A curing tool is described that comprises a tool body 12 having an end wall generally perpendicular to art axis 14 of the tool body 12, the tool being arranged to be moved, in use, in substantially the direction of the axis 14, an array 16 of LEDs carried by the tool body 12, the LEDs being arranged to emit light in a direction generally parallel to the axis 14, and a reflector 18 carried by the tool body 12 and arranged to reflect light emitted from the LEDs and incident upon the reflector 18 such that the reflected light is reflected in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis 14.

A three-dimensional image forming system according to the present invention includes a conveyance path along which a heat-expandable sheet is conveyed, a heating unit which heats the heat-expandable sheet by irradiating the heat-expandable sheet with light, a detection sensor which detects that the rear end of the heat-expandable sheet comes close to the heating unit by the conveyance of the heat-expandable sheet along the conveyance path, and a control unit which increases the conveying speed of the heat-expandable sheet whose rear end is detected when the detection sensor detects that the rear end of the heat-expandable sheet comes close to the heating unit.

The present invention relates to processes for selective reshaping of nanoparticles in three dimensional articles, three dimensional articles produced by such processes, and methods of using such three dimensional articles. As a result of the aforementioned process, such three dimensional articles can have selective tuning that arises, at least in part, from the reshaped nanoparticles found in such articles. Such tuning provides the aforementioned articles with superior performance that can be advantageous in the areas including such as optical filters, multi-functional composites and sensing elements.

A method for manufacturing an automobile weather strip comprises: (a) weather strip manufacturing step wherein the seam material and a thermoplastic elastomer are extruded and molded; (b) pretreatment step wherein the surface of the weather strip manufactured is pretreated; (c) slip agent applying step wherein a slip agent made by mixing silicone and polyurethane is applied to the surface of the weather strip pretreated through the pretreatment step; and (d) curing step wherein the slip agent coating layer formed through the slip agent applying step is cured.

Disclosed herein is a device (100) for making an object. The device (100) comprises a vessel (44) for receiving a radiation hardenable material (42). The device (100) comprises a fabrication platform assembly (7) comprising a fabrication platform (8) and having a first mode in which an orientation of the fabrication platform (8) is adjustable and a second mode in which the orientation of the fabrication platform (8) is fixed, and configured for positioning at the vessel (44) in the second mode to form a layer of the radiation hardenable material when so received between the fabrication platform (8) and a wall (46) of the vessel (44). The device (100) comprises a radiation source (48) arranged to illuminate the layer of radiation hardenable material when so formed to form one of a plurality of layers of the object. The device (100) comprises a guide (28) configured to receive the fabrication platform assembly (7) in the first mode and orientate the fabrication platform (8) when so received with respect to the guide (28). Also disclosed herein is a method for making an object.

The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of dies for moulds for the production of tiles with three dimensional texture.

A lamination molding apparatus including a chamber covering a molding region; a laser beam source to emit a laser beam for sintering a material powder supplied on the molding region to form a sintered layer; and a scan unit to scan the laser beam. The laser beam has one or more spot shapes including at least an elongated shape, and the scan unit is configured to scan the laser beam, of which the spot shape is an elongated shape, in a lateral direction of the elongated shape, is provided.

A system for obtaining a photopolymerized prepolymer for use as a component of a material suitable for manufacturing buildings or building components by 3D printing processes. The system contains a flexible closed loop conveyor stretched between a precursor loading station and a prepolymerization material receiver from which the product is unloaded to a construction 3D printing machine. The conveyor carries a plurality of flexible trays capable of looping around the pulleys of the closed loop conveyor. The trays are shallow troughs that have open tops and carry dosed portions of the precursor, which is photopolymerized on its way from the loading station to the unloading station by sequentially passing under light sources of two photopolymerization stations. When the trays pass through the unloading position, they are turned upside-down and allow the precured material to fall into a receiver.

According to examples, an apparatus includes a processor and a memory on which is stored machine readable instructions. The instructions may cause the processor to identify an intended surface property level for a surface of a three-dimensional (3D) object, determine an amount of radiation to be applied as a flash of radiation onto the surface to obtain the intended surface property level, and output the determined amount of radiation to be applied as a flash of radiation, in which a radiation source is to flash apply the determined amount of radiation onto the surface of the 3D object.

In order to provide the method for manufacturing the three-dimensional shaped object which is capable of preventing the occurrence of the raised portion at the sintered portion or the melted and subsequently solidified portion by the irradiation of the light beam, there is provided a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped object by alternate repetition of a step (i) forming a powder-layer and a step (ii) forming a solidified layer by irradiating a predetermined portion of the powder layer with a light beam, wherein the light beam-irradiated portion is vibrated in the step (ii).