A tube forming apparatus for forming polymeric tubing includes a housing between rear and discharge ends. The tube forming apparatus includes a core tube assembly with an exterior core tube and an inner core tube positioned partially therein and in an interior area of the housing. The tube forming apparatus includes a die that has an inner die-surface. A diverter tip is mounted in and extends from the inner core tube into the die forming a die opening between the die and the diverter tip. The tube forming apparatus includes a core tube adjustment system mounted proximate the rear end which includes an axial displacement device configured to axially position the core tube assembly for modulating wall thickness of the tube and/or an angular displacement device configured to modulate the inner core tube for modulating concentricity of the tube.

Improvements in the extrusion of thermohardenable materials are achieved by cooling the material in the initial zone of the extruder and reducing residence time by use of a prescribed length to diameter ratio and screw speed, particularly useful for intermittent application during robotically controlled mass production.

A device for producing plastic containers (10) by means of a molding, filling and sealing process is disclosed, at least consisting of a molding device (16) having individual molding tools (18), which can be moved repeatedly relative to one another from an open receiving position into a molding sealing position, and an extrusion unit (12), which can be used to insert at least one extruded plastic hose (14) into the open receiving position of the molding tools (18), which is characterized in that a traversing unit (20) can be used to move the extrusion unit (12) in conjunction with each extruded plastic hose (14) in opposite directions with respect to the molding device (16), which is stationary in every position of the molding tools (18).

Various methods and systems are provided for mixing and dispensing viscous materials for the creation of additive structures. As one example, during a mixing and dispensing operation of a multi-dimensional printing apparatus, one or more liquids may flow into a mixing chamber via one or more material inlets arranged in a wall of the mixing chamber below a high pressure bearing of a mixing rod positioned within the mixing chamber; and movement of a mixing rod positioned within the mixing chamber is adjusted based on an operating condition of the printing apparatus.

A method for producing bone grafts using 3-D printing is employed using a 3-D image of a graft location to produce a 3-D model of the graft. This is printed using a 3-D printer and a printing medium that produces a porous, biocompatible, biodegradable material that is conducive to osteoinduction. For example, the printing medium may be PCL, PLLA, PGLA, or another approved biocompatible polymer. In addition such a method may be useful for cosmetic surgeries, reconstructive surgeries, and various techniques required by such procedures. Once the graft is placed, natural bone gradually replaces the graft.

One or more embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for applying a mixture of a first compound and a second compound, the apparatus comprising a first extruder for processing a first compound and a second extruder for processing a second compound, wherein the outlet from the first extruder is in fluid communication with a first channel of a housing, and the outlet from the second extruder is in fluid communication with a second channel of the housing, wherein a gear pump is positioned in each channel, wherein a nozzle is in fluid communication with an outlet of the first channel and an outlet of the second channel, and a coextruded continuous strip is produced. The ratio of the first compound to the second compound may be adjusted instantaneously.

A system for producing a homogenous extrudate powder coating composition having predetermined properties, the system comprising a color library database that is configured to store one or more input formulation data objects capable of use in controlling the inputs and operation of an electronically controlled homogenous extrudate mixer.

A rubber extrusion device comprises a control plate having an adjustment flow path communicating with an extrusion flow path formed in a head and an extrusion port formed in a die is interposed between the head and the die; the control plate is slid along and between the head and the die to change a position of a communication region of the extrusion flow path with respect to the adjustment flow path at a leading end opening of the extrusion flow path to set the control plate at a desired position; and unvulcanized rubber, obtained by mixing and kneading rubber material while extruding the rubber material forward with a screw, passes through the extrusion flow path and the adjustment flow path to be extruded from the extrusion port.

Methods, apparatus, and systems for cutting material used in fused deposition modeling systems are provided, which comprise a ribbon including one or more perforations. Material is passed through at least one perforation and movement of the ribbon cuts the material. A further embodiment comprises a disk including one or more blade structures, each forming at least one cavity. Material is passed through at least one cavity and a rotational movement of the disk cuts the material. A further embodiment comprises a slider-crank mechanism including a slider coupled to a set of parallel rails of a guide shaft. The slider moves along a length of the rails to cut the material. Yet another embodiment comprises one or more rotatable blade structures coupled to at least one rod. The rotation of the blade structures causes the blade structures to intersect and cut extruded material during each rotation.

The invention relates to a filter device for a plastic melt or another highly viscous fluid, comprising a housing with an inlet plate and a discharge plate. At least one spacing element and a screen wheel which can be rotated by a drive device are arranged between the inlet plate and the discharge plate. The inlet plate and the discharge plate are clamped against each other with the inclusion of the spacing element via at least three housing clamping elements. An engagement point of the drive device on the screen wheel is arranged outside of the pretensioning surface. When viewed in the rotational direction, an angle α larger than 110° and smaller than 160° is formed on the screen wheel between a first line that extends between the pretensioning surface centroid on which a resulting frictional force F.sub.R acts and the center of the screen wheel and a second line between the center and the engagement point on which an advancing force Fv acts.