An additive manufacturing apparatus, a computing system, and a method for operating an additive manufacturing apparatus are provided. The method includes obtaining two or more images corresponding to respective build layers at a build plate, wherein each image comprises a plurality of data points comprising a feature and corresponding location at the build plate; removing variation between the features of the plurality of data points; and normalizing each feature to remove location dependence in the plurality of data points.

The invention relates to a method for processing plastic preforms (10) and/or plastic containers (20) by means of at least one first processing apparatus (2), which processes the plastic containers (10, 20) in a first specified manner, and by means of at least one second processing apparatus (4), which processes the plastic containers (10, 20) in a second specified manner and which is arranged before or after the first processing apparatus (2), wherein the plastic containers (10, 20) are transported from one processing apparatus (2, 4) to the other processing apparatus (2, 4) by means of a transport apparatus (5) and the at least first processing apparatus (2) and the at least second processing apparatus (4) are coupled to each other, the first treatment apparatus (2) is a blow-molding machine (25) for shaping plastic preforms (10) to form plastic containers (20), and the process speed of the blow-molding machine (25) is defined by means of a specification, which contains a plurality of process parameters that are characteristic of the shaping process. According to the invention, the process parameters associated with at least one further process speed are at least partially determined on the basis of at least two key specifications, such that the adaptation of the process speed of the blow-molding machine (25) to a speed of at least one further processing apparatus (2, 4) is enabled and/or adjustment of the speed is possible.

A method for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, wherein the plastic preforms being transported along a predetermined transport path and being acted upon and expanded by a flowable medium during this transport, a controllable valve of a reducing station controlling the action of the flowable medium on a compressed-air reservoir, in particular an annular channel, and a desired target pressure being predetermined, with which the compressed-air reservoir is acted upon, this desired target pressure being taken into account in the control of the valve of the reducing station wherein an actual pressure is determined and this actual pressure is compared with the desired target pressure and, from this comparison, a correction value is determined which is taken into account and/or used in the control of the valve.

Systems and methods control the operation of a blow molder. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.

Disclosed is a method for heating plastic preforms, wherein the plastic preforms are transported along a predetermined transport path and are heated during this transport by applying electromagnetic radiation, wherein an absorption and/or transmission of the plastic preforms is determined for radiation in an infrared wavelength range, wherein an absorption and/or transmission of the plastic preforms and/or of the plastic containers produced from these plastic preforms is determined for radiation in a visible wavelength range.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a container from a blank in a mold provided with a movable insert, wherein the method includes the following phases: pre-blowing; blow molding; boxing; and the following operations: measuring the prevailing pressure in the blank in real-time and storing the measurement in a memory; measuring the position of the insert in real-time and storing the measurement in a memory; detecting a time t.sub.S2 indicating the actual start of the blowing phase and moment t.sub.B2 indicating the actual start of movement of the insert and storing same in a memory; calculating T1=t.sub.S2−t.sub.B2; comparing T1 with a predetermined non-zero reference T1.sub.ref, as long as T1 is different from T1.sub.ref, and delaying the start of the boxing phase.

The disclosure relates to a device and a method for controlling the throughflow of blow-molding fluid during the blow molding of containers. It is the intention to provide a control device and a control method which permit a controlled or defined growth and a defined propagation of the container bubble formed by the expanding preform in the pre-blowing phase of the blow molding process without the specification of a specific setpoint value profile or of a setpoint value curve. The object is achieved by means of a control device and a control method having a proportional valve with a variable throughflow cross section, having an actuator for the operation of the proportional valve, having a means for detecting the position of the actuator, and having sensor means for detecting the valve inlet and valve outlet pressure, wherein a time for the attainment of the yield point for the preform, a container volume and a time period for the attainment of the container volume are predefinable, and, by means of a digital controller, during the pre-blowing phase, from the attainment of the yield point until the run duration, a calculation of control values for the operation of the actuator in order to attain the predefined container volume within the predefined time period is performed in automated cyclic fashion, and the actuator is operated in accordance with the calculated control values, wherein, in each calculation cycle, the calculation of the respectively next control value is performed taking into consideration the container volume attained prior to the respective calculation cycle and calculated on the basis of the previous actuator positions and the previous pressure profile.

In a method for monitoring a blow-moulding device for producing a hollow body, the blow-moulding device includes at least one process valve unit for feeding a process fluid into a preform of the hollow body under process pressure, wherein the process valve unit includes at least one electrically operated valve. During a blow-moulding process, at least one value of an electric current of the electrically operated valve is detected. The method and the device allow early recognition of an ageing process of the process valves, in particular their pilot valves, and/or the recognition of the status of valve properties.

A method for producing a container from a blank, inside a forming unit having a mold and a movable insert controlled by a variable-flow solenoid valve, a control unit linked to the solenoid valve. The method comprises developing a boxing curve characterizing the successive positions of the insert; determining, based on a reference blowing curve, points of inflection; measuring, on the boxing curve, distances actually travelled by the insert between points in time, some of which correspond to these points of inflection; and comparing the values of the measured distances with nominal values. If there is a difference between a measured value and a nominal value, controlling, by the control unit, a modification in the flow rate setpoint of the solenoid valve for the next production cycle.

Systems and methods control the operation of a blow molder. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.