A system for manufacturing a catheter includes at least first and second controllable rate material feeders that feed at least first and second materials into a temperature-controlled mixer to form a compound material that varies in flexibility and/or strength with the respective first and second materials and material feed rates. An extruder extrudes the compound material onto a rotating and translating mandrel to thereby form a variable stiffness profile along a length of the catheter that depends on respective rates of rotation and translation of the mandrel.

A process and system for manufacturing roller blinds is provided which includes structure for performing plural steps including a first step of helically winding slat fabric about a drum, thereby forming a slat product. A second step includes moving the slat product from the drum to a platform. A third step includes winding the slat product about a roller tube to form a roller blind. A fourth step includes moving the blind from the platform to a heat treating device.

A process and system for manufacturing roller blinds is provided which includes structure for performing plural steps including a first step of helically winding slat fabric about a drum, thereby forming a slat product. A second step includes moving the slat product from the drum to a platform. A third step includes winding the slat product about a roller tube to form a roller blind. A fourth step includes moving the blind from the platform to a heat treating device.

The manufacture of fiberglass filtration media, and particularly paint arrestance fiberglass media, is disclosed. Fiberglass filtration media is formed in part by controlling the speed of a melter traversing a drum. The fiberglass media passes through rollers and water sprays before it enters a curing apparatus. Progressive density changes from the air intake side to the air exit side of the media result in increased filtration qualities.

The manufacture of fiberglass filtration media, and particularly paint arrestance fiberglass media, is disclosed. Fiberglass filtration media is formed in part by controlling the speed of a melter traversing a drum. The fiberglass media passes through rollers and water sprays before it enters a curing apparatus. Progressive density changes from the air intake side to the air exit side of the media result in increased filtration qualities.

A method for creating tubular inserts is useful for creating custom fitted inserts that correspond to the anatomy of a patient and solve the problem of pressure points, wear of the implant, damage to surrounding tissue, and denting. Surface measurements of the affected portion of a patient's internal cavity are obtained. Those measurements are used to design a core. The core is 3D printed with a soluble material. The core is wrapped with a thin filament or film such that the contours from the core develop on the outer surface of the covering. The covering is hardened and the core is dissolved away, leaving a custom-made implant device that can be deposited in the patient's cavity.

A system and a method of manufacturing continuous glass filament fiberglass media comprises melting glass within a temperature controlled melter. Molten glass exits through orifices in a bushing plate. The resulting fiberglass filaments are received on a rotating drum and sprayed with binder and aqueous solution. The resulting fiberglass mat is placed onto a let-off table then sprayed with aqueous solution before further processing.

A system and a method of manufacturing continuous glass filament fiberglass media comprises melting glass within a temperature controlled melter. Molten glass exits through orifices in a bushing plate. The resulting fiberglass filaments are received on a rotating drum and sprayed with binder and aqueous solution. The resulting fiberglass mat is placed onto a let-off table then sprayed with aqueous solution before further processing.

A method of making a paint roller cover includes feeding a single strip of polypropylene, by a core material strip feeder, onto a mandrel; heating the single strip of polypropylene, by a heater, before the single strip of polypropylene is wound about the mandrel; and overlapping edges of the single strip of polypropylene as the single strip of polypropylene is wound about the mandrel so that the overlapped edges fuse together. The method also includes applying an adhesive, by an adhesive applicator, to an outer surface of the single strip of polypropylene; and feeding a strip of fabric cover material, by a fabric cover strip feeder, about the mandrel and onto the outer surface of the single strip of polypropylene.

A method of making a paint roller cover includes feeding a single strip of polypropylene, by a core material strip feeder, onto a mandrel; heating the single strip of polypropylene, by a heater, before the single strip of polypropylene is wound about the mandrel; and overlapping edges of the single strip of polypropylene as the single strip of polypropylene is wound about the mandrel so that the overlapped edges fuse together. The method also includes applying an adhesive, by an adhesive applicator, to an outer surface of the single strip of polypropylene; and feeding a strip of fabric cover material, by a fabric cover strip feeder, about the mandrel and onto the outer surface of the single strip of polypropylene.