A method for operating an extruder that has a screw, including the steps: (a) detection of a formulation identifier which is associated with material to be extruded and which encodes at least one operating variable, from which an ideal screw rotational frequency of the screw, which is to be set for the extrusion process, can be determined, (b) time-dependent detection of a throughput parameter, from which a throughput of the extruder can be deduced, (c) detection of a non-conformance point in time, at which the material can no longer be produced with a predefined quality, owing to excessive wear of the extruder, and (d) calculation of a limit throughput parameter from the throughput parameter, linking of the limit throughput parameter to the formulation identifier, and storing of the limit throughput parameter.

An additive manufacturing system, which can include a 3D printer, includes in at least one aspect: a build platform; a carriage and a rack configured to hold different manufacturing tools, including an extrusion tool; a heating device associated with the extrusion tool; a 3D motion system configured to move the carriage between the rack and a build space associated with the build platform, and to move the carriage within the build space associated with the build platform; and one or more computers programmed to trigger the heating device to begin pre-heating the extrusion tool at a point before mounting of the extrusion tool to the carriage by the 3D motion system, such that the material in the extrusion tool is melted by a point in the manufacturing process when the extrusion tool will be mounted on the carriage and in position to extrude material in the build space.

A 3D drawing arrangement includes a sleeve, a gripping handle, a feeding passage, a heater, a filament moving system, and a controller which includes a control circuit and a finger detector electrically connected to the control circuit, wherein when the finger detector detects a presence of a finger of a user which is aligned with the finger detector, the control circuit starts operation of the filament moving system to feed a filament to the heater along the feeding passage, so that the filament is heated and melted by the heater to produce the melted material flow.

The invention describes a process for starting up a film production in a film manufacturing machine, in particular a blown film machine, by means of a control device, comprising the following steps: detecting a start-up request setting start-up parameters providing film material commencing the film production setting film production parameters.

The invention relates to a method for automatically regulating the size of a nozzle discharge slot of a nozzle assembly, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a first and a second nozzle lip and a nozzle discharge slot arranged between the nozzle lips for setting in a controlled manner a thickness profile of a conveyable melt. A plurality of adjusting elements, in particular a plurality of adjusting pins, coupled to a respective thermoelement, is arranged on the first nozzle lip, the thermoelements being controllable by the regulation in such a way that the slot can be adjusted by the action of a mechanical force from the respective adjusting element on the first nozzle lip, as a result of the expansion or contraction of the thermoelements. At an initial operation of the nozzle assembly for conveying the melt, the adjusting elements for subsequent regulation of the slot size are set uniquely free from play as the initial setting. The invention further relates to a control and/or regulation system.

The invention relates to a method for the changing of material from a starting material to a subsequent material with an extrusion device (10) for the production of extrusion products (100) comprising the following steps: recognition of a change of material requirement, performance of at least one preparation step for the change of material, performance of the change of material after termination of at least one of the preparation steps.

An additive manufacturing system, which can include a 3D printer, includes in at least one aspect: a build platform; a carriage and a rack configured to hold different manufacturing tools, including an extrusion tool; a heating device associated with the extrusion tool; a 3D motion system configured to move the carriage between the rack and a build space associated with the build platform, and to move the carriage within the build space associated with the build platform; and one or more computers programmed to trigger the heating device to begin pre-heating the extrusion tool at a point before mounting of the extrusion tool to the carriage by the 3D motion system, such that the material in the extrusion tool is melted by a point in the manufacturing process when the extrusion tool will be mounted on the carriage and in position to extrude material in the build space.

Method and apparatus for removing bubbles from a molten substrate. The molten substrate from a furnace passes through a downtube to reach additional manufacturing tools, such as an extrusion bushing. One or more ultrasonic sensors are arranged along the downtube. The ultrasonic sensor(s) transmit ultrasonic energy into the molten substrate and measure a characteristic of the ultrasonic energy, such as a propagation time for the ultrasonic energy to be reflected back to the ultrasonic sensor(s). A bubble is detected when a change in the characteristic of the ultrasonic energy is detected. When a bubble is detected, flow through the downtube is diverted to a duct to remove a slug of molten substrate that includes the bubble.

The invention describes a process for starting up a film production in a film manufacturing machine, in particular a blown film machine, by means of a control device, comprising the following steps: detecting a start-up request setting start-up parameters providing film material commencing the film production setting film production parameters.

Method for removing bubbles from a molten substrate. The molten substrate from a furnace passes through a downtube to reach additional manufacturing tools, such as an extrusion bushing. One or more ultrasonic sensors are arranged along the downtube. The ultrasonic sensor(s) transmit ultrasonic energy into the molten substrate and measure a characteristic of the ultrasonic energy, such as a propagation time for the ultrasonic energy to be reflected back to the ultrasonic sensor(s). A bubble is detected when a change in the Characteristic of the ultrasonic energy is detected. When a bubble is detected, flow through the downtube is diverted to a duct to remove a slug of molten substrate that includes the bubble.