus for extruding a jacket and/or insulative material onto an extruded product with one or more longitudinal stripes incorporated onto the surface of said extruded product comprising a body, a primary feed conduit for conveying a primary extrusion material, a striping die, a secondary feed conduit for conveying a secondary extrusion material, a striping die adapter, a striping feed conduit extending through the striping die adapter for conveying striping extrusion material. The striping die adapter may also include a thermocouple for maintaining the viscosity of the striping extrusion material and a thermocouple for monitoring the temperature of said striping die adapter. The striping die includes one or more striping extrusion outlets for conveying striping extrusion material onto the extruded product. The striping die may also include a wishbone-shaped trough for delivering equal amounts of striping extrusion material to said extrusion outlets for extrusion onto the product.

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to methods and apparatus involving the extrusion of polymers or other materials. As may be implemented in accordance with various embodiments, a polymer is delivered into an inlet of a nozzle structure having the inlet and an outlet. The polymer is viscously heated and melted by rotating the nozzle structure about an axis extending through the inlet and the outlet, therein facilitating extrusion of the melted polymer through the nozzle structure outlet. A polymer supply may deliver the polymer into the nozzle structure inlet, and a coupler may facilitation rotation of the nozzle structure. A driver may further operate to control rotation of the nozzle structure relative to the coupler, for instance by generating a rotational output that causes rotation of the nozzle structure.

A method and system are disclosed. A method of printing onto a base having an upper surface spaced from a lower surface by a base thickness includes dispensing a yarn from a nozzle of a printing system and selectively attaching the yarn to a first attachment region. The step of dispensing the yarn includes dispensing a heat-moldable material and a melt-resistant material. The step of selectively attaching the yarn to the first attachment region includes moving the nozzle into the first attachment region. The step of moving the nozzle into the first attachment region reduces the base thickness by a prodding distance. The heat-moldable material bonds to the first attachment region.

The present invention provides a system and method for quickly removing and installing a filament tube and nozzle in an FFF extrusion system. The system utilizes a primary manifold that includes a cooling block, a heating block and a quick-change mechanism. This primary manifold is adapted to mate a filament tube/nozzle assembly. The quick-change mechanism, which in a particular embodiment utilizes a recessed biased-bearing arrangement, enables the filament/nozzle assembly to be removed and inserted without the use of any tools, and without causing any significant downtime for the FFF extrusion system. Once removed, the filament tube/nozzle assembly can be refurbished by a technician, trained so as not to over torque the tube/nozzle threaded interface. This refurbishment (typically consisting of a cleaning and the installation of a new nozzle) could be accomplished off-line, without any impact on the continued use of FFF extrusion system.

An apparatus for use in 3D fabrication includes a heat sink, a melt tube extending through the heat sink, the melt tube having a first end and an opposite second end and adapted for melting filament or other material as the material is conveyed from the first end to the second end, a pen tip having an opening therein for ejecting melted material, the pen tip at the second end of the melt tube, and a pen tip holder for securely holding the pen tip during printing, the pen tip holder having a heater element associated therewith.

Extruder feed system. The system includes a pair of spaced-apart, internally and oppositely threaded rotatable elements for receiving and engaging a plastic filament material. An electric motor rotates the rotatable elements in opposite directions thereby to drive the filament into a liquefier chamber for subsequent discharge through a nozzle. The system provides very accurate layer-by-layer build up.

Disclosed are plastic products from a recycled plastic mix of unidentified, unclean and unsorted mixed plastic waste made with a system comprising thermal and mechanical processing of the recycled plastic waste using continuous extrusion foaming, two-phase cooling, continuous metering of the pulling strength and automatic adjustment of the pulling speed and extrusion speed.

Disclosed are plastic products from a recycled plastic mix of unidentified, unclean and unsorted mixed plastic waste made with a system comprising thermal and mechanical processing of the recycled plastic waste using continuous extrusion foaming, two-phase cooling, continuous metering of the pulling strength and automatic adjustment of the pulling speed and extrusion speed.