The process includes a non-crosslinked self-sealing composition which is introduced into an extrusion means, the geometric and thermodynamic characteristics of which have been specially adapted. The speed and temperature conditions of the extrusion means are adjusted so that, at an application nozzle forming the outlet die of the extrusion means, the self-sealing composition is crosslinked. The application nozzle is brought close to the internal surface of the casing previously set in relative motion with respect to the application nozzle, and an extruded and crosslinked bead that has a given width and profile is deposited directly on the internal surface of the casing.

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.

Provided is a fluorine-based resin multilayer film for vacuum forming which does not cause wrinkles and the like when a three-dimensional surface decoration method is applied. The fluorine-based resin multilayer film for vacuum forming includes a front surface layer containing 60% by mass to 85% by mass of a vinylidene fluoride-based resin and 40% by mass to 15% by mass of a methacrylate ester-based resin; and a back surface layer containing 0% by mass to 50% by mass of a vinylidene fluoride-based resin and 100% by mass to 50% by mass of a methacrylate ester-based resin, wherein the thermal dimensional change in a film flow direction when heated at 120 C. for 30 minutes, which is measured based on JIS K7133, is 15% to 2%.

Thermoplastic articles are molded from thermoplastic polyurethane compounds including blends of aromatic polycaprolactone thermoplastic polyurethane and aliphatic polycaprolactone thermoplastic polyurethane. The thermoplastic articles can have enhanced stability against exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light relative to thermoplastic articles molded from thermoplastic polyurethane compounds including only aromatic polycaprolactone thermoplastic polyurethane as the thermoplastic polyurethane component. Additionally, the thermoplastic articles can have good stain resistance, good clarity (i.e., low haze), and other desirable properties.

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, or a tag reader in communication therewith (directly or indirectly), can read the information from the tag for a determination as to how to use the build material during fabrication of a three-dimensional object.

A screw-driven extrusion system includes a novel screw-drive extruder. The extruder includes a motor-driven screw. The screw moves solid pellets from a feed hopper into a section that is actively heated. The solid pellets fully liquefy as they pass through the heated section. A control system controls screw, heating, and optionally cooling, operations to selectively control flow of liquefied material from the extruder's tip. The dynamically-controlled can continuously adjust its feed speed and temperature to keep up with continuously changing demands of a larger control system involved in monitoring and running a corresponding 3-D printer in an additive manufacturing process. In contrast to wirefeed extrusion systems that rely on the rigidity of the material in wire-formed feedstock, this screw-driven extrusion system is well-suited to use of less-rigid thermoplastic elastomers for the manufacture of objects for use in soft robotics, medical and mold-making applications.

A technique for planarizing build surfaces in three-dimensional printing includes the use of a three-dimensional printer having an extruder with a sensor mechanically coupled thereto, where the sensor is operable to sense a contact force between the extruder and a separate structure. In particular, the sensor may be used to measure the contact force at a plurality of locations across a build surface of the separate structure, so that a difference between the measured contact force at two or more locations can be identified. In response to the difference between the measured contact force at these locations, a control signal may be created to reduce the difference for planarizing the build surface, e.g., by fabricating a layer on the build surface that mitigates irregularities therein, by gap filling on the build surface, or by adjusting a parameter of the three-dimensional printer.

The present disclosure is directed to tailoring the structure of freeform nanotube macrostructures through extrusion-based additive manufacturing for fabrication of planar and three-dimensional features and objects. Ink containing nanomaterials can be extruded into a fluid to precipitate into a fiber that can be used to form solid structures. The fluid can include a coagulant that promotes rapid solidification in the precipitation of fibers. The fluid can be disposed into a bath that is in fluid communication with the extruded ink. Systems and devices for executing such processes, are also provided.

A thermoplastic filament adapted for use in a fused filament fabrication (FFF) printer which has a plurality of segments wherein each pair of adjacent segments is compositionally different and is arranged in a specific order. Also, a method for printing a three-dimensional (3D) article by printing such a filament in a fused filament fabrication (FFF) printer, wherein the fused filament fabrication (FFF) printer carries out a pattern of printing synchronized with the order of the segments in such a filament. Further, a method and device for fabricating such thermoplastic filaments.

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.