An apparatus for shaping an extrudable material comprises a sleeve, comprising a first sleeve end, a sleeve inlet at the first sleeve end, a second sleeve end, opposite the first sleeve end, and a sleeve outlet at the second sleeve end. The extrudable material enters the sleeve through the sleeve inlet and exits the sleeve through the sleeve outlet. The apparatus further comprises an actuation mechanism, selectively operable to change at least one of a size or a shape of the sleeve outlet. The sleeve is sufficiently flexible to enable the actuation mechanism to change at least one of the size or the shape of the sleeve outlet. The sleeve is insufficiently stretchable to enable the actuation mechanism to stretch the sleeve.

An apparatus for shaping an extrudable material comprises a sleeve, comprising a first sleeve end, a sleeve inlet at the first sleeve end, a second sleeve end, opposite the first sleeve end, and a sleeve outlet at the second sleeve end. The extrudable material enters the sleeve through the sleeve inlet and exits the sleeve through the sleeve outlet. The apparatus further comprises an actuation mechanism, selectively operable to change at least one of a size or a shape of the sleeve outlet. The sleeve is sufficiently flexible to enable the actuation mechanism to change at least one of the size or the shape of the sleeve outlet. The sleeve is insufficiently stretchable to enable the actuation mechanism to stretch the sleeve.

The present invention includes a process, system and apparatus for multi-material additive manufacturing process comprising: extruding an extrudable material through a nozzle capable of moving along one or more axis and concurrently extruding one or more filaments, wherein the filament is embedded in, on or about the extrudable material from the nozzle.

There is described a method and system for regulating an extrusion process by obtaining a first thickness at a first position along an extrudate as material is extruded through a die gap of a die; comparing the first thickness with an expected thickness of the extrudate at the first position to obtain a value for an error, the expected thickness modeled in real-time using a size of the die gap as input; and varying the size of the die gap when the error exceeds a threshold to compensate for the error. There is also described a method and system for determining an expected thickness of a material during an extrusion process.

An extrusion head and a method for producing an elongated hollow body as an extrudate of an extrusion of extrusion material are provided. The extrusion head includes: a housing; a mandrel mounted in the housing, and a mouthpiece arranged downstream of the mandrel in a direction of extrusion. The extrusion material can flow around the mandrel in the direction of extrusion of the extrusion head. The mandrel includes an end-side mouthpiece section arranged in an opening of the mouthpiece so as to form a circumferential gap between the end-side mouthpiece section and an opening in the mouthpiece, and the mandrel is pivotable about at least one axis transverse to the direction of extrusion to change a geometry of the circumferential gap.

An extrusion head and a method for producing an elongated hollow body as an extrudate of an extrusion of extrusion material are provided. The extrusion head includes: a housing; a mandrel mounted in the housing, and a mouthpiece arranged downstream of the mandrel in a direction of extrusion. The extrusion material can flow around the mandrel in the direction of extrusion of the extrusion head. The mandrel includes an end-side mouthpiece section arranged in an opening of the mouthpiece so as to form a circumferential gap between the end-side mouthpiece section and an opening in the mouthpiece, and the mandrel is pivotable about at least one axis transverse to the direction of extrusion to change a geometry of the circumferential gap.

An apparatus for shaping an extrudable material comprises a sleeve, comprising a first sleeve end, a sleeve inlet at the first sleeve end, a second sleeve end, opposite the first sleeve end, and a sleeve outlet at the second sleeve end. The extrudable material enters the sleeve through the sleeve inlet and exits the sleeve through the sleeve outlet. The apparatus further comprises an actuation mechanism, selectively operable to change at least one of a size or a shape of the sleeve outlet. The sleeve is sufficiently flexible to enable the actuation mechanism to change at least one of the size or the shape of the sleeve outlet. The sleeve is insufficiently stretchable to enable the actuation mechanism to stretch the sleeve.

An apparatus for shaping an extrudable material comprises a sleeve, comprising a first sleeve end, a sleeve inlet at the first sleeve end, a second sleeve end, opposite the first sleeve end, and a sleeve outlet at the second sleeve end. The extrudable material enters the sleeve through the sleeve inlet and exits the sleeve through the sleeve outlet. The apparatus further comprises an actuation mechanism, selectively operable to change at least one of a size or a shape of the sleeve outlet. The sleeve is sufficiently flexible to enable the actuation mechanism to change at least one of the size or the shape of the sleeve outlet. The sleeve is insufficiently stretchable to enable the actuation mechanism to stretch the sleeve.

A device produces plastic pipes by extrusion, involving an extruder, a pipe head connecting to the extruder in production direction, having a base material, mandrel, and sheath. A melt channel, formed between the mandrel and sheath in production direction, promotes flow at least at the mandrel and sheath end, the mandrel and sheath being adjustable forwards and backwards relative to one another, and the outer mandrel surface and/or the inner sheath surface at least partially having a material with greater sliding capacity than the base material. Mandrel diameter at the end conically widens or narrows, and/or the mandrel end is curved so the diameter widens, narrows, or remains constant, and the inner sheath diameter at the end conically widens, narrows, or remains constant, and/or the sheath end is curved so the diameter widens or narrows, or two further surface sections, parallel and cylindrical, extend at the mandrel and sheath end.

A device produces plastic pipes by extrusion, involving an extruder, a pipe head connecting to the extruder in production direction, having a base material, mandrel, and sheath. A melt channel, formed between the mandrel and sheath in production direction, promotes flow at least at the mandrel and sheath end, the mandrel and sheath being adjustable forwards and backwards relative to one another, and the outer mandrel surface and/or the inner sheath surface at least partially having a material with greater sliding capacity than the base material. Mandrel diameter at the end conically widens or narrows, and/or the mandrel end is curved so the diameter widens, narrows, or remains constant, and the inner sheath diameter at the end conically widens, narrows, or remains constant, and/or the sheath end is curved so the diameter widens or narrows, or two further surface sections, parallel and cylindrical, extend at the mandrel and sheath end.