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Sales and operations planning (S&OP) has emerged as a planning approach that integrates tactical level decisions across functions and supply chains while aligning day-to-day operations with long-term strategy through these decisions. The extant knowledge on S&OP has evolved primarily based on the needs of mass production contexts, and applications of S&OP in engineer-to-order (ETO) contexts have not been explored by previous research. Arguing that the cross-functionally coordinated planning enabled by S&OP can improve the effectiveness of the challenging and competitively critical tendering process, this paper develops an S&OP framework for the tactical planning process design to support delivery date setting in ETO contexts. The paper adopts a systematic literature review approach for identifying the main tactical planning activities managers in ETO companies should consider while designing the S&OP process and the information inputs required for performing and coordinating these planning activities. The identified planning activities and planning inputs are synthesised to develop the proposed S&OP framework for delivery date setting in ETO contexts. The proposed framework can support managers in assessing which tactical planning activities are strategically essential in their respective companies and redesigning or reconfiguring existing planning processes to address the planning needs of their environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanozymes are a class of nanomaterials with biocatalytic function and enzyme-like activity, whose advantages include high stability, low cost, and mass production. They can catalyze the substrates of natural enzymes based on specific nanostructures and serve as substitutes for natural enzymes. Their applied research involves a wide range of fields such as biomedicine, environmental governance, agriculture, and food. Molecular logic gates are a new cross-disciplinary discipline, which can simulate the function of silicon circuits on a molecular scale, perform single or multiple input logic operations, and generate logic outputs. A molecular logic gate is a binary operation that converts an input signal into an output signal according to the rules of Boolean logic, generating two signals, a high level, and a low level. The high and low levels represent the "true" and "false" values of the logic gates, and their outputs correspond to "l" and "0" of the molecular logic gates, respectively. The combination of nanozymes and logic gates is a novel and attractive research direction, and the cross-application of the two brings new opportunities and ideas for various fields, such as the construction of efficient biocomputers, intelligent drug delivery systems, and the precise diagnosis of diseases. This review describes the application of logic gates based on nanozymes, which is expected to provide a certain theoretical foundation for researchers' subsequent studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of copper nanowires (CuNWs) using modified polyols with hexadecylamine or octadecylamine as capping agents, known for their ease of operation, rapid reaction, and suitability for mass production, often encounters challenges such as the presence of copper particles, numerous copper nanorods, difficulty in purifying organic compounds, and air instability as by-products. In addressing these issues, this study introduces an innovative multiphase ultrasonic-assisted separation method. By utilizing ultrasound to accelerate the dissolution of hexadecylamine and facilitate the separation movement of CuNWs and by-products in hydrophilic and hydrophobic phases, the aim of achieving high purification of CuNWs is realized. Through the introduction of an ultra-thin hexadecylamine layer (~ 3.5 nm) on the surface of CuNWs and leveraging the active adsorption of silver seed crystals, combined with the control CuNWs reaction concentration, silver-coated CuNWs with a dense and uniform surface thickness of 12–15 nm are obtained. By enhancing purity, stability, and cost-effectiveness, this research represents a significant advancement in the field of one-dimensional nanowires and their devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metasurfaces, consisting of arrays of subwavelength structures, are lightweight and compact while being capable of implementing the functions of traditional bulky optical components. Furthermore, they have the potential to significantly improve complex optical systems in terms of space and cost, as they can simultaneously implement multiple functions. The wafer-scale mass production method based on the CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) process plays a crucial role in the modern semiconductor industry. This approach can also be applied to the production of metasurfaces, thereby accelerating the entry of metasurfaces into industrial applications. In this study, we demonstrated the mass production of large-area meta-axicons with a diameter of 2 mm on an 8-inch wafer using DUV (Deep Ultraviolet) photolithography. The proposed meta-axicon designed here is based on PB (Pancharatnam–Berry) phase and is engineered to simultaneously modulate the phase and polarization of light. In practice, the fabricated meta-axicon generated a circularly polarized Bessel beam with a depth of focus (DoF) of approximately 2.3 mm in the vicinity of 980 nm. We anticipate that the mass production of large-area meta-axicons on this CMOS platform can offer various advantages in optical communication, laser drilling, optical trapping, and tweezing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bautechnik is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The insensitivity of thermoelectric (TE) performance to defects and impurities induced by off‐stoichiometry or low‐purity raw elements is crucial for the low‐cost mass production of highly efficient TE materials. Here it is demonstrated that heavy‐band TE materials with high optimized carrier concentration can exhibit a high tolerance against the off‐stoichiometry in their composition. Using the heavy‐band half‐Heusler compounds as examples, it is found that for ZrNiSn with optimal carrier concentration, the off‐stoichiometry of the nominal composition in between ±5% only results in a fluctuation of its peak zT value less than 10%. A composition‐zT phase diagram is thus established, guiding the exploration of a wide nominal composition region with peak zT values exceeding 1.0. The high defect tolerance observed in heavy‐band TE materials enables the achievement of high TE performance using low‐purity raw elements. As demonstrated in several systems, including n‐type ZrNi(Sn, Sb), (Zr, Nb)CoSb, and p‐type ZrCo(Sb, Sn), comparable zT values are attained when utilizing low‐purity raw elements (≈99.5%), instead of the high‐purity ones (99.95–99.999%), leading to substantial cost saving. These findings highlight the importance of understanding defect tolerance in TE materials, which could offer an additional advantage for their practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manufacturing process of light-curing additive manufacturing leads to the inevitable presence of steps on the surface of the produced models, which affects the surface quality of the product. In the context of mass production, evaluating the surface quality of a model requires a large number of experimental samples to obtain data, which leads to material waste and extended production cycles. To facilitate the acquisition of surface feature data of a solid model, a digital twin system is proposed in this study. The system is specifically applied to light-curing additive manufacturing to generate a digital model with the surface features of a solid model. It aims to realize the replacement of the solid model with a virtual model for surface quality inspection. To realize the concept of generating high-fidelity digital models, a digital twin light-curing molding process was designed. It simulates the principle of light-curing molding and generates a digital model containing the surface features of a solid product based on the slice profile data. Case studies are conducted to build a digital twin system for the liquid crystal display light-curing additive manufacturing molding process to verify the feasibility of the proposed scheme and the fidelity of the digital model. The results of the comparison test between the digital model and the solid model show that the digital model produced by the digital twin system of the LCD light-curing additive manufacturing molding process contains the key features of the solid model. The digital model serves as the foundational data to verify whether the physical model meets the requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid water electrolysis offers a groundbreaking approach to energy‐saving hydrogen production by utilizing thermodynamically favorable and value‐added reactions to replace sluggish anodic oxygen evolution in overall water splitting. However, numerous anodic processes generate intermediates or products incompatible with aqueous environments, thereby degrading anodic performance to limit the efficiency and durability of hybrid water electrolysis. Herein, this difficulty is addressed by applying anodic mass transport intensification in conjunction with catalyst engineering, realizing a long‐lasting hybrid seawater electrolysis coupling sulfion oxidation reaction (SOR) for efficient hydrogen production below 1.2 V at an industrial‐level current density of 500 mA cm−2. An exceptional longevity of 2000 h is achieved for the electrolysis by eliminating anode passivation by sulfur deposition during SOR, a general concern in the sulfur‐involved industrial sector. This technology cut the electricity expense of hydrogen production to 2.80 kWh m−3 H2, undercutting alkaline water electrolysis by 34.9–51.1%. Simultaneously, fast upcycling of sulfion pollutants to value‐added sulfur is achieved to add additional economic and environmental profits, enabling hydrogen production at a midpoint expense ($ 0.93) of the United States Department of Energy's 2026 target ($ 2.0) for the cost per gallon of gasoline‐equivalent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a critical component of electric vehicles, the powertrain has a significant impact on the overall performance of vehicles. In addressing the challenge of lengthy testing cycles, this study develops a para model of the powertrain, utilizing digital twin (DT) technology, thereby establishing a framework for simulation testing of multi-controller intermodulation. We establish functional definition coverage testing by designing specific functional requirement use cases, and we validate the failure mechanism via fault injection use cases. The results indicate that the DT testing platform can effectively simulate the operational interactions among various controllers within the powertrain system. In comparison to traditional field testing, the digital twin-based testing methodology offers enhanced operational efficiency and allows for the examination of testing conditions that are impractical to implement in real vehicles, particularly in the context of fault injection testing, thus facilitating the early detection of potential safety risks within the system. The advancement of this technical solution holds significant practical implications for the future mass production and development of electric vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two‐dimensional (2D) nonlayered metal compounds with porous structure show broad application prospects in electrochemistry‐related fields due to their abundant active sites, open ions/electrons diffusion channels, and faradaic reactions. However, scalable and universal synthesis of 2D porous compounds still remains challenging. Here, inspired by blowing gum, a metal‐organic gel (MOG) rapid redox transformation (MRRT) strategy is proposed for the mass production of a wide variety of 2D porous metal oxides. Adequate crosslinking degree of MOG precursor and its rapid redox with NO3− are critical for generating gas pressure from interior to exterior, thus blowing the MOG into 2D carbon nanosheets, which further act as self‐sacrifice template for formation of oxides with porous and ultrathin structure. The versatility of this strategy is demonstrated by the fabrication of 39 metal oxides, including 10 transition metal oxides, one II‐main group oxide, two III‐main group oxides, 22 perovskite oxides, four high‐entropy oxides. As an illustrative verification, the 2D transition metal oxides exhibit excellent capacitive deionization (CDI) performance. Moreover, the assembled CDI cell could act as desalting battery to supply electrical energy during electrode regeneration. This MRRT strategy offers opportunities for achieving universal synthesis of 2D porous oxides with nonlayered structures and studying their electrochemistry‐related applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The injection molding process is one of the most widely used methods for polymer processing in mass production. Three critical factors in this process include the type of polymer, injection molding machines, and processing molds. Polypropylene (PP) is a widely used semi-crystalline polymer due to its favorable flow characteristics, including a high melt flow index and the absence of a need for a mold temperature controller. Additionally, PP exhibits good elongation and toughness, making it suitable for applications such as box hinges. However, its tensile strength is a limitation; thus, glass fiber is added to enhance this property. It is important to note that the incorporation of glass fiber increases the viscosity of PP. Multi-cavity molds are commonly employed to achieve cost-effective and efficient mass production. The filling challenges associated with geometrically balanced layouts are well documented in the literature. These issues arise due to the varying shear rates of the melt in the runner. High shear rate melts lead to high melt temperatures, which decrease melt viscosity and facilitate easier flow. Consequently, this results in an imbalanced filling phenomenon. This study examines the impact of runner size, gate size, polymer viscosity, and molding process on the filling imbalanced problem in multi-cavity injection molds. Tensile bar injection molding was performed using conventional injection molding (CIM) and microcellular injection molding (MIM) techniques. The tensile properties of the imbalanced multi-cavity molds were analyzed. Flow length within the cavity served as an indicator of the filling imbalance. Additionally, computer simulations were conducted to assess the shear rate's effect on the runner's melt temperature. The results indicated that small runner and gate sizes exacerbate the filling imbalance. Conversely, glass fiber-filled polymer composites also contribute to increased filling imbalance. However, foamed polymers can mitigate the filling imbalance phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lotus-type porous copper was fabricated using a continuous casting method in pressurized hydrogen and nitrogen gas atmospheres. This study evaluates the effects of process parameters, such as the hydrogen ratio, total pressure, and transference velocity, on the resulting pore structure. A continuous casting process was developed to facilitate the mass production of lotus-type porous copper. To achieve the desired porosity and pore diameter for large-scale manufacturing, a systematic evaluation of the influence of each process parameter was conducted. Lotus-type porous copper was produced within a hydrogen ratio range of 25–50%, a transference velocity range of 30–90 mm∙min−1, and a total pressure range of 0.2–0.4 MPa. As a result, the porosity ranged from 36% to 55% and the pore size varied from 300 to 1500 µm, demonstrating a wide range of porosities and pore sizes. Through process optimization, it is possible to control the porosity and pore size. The hydrogen ratio and total pressure were found to primarily affect porosity, whereas the hydrogen ratio, transference velocity, and total pressure significantly influenced pore diameter. When considering these parameters together, porosity was most influenced by the hydrogen ratio, whereas the total pressure and transference velocity had a greater influence on pore diameter. Reducing the hydrogen ratio and increasing the transference velocity and total pressure reduced the pore diameter and porosity. This optimization of the continuous casting process enables the control of porosity and pore diameter, facilitating the production of lotus-type porous copper with the desired pore structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two‐dimensional (2D) nonlayered metal compounds with porous structure show broad application prospects in electrochemistry‐related fields due to their abundant active sites, open ions/electrons diffusion channels, and faradaic reactions. However, scalable and universal synthesis of 2D porous compounds still remains challenging. Here, inspired by blowing gum, a metal‐organic gel (MOG) rapid redox transformation (MRRT) strategy is proposed for the mass production of a wide variety of 2D porous metal oxides. Adequate crosslinking degree of MOG precursor and its rapid redox with NO3− are critical for generating gas pressure from interior to exterior, thus blowing the MOG into 2D carbon nanosheets, which further act as self‐sacrifice template for formation of oxides with porous and ultrathin structure. The versatility of this strategy is demonstrated by the fabrication of 39 metal oxides, including 10 transition metal oxides, one II‐main group oxide, two III‐main group oxides, 22 perovskite oxides, four high‐entropy oxides. As an illustrative verification, the 2D transition metal oxides exhibit excellent capacitive deionization (CDI) performance. Moreover, the assembled CDI cell could act as desalting battery to supply electrical energy during electrode regeneration. This MRRT strategy offers opportunities for achieving universal synthesis of 2D porous oxides with nonlayered structures and studying their electrochemistry‐related applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear energy is increasingly being considered for such targeted energy applications as data centers in light of their high capacity factors and low carbon emissions. This paper focuses on assessing the tradeoffs between economies of scale versus mass production to identify promising reactor sizes to meet data center demands. A framework is then built using the best cost estimates from the literature to identify ideal reactor power sizes for the needs of the given data center. Results should not be taken to be deterministic but highlight the variability of ideal reactor power output against the required demand. While certain advocates claim that with the gigawatts of clean, firm energy needed, large plants are ideal, others advocate for SMRs that can be deployed in large quantities and reap the benefits from learning effects. The findings of this study showcase that identifying the optimal size for a reactor is likely more nuanced and dependent on the application and its requirements. Overall, the study does show potential economic promise for coupling nuclear reactors to data centers and industrial heat applications under certain key conditions and assumptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I-line stepper is widely used in large scale device manufacturing with limited achievable critical dimension by itself. With the aid of the spacer sidewall, the critical dimension can be further shrunk down. Spacer sidewall aided process necessitates an additional deposition-etching process, which inevitably results in process related damage under the gate. This paper proposes an optimized spacer sidewall aided gate patterning procedure for 0.15 μm GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs) fabrication. The process is proved to be effective in improving device performance compared to conventional sidewall process by keeping first Si-rich SiN passivation layer integrity at the gate edge. Interface trap density (Dit) and mobility were extracted for both conventional sidewall process and the optimized one with different passivation layers at the gate edge, demonstrating a lower Dit and higher mobility using the optimized process with enhanced device performances, such as higher current, breakdown voltage, and stress state characteristics, compared to the conventional process, which is promising for mass production of 0.15 μm GaN HEMTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a compact vertically emitting ring interband cascade laser (ICL) with low power consumption and the possibility for seamless integration into various CO2 sensing applications. Our devices exhibit desirable performance characteristics in battery-driven handheld devices, including room temperature (20 °C) threshold currents as low as 15 mA, small footprints, and stable single-mode emission, suitable for rapid isotope-resolved CO2 detection. Through epi-down bonding with sub-micron accuracy, we achieved robust integration of substrate-emitting ring ICLs, ensuring reliability and scalability that would be required for mass production. We present comprehensive experimental results validating the efficacy of our approach, including spectral analysis and CO2 sensing capabilities with limits of detection of 24 and 13 ppmv utilizing the 12CO2 P(60) and 13CO2 R(10) transitions in the ν3 fundamental band, respectively. The demonstrated devices hold great promise for a wide range of industrial applications, including environmental monitoring, process control, and atmospheric research, where compact low-power sensors are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The orchid Dendrobium moniliforme faces endangerment due to habitat loss and illegal harvesting, necessitating the development of an optimized artificial propagation system to aid conservation and reintroduction efforts. This study evaluated the effects of three plant growth media, namely Murashige and Skoog (MS), Hyponex, and Orchid Maintenance Medium (OMM) (P668), and various organic additives (apple homogenate, banana homogenate, and coconut water) on the in vitro seedling growth of D. moniliforme. The results reveal that, in early postgermination stages, seedlings achieve maximum growth in the Hyponex medium, with a fresh weight (92 mg) and root length (2.7 cm) approximately 20-fold greater than those in the MS medium and OMM. After 6 months, for seedlings grown in MS medium and OMM with banana (50 g·L−1), the mean fresh weights were 29 and 107 mg, respectively; however, the highest biomass was observed in seedlings grown in the Hyponex medium with coconut water (50 mL·L−1), exhibiting a mean fresh weight of 201 mg. This study highlights Hyponex medium with coconut water as the most effective combination for promoting D. moniliforme growth and identifies suitable organic supplements for the in vitro cultivation of seedlings from asymbiotic seed culture. This propagation system offers valuable technical support for the mass production and conservation of this epiphytic orchid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological treatment is currently a favorable option to treat wastewater due to its environmentally friendly methods and minimal toxic by-products. The majority of biological wastewater treatment uses bacteria as treatment agents, which are known to have excellent capabilities for removing various pollutants. Researchers have extensively explored the use of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) generated by bacteria in wastewater treatment. This review focuses on the sources of EPSs, factors influencing their production, and their role in wastewater treatment. Bacterial species, nutrient availability, pH, temperatures, and the presence of toxins were mentioned to be the factors influencing EPS production by bacteria in wastewater treatment. Produced EPSs by bacteria may promote the aggregation, adsorption, decolorization, and degradation of pollutants. This review highlights the challenges of discovering new potential bacterial species and complex EPS extraction methods, as well as the importance of mass production for larger-scale applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the metal additive manufacturing (AM) field evolves with an increasing demand for highly complex and customizable products, there is a critical need to close the gap in productivity between metal AM and traditional manufacturing (TM) processes such as continuous casting, machining, etc., designed for mass production. This paper presents the development of the scalable and expeditious additive manufacturing (SEAM) process, which hybridizes binder jet printing and stereolithography principles, and capitalizes on their advantages to improve productivity. The proposed SEAM process was applied to stainless steel 420 (SS420) and the processing conditions (green part printing, debinding, and sintering) were optimized. Finally, an SS420 turbine fabricated using these conditions successfully reached a relative density of 99.7%. The SEAM process is not only suitable for a high-volume production environment but is also capable of fabricating components with excellent accuracy and resolution. Once fully developed, the process is well-suited to bridge the productivity gap between metal AM and TM processes, making it an attractive candidate for further development and future commercialization as a feasible solution to high-volume production AM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanofiber (Ag NF)-percolated networks have been widely utilized in the development of flexible transparent electrodes, transparent heaters, energy-saving devices, and electromagnetic interference shielding materials. Ag NFs with high aspect ratios substantially decrease the number density required for percolation, resulting in qualitatively superior transparent conducting networks. However, the mass production of Ag NFs with high aspect ratios is challenging. Recently, we developed a cost-effective method for the rapid mass production of Ag NFs that involves only two steps: blow spinning a self-reducing solution to generate precursor NFs, followed by heating treatment in air. However, the current utilization of high heating temperatures limits the choice of optional substrate materials. In this study, we investigate the effect of heating temperature on the self-reduction process and explore the possibility of lowering the heating temperature to rapidly produce Ag NFs. We observe that Ag NFs obtained at different heating temperatures exhibit similar microstructures, fiber diameters, compositions, and sheet resistances. In addition, we quantitatively analyze the self-reduction durations at different heating temperatures and examine the causes of failure of the self-reduction process at specific temperatures. The insights gained in lowering the heating temperature will contribute to broadening the range of suitable substrate materials and promoting energy conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monascus pigments (MPs) have been used as natural food pigments for many years. There is a high demand for Monascus red pigments (MRPs) to enhance color and for antibacterial and cancer prevention therapies in food and medicine. Most MRPs are not water soluble, and the yield of water‐soluble MRPs is naturally low. On the other hand, water‐soluble MRP is more cost effective for application in industrial mass production. Therefore, it is important to improve the yield of water‐soluble MRPs. Environmental factors have a significant influence on the synthesis of water‐soluble MRPs, which is crucial for the development of industrial production of water‐soluble MRPs. This review introduces the biosynthetic pathways of water‐soluble MRPs and summarizes the effects of environmental factors on the yield of water‐soluble MRPs. Acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl‐CoA) is a precursor for MPs synthesis. Carbon and nitrogen sources and the carbon/nitrogen ratio can impact MP production by regulating the metabolic pathway of acetyl‐CoA. Optimization of fermentation conditions to change the morphology of Monascus can stimulate the synthesis of MPs. The appropriate choice of nitrogen sources and pH values can promote the synthesis of MRPs from MPs. Additives such as metal ions and non‐ionic surfactants can affect the fluidity of Monascus cell membrane and promote the transformation of MRPs into water‐soluble MRPs. This review will lay the foundation for the industrial production of water‐soluble MRPs. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the midterm future, the photovoltaic industry is expected to be dominated by two‐terminal (2T) perovskite–silicon (pero–Si) tandem solar cells, which have high energy conversion efficiency and require characterization for large‐scale production. Electroluminescence (EL) imaging is one of the most prevalent and nondestructive techniques for defect detection, recognition, and characterization in Si‐solar cells in mass production. This work presents an EL setup that enables fast, simultaneous, and separate luminescence capture from the two subcells of pero–Si tandem devices. To demonstrate the setup, several encapsulated 2T pero–Si tandem samples are investigated. First, the effect that resistive coupling between the two subcells has on defect appearance in EL images is recorded. Therefore, EL image under different operational conditions is recorded. A strong dependence of defect signatures on current injection is observed, that is explained partly by resistive coupling but partly as well by injection‐dependent changes of the prevalent defects in the cells. An investigation of preconditioning under dark forward operation reveals significant local decrease of EL intensity going along with rapid reversible or irreversible and severe degradation close to the edges of the samples. This degradation takes place under forward bias during a period of ≈1 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspherical surfaces, with their varying curvature, minimize aberrations and enhance clarity, making them essential in optics, aerospace, medical devices, and telecommunications. However, manufacturing these surfaces is challenging because of systematic errors in CNC equipment, tool wear, measurement inaccuracies, and environmental disturbances. These issues necessitate precise error compensation to achieve the desired surface shape. Traditional methods for spherical optics are inadequate for aspherical components, making accurate surface shape error detection and compensation crucial. This study integrates advanced metrology with optimized material removal functions in the grinding and polishing processes. By combining numerical control technology, computer technology, and data analysis, we developed CAM software (version 1) tailored for aspherical surfaces. This software uses a compensation correction algorithm to process error data and generate NC programs for machining. Our approach automates and digitizes the grinding and polishing process, improving efficiency and surface accuracy. This advancement enables high-precision mass production of rotationally symmetrical aspherical optical components, addressing existing manufacturing challenges and enhancing optical system performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymers are versatile materials widely used in various industries, with significant applications in biomedicine where biofouling on polymer surfaces presents major health and economic challenges. Biofouling, initiated by bacterial adhesion, can be mitigated by modifying surface properties through laser micro- and nano-texturing, an approach that offers advantages over chemical treatments. This study introduces an economical mass production process for textured polymeric components using injection molding to replicate hierarchical textures. Testing revealed that all textured samples significantly reduced bacterial adhesion compared to untextured surfaces across different designs and bacteria types after 24 h of culture. The study examined factors like wettability, nanoscale roughness, and pattern dimensions to explain these outcomes, comparing them with existing studies. Despite all textured samples showing decreased wettability and roughness, these factors alone did not ensure reduced bacterial adhesion. The most effective anti-adhesive performance was observed in surfaces with parallel ridge patterns, which segmented the surface into isolated areas that limited bacterial interaction and hindered micro-colony formation, highlighting the importance of specific surface patterning in combating biofouling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the realm of low-pressure wax injection molding, the cooling time refers to the period during which the molten wax inside the aluminum-filled epoxy resin rapid tool solidifies and cools to a temperature conducive to safe ejection without distortion. Consequently, ensuring efficient cooling is paramount for the mass production of injection-molded parts. However, cooling efficiency is affected by the different coolant media. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of different coolant media on the cooling efficiency of aluminum-filled epoxy resin rapid tools with different surface roughness of cooling channels. It was found that the surface roughness of the inner wall in the low-pressure wax injection mold significantly influenced the cooling time of the molded product. In particular, a higher maximum roughness on the inner wall was associated with shorter cooling times for the injection-molded product. An aluminum-filled epoxy resin rapid tool with parallel cooling channels can reduce the cooling time of the injection-molded product by approximately 14.65%, 11.36%, 7.56%, and 16.50% using a coolant temperature of 15 °C compared with one equipped with a series of cooling channels. Taking the nanobubble coolant temperature of 15 °C as an example, an aluminum-filled epoxy resin rapid tool with parallel cooling channels can reduce the cooling time of the injection molded product by approximately 15.4% compared with one equipped with a series of cooling channels. Taking the vehicle coolant to cool aluminum-filled epoxy resin rapid tool as an example, the parallel cooling channel in the high-temperature aluminum-filled epoxy resin rapid tool demonstrates superior cooling efficiency compared to the series cooling channel, resulting in an average saving of about 49.05% in the cooling time of the aluminum-filled epoxy resin rapid tool. The results of this study have practical importance for industrial applications and support sustainable development goals 7, 9, 10, and 12. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article is an historical analysis of the changing editorial strategy of Tafelberg, a South African publisher. It aims to shed light on the culture-commerce divide in South African publishing, the changing cultural and social impact of a publisher specialising in a minority language, and the nexus of editorial philosophies, language and nationalism. The research considers Bourdieu's (1993) conceptualisation of the fields of culture with their associated levels of symbolic, financial and cultural capital, and the notion of poles of restricted and mass production of textual products in its analysis. It was found that Tafelberg has had significant cultural impact in South Africa, particularly with its involvement in the growth of Afrikaans literature and nationalism. Tafelberg is now a smaller part of one of South Africa's publishing giants, and they remain an important publisher of Afrikaans titles, even though their social and symbolic impact has changed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this experiment is to increase the heat resistance of high Si spheroidal graphite cast iron (3.3%C-4%Si-0.6%Mo) which is used as turbine housing. It is known that when Al was added to the spheroidal graphite cast iron melt, nodularity and fluidity decreases, but heat resistance increases. This experiment thus aimed to demonstrate the effective utilization of Al. In samples added with a small amount of Al, microstructure was observed and mechanical properties and fluidity were measured. High temperature oxidation tests and high temperature tensile tests were also carried out. The high temperature oxidation results were used as measures of heat resistance. The results of the experiment showed that good heat resistant cast iron can be fabricated without decreasing the mechanical properties and fluidity. When the added Al was less than 0.3%, the nodularity was high and elongation of mechanical property did not decrease greatly. Al was distributed across the matrix structure. When the added Al was over 0.3%, the removal of sticking slag inside the ladle posed as a significant factor to resolve the difficulty of mass production. Therefore the optimum Al addition amount was considered as 0.2%. As operations such as melting, casting, sand molding etc. are carried out at the manufacturing site at our company, the experimental results are easy to apply to both the fabrication of the prototype and the practical products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Synthetic Crystals is the property of Journal of Synthetic Crystals Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Although 2D Bi2O2Se plays an important role in the electronics and optoelectronics based on its in‐plane property, its out‐of‐plane electrical transport behavior remains unclear, especially in fabricating vertical devices with high integration density for novel functionality. Here, a solution‐processed method is developed to prepare 2D Bi2O2Se with mass production (e.g., hundreds of milliliter scale). The out‐of‐plane ferroelectric property of 2D Bi2O2Se is observed by piezoresponse force microscopy and the ferroelectric dipole map atom‐by‐atom at the Bi2O2Se surface, which shows an atomically resolved dipolar displacement of Se ions. The out‐of‐plane resistant switching property of 2D Bi2O2Se is revealed by conductive atomic force microscopy. Moreover, the electric field on the local polarization of Bi2O2Se is addressed by using ab initio simulations, which shows a broken inversion symmetry along the z‐axis of Bi2O2Se. The working mechanism of resistant switching behavior in Bi2O2Se is attributed to the diffusion and shuttle of Se ions. Besides, a controllable wet‐assembled method is developed to prepare Bi2O2Se thin film with centimeter scale and explores its application on photodetectors under 808 nm laser light. This work reveals the unique out‐of‐plane transport behavior of 2D Bi2O2Se, providing the basis for fabricating multifunctional devices with high integration based on this 2D material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for stretchable strain sensors with customizable sensitivities has increased across a spectrum of applications, spanning from human motion detection to plant growth monitoring. Nevertheless, a major challenge remains in the digital fabrication of scalable and cost‐efficient strain sensors with tailored sensitivity to diverse demands. Currently, there is a lack of simple digital fabrication approaches capable of adjusting strain sensitivity in a controlled way with no changes to the material and without affecting the linearity. In this study, parallel microgates‐based strain sensors whose strain sensitivity can be adjusted systematically throughout an all‐laser‐based fabrication process without any material replacement are presented. The technique employs a two‐step direct laser writing method that combines the well‐established capabilities of laser ablation and laser marking, boasting a varying gauge factor of up to 433% (GF = 168), while paving the way for the mass production of nanocomposite strain sensors. Parallel microgates‐based strain sensors exhibit a remarkable signal‐to‐noise ratio at ultralow strains (ɛ = 0.001), rendering them ideal for monitoring the gradual growth of plants. As an application demonstration, the proposed sensors are deployed on tomato plants to capture their growth under varying planting conditions including hydroponic and soil mediums, as well as diverse irrigation regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave Doppler sensors are used extensively in motion detection as they are energy-efficient, small-size and relatively low-cost sensors. Common applications of microwave Doppler sensors are for detecting intrusion behind a car roof liner inside an automotive vehicle and to detect moving objects. These applications require a millisecond response from the target for effective detection. A Doppler microwave sensor is ideally suited to the task, as we are only interested in movement of a large water-based mass (i.e., a person) (FMCW Radar also detect static objects). Although microwave components at 2.45   G Hz are now relatively cheap due to mass production of other Industrial Scientific and Medical application (ISM) devices, they do require tuning for temperature compensation, dielectric, and manufacturing variability. A digital solution would be ideal, as chip solutions are known to be more repeatable, but Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) are expensive to initially prototype. This paper presents the first completely digital Doppler motion sensor solution at 2.45   G Hz , implemented on the new RFSoC from Xilinx without the need to up/downconvert the frequency externally. Our proposed system uses a completely digital approach bringing the benefits of product repeatability, better overtemperature performance and softwarisation, without compromising any performance metric associated with a comparable analogue motion sensor. The RFSoC shows to give superior distance versus false detection, as the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) is better than a typical analogue system. This is mainly due to the high gain amplification requirement of an analogue system, making it susceptible to electrical noise appearing in the intermediate-frequency (IF) baseband. The proposed RFSoC-based Doppler sensor shows how digital technology can replace traditional analogue radio frequency (RF). A case study is presented showing how we can use a novel method of using multiple Doppler channels to provide range discrimination, which can be performed in both analogue and in a digital implementation (RFSoC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes the influence of the drum system construction of two modern carding machines on the porous structure of spunlace non-wovens composed of polyester and viscose. The non-woven fabric structure, including the number and size of the pores, determines the tensile strength of the composites obtained. The spunlace non-wovens were subjected to tensile strength tests in the machine, and cross-directions and microscopic observations of their structure were made. The results of the experiments were used to determine the relationship between the strength of the material and the porosity of its structure. This knowledge was used to prepare recommendations for the manufacturer of wet wipes in order to enable the selection of a carding machine for the mass production of final products with strength properties that meet market requirements and satisfy the end customer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) have potential application prospects in new-type display fields due to their wide color gamut, high energy efficiency, as well as low-cost mass production. Research on lead-free and cadmium-free blue quantum dots (QDs) is urgently needed for the development of QLED technology. For I-III-VI QDs, multiple luminescent centers generated by imbalanced local charge distribution have a detrimental effect on the emission performance. Regulating the chemical composition is one of the effective methods to control the defect type of blue-emitting QDs. In this work, narrow-bandwidth (with a full width at half maximum of 53 nm) blue CuAlSe2 QDs are achieved by altering the Cu/Al ratio. As the Cu/Al ratio increases from 0.2 to 1, the photoluminescence (PL) emission peak is red-shifted from 450 to 460 nm, with PL quantum yield up to 56%. The PL spectra are deconvoluted into three emission peaks by Gaussian fitting analysis, demonstrating the main luminescent contribution coming from the radiative recombination of electrons residing in the aluminum–copper antisite (AlCu) defect level with the holes in the valence band. This work provides a new approach for preparing eco-friendly and high-efficient blue-emitting QDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although efforts have been undertaken to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) with various monomers, the low yield of PHAs because of complex metabolic pathways and inhibitory substrates remains a major hurdle in their analyses and applications. Therefore, we investigated the feasibility of mass production of PHAs containing 5-hydroxyvalerate (5HV) using δ-valerolactone (DVL) without any pretreatment along with the addition of plant oil to achieve enough biomass. We identified that PhaCBP-M-CPF4, a PHA synthase, was capable of incorporating 5HV monomers and that C. necator PHB−4 harboring phaCBP-M-CPF4 synthesized poly(3HB-co-3HHx-co-5HV) in the presence of bean oil and DVL. In fed-batch fermentation, the supply of bean oil resulted in the synthesis of 49 g/L of poly(3HB-co-3.7 mol% 3HHx-co-5.3 mol%5HV) from 66 g/L of biomass. Thermophysical studies showed that 3HHx was effective in increasing the elongation, whereas 5HV was effective in decreasing the melting point. The contact angles of poly(3HB-co-3HHx-co-5HV) and poly(3HB-co-3HHx) were 109 and 98°, respectively. In addition, the analysis of microbial degradation confirmed that poly(3HB-co-3HHx-co-5HV) degraded more slowly (82% over 7 days) compared to poly(3HB-co-3HHx) (100% over 5 days). Overall, the oil-based fermentation strategy helped produce more PHA, and the mass production of novel PHAs could provide more opportunities to study polymer properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of changing consumer habits, manufacturing processes are shifting from mass production to small-batch production, which is making machining more complex and increasing demands for precision and stability. Machine tools, and thus machining accuracy, are affected by factors such as temperature and cutting load. Existing online estimation techniques often require the installation of additional sensors at specific locations, an approach that has cost and reliability issues, thus limiting industry's acceptance of these techniques. In practice, most manufacturers rely on offline detection methods, meaning that machining accuracy deviations can take some time to detect. In this study, we developed a technology for monitoring the status of machine tools; this technology, rather than requiring the installation of sensors, uses servo sensor signals to estimate accuracy, diagnose faults, and make recommendations regarding cutting depth parameters. The proposed method leverages a small number of experiments combined with extensive finite element analysis to construct a big data database, followed by the sensitivity and regression analyses of the generated database to produce an estimation model that evaluates machine tool conditions through servo feedback. The results showed that using linear regression to estimate the machine tool's status achieves good accuracy and that linear regression is easier to implement for real-time compensation. Ultimately, these results can enhance production efficiency and machining accuracy, as well as prevent unforeseen breakdowns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilevel diffractive lenses (MDLs) has undergone considerable advancements, marked by their exceptional efficiency and diverse focusing capabilities, resulting in their widespread use in optical systems. In recent times, MDLs have consistently been juxtaposed with metalenses, which have experienced swift progress over the last decade. Concurrently, MDLs have continued to evolve, propelled by their distinct advantages, such as cost-effective production and adaptability for mass manufacturing. This article explores the evolution and foundational concepts of MDLs, highlighting the advantages of their circular symmetry in enhancing simulation and optimization efficiency. Furthermore, we present several innovative fabrication methods for MDLs that capitalize on the latest advancements in 3D printing technology. We also show the practical applications and potential future developments of MDLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the construction of the international linear collider, mass production of niobium (Nb) superconducting cavities is essential. In the surface treatment of the Nb cavities, on-site analysis of electropolishing solution composed of hydrofluoric acid and sulfuric acid is desired. In this work, we analyzed the electropolishing solutions containing from 1.0 g L-1 to 10.0 g L-1 Nb by surface-enhanced laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (surface-enhanced LIBS) that needs only a microvolume sample and simple operations. The sample solution was trapped on porous silicon (Si) fabricated by metal-assisted etching (metalassisted chemical etching) through a wiping process. Nb emission lines were detected with low laser energy irradiation (2.0 mJ per pulse) onto the substrate. A regression model was built by partial least squares regression, and the Nb concentrations of test samples were predicted with a mean absolute error of approximately 0.4 g L-1. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that applied LIBS to the analysis of the highly toxic electropolishing solution. The proposed method would be helpful for the quality control of surface treatment and the efficient use of solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica is the property of Acta Materiea Compositae Sinica Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Direct-write digital holographic (DWDH) printing is a highly flexible technique for the generation of photoresist masters, which are required to produce the metallic shims used for the mass production of holograms in the security and packaging industries. Here we describe a new type of holographic feature, which can be combined with any other feature printable using DWDH: full-parallax, full-colour transmission masters containing limited animation. We will also describe a technique to print the fringe pattern of each hogel without using a reference beam. By programming the required fringe calculation algorithm on a graphics card using CUDA, we obtain acceptable calculation times. The advantage of using such direct fringe writing is that once again DWDH allows extra features to be written onto a master and combined with other features to produce a stronger security solution. Finally, we present results concerning the use of hogel image dithering to improve the grey-scale performance of DWDH printers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Online Journal of Art & Design is the property of Online Journal of Art & Design and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline electrolytes using transition metal dichalcogenides is a research area that is not tapped into. Alkaline HER (2H2O+2e-→H2+OH- ${{2H}_{2}O+2{e\ }^{-}\to {H}_{2}+{OH}^{-}{\rm \ }}$) is harder to achieve relative to acidic HER (H++2e-→H2 ${{H}^{+}+2{e\ }^{-}\to \ {H}_{2}}$), this is attributed to the additional water dissociation step that occurs in basic HER to generate H+ ions. In fact, for most catalysts, their HER activity decreases tremendously when the electrolyte is changed from acidic to basic conditions. Platinum dichalcogenides, PtX2 (X=S, Se, Te), are an interesting member of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) as these show an immense hybridization of the Pt d orbitals and chalcogen p orbitals because of closely correlated orbital energies. The trend in electronic properties of these materials changes drastically as the chalcogen is changed, with PtS2 reported to exhibit semi‐conductor properties, PtSe2 is semi‐metallic or semi‐conductive, depending on the number of layers, while PtTe2 is metallic. The effect of varying the chalcogen atom on the HER activity of Pt dichalcogenides will be studied. Pt dichalcogenides have previously been prepared by direct high‐temperature chalcogen deposition of Pt substrate and evaluated as electrocatalysts for HER in H2SO4. The previously employed synthesis procedures for PtX2 limit these compounds′ mass production and post‐synthesis treatment. In this study, we demonstrated, for the first time the preparation of PtSe2 and PtTe2 by colloidal synthesis. Colloidal synthesis offers the possibility of large‐scale synthesis of materials and affords the employment of the colloids at various concentrations in ink formulation. The electrochemical HER results acquired in 1 M KOH indicate that PtTe2 has a superior HER catalytic activity to PtSe2. A potential of 108 mV for PtTe2 and 161 mV for PtSe2 is required to produce a current density of −10 mA cm−2 from these catalysts. PtTe2 has a low Tafel slope of 79 mVdec−1, indicating faster HER kinetics on PtTe2. Nonetheless, the stability of these catalysts in an alkaline medium needs to be improved to render them excellent HER electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) silicon solar cells are rising as a competitive photovoltaic technology, seamlessly blending high efficiency with cost-effectiveness and mass production capabilities. However, the numerous defects from the fragile silicon oxide/c-Si interface and the low field-effect passivation due to the inadequate boron in-diffusion in p-type polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) passivated contact reduce their open-circuit voltages (VOCs), impeding their widespread application in the promising perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells (TSCs) that hold a potential to break 30% module efficiency. To address this, we have developed a highly passivated p-type TOPCon structure by optimizing the oxidation conditions, boron in-diffusion, and aluminium oxide hydrogenation, thus pronouncedly improving the implied VOC (iVOC) of symmetric samples with p-type TOPCon structures on both sides to 715 mV and the VOC of completed double-sided TOPCon bottom cells to 710 mV. Consequently, integrating with perovskite top cells, our proof of concept of 1 cm2 n-i-p perovskite/silicon TSCs exhibit VOCs exceeding 1.9 V and a high efficiency of 28.20% (certified 27.3%), which paves a way for TOPCon cells in the commercialization of future tandems. Perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells have attracted great attention for their efficiency and industry-compatible fabrication. Here, authors report a p-type tunnel oxide passivated contact structure with improved implied open-circuit voltage, achieving efficiency over 28% in 1 cm2 n-i-p tandem cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the problem in the existence of gate marks on the surface of a shredder shell plastic part, a hot runner mold with a complex inverted structure and a rear mold feeding mode was designed. The ejection action was completed through designing mechanical hooks. Considering the structural characteristics of the plastic parts with multiple inverted buckles surround them and internal bone positions, a four-sided slider splicing and core-pulling mechanism was designed for demolding on the lateral side of the rear mold. The back mold core was designed with multiple insert structures, which facilitated the processing, prevented the air trapping, improved the molding efficiency and quality. During the mass production, the various mechanisms of the mold operated smoothly, and the quality of the plastic parts was excellent, which could meet the requirements of design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monoclinic VO2 (M) is a material of great significance in the study of correlation effects in solids because of its reversible metal‐insulator phase transition between VO2 (M) and VO2 (R) just above the room temperature. Synthesizing pure monoclinic VO2 (M) can be a challenging task due to the formation of other polymorphs such as VO2 (A), VO2 (B), VO2 (D) and VO2 (P) etc. during the synthesis. Additionally, these synthesis techniques involve complex multistep procedures with protective gas environment and controlled reaction parameters clubbed with elongated reaction time ranging from 1 to 7 days which are major obstacles in the mass production of this material. Here we report a novel and rapid synthetic protocol of VO2 (M) for first time using diethylene triamine (DETA) as a reducing and morphology controlling agent in hydrogen peroxide medium. The detailed characterization of prepared materials confirms the formation of phase pure VO2 (M) crystalline powders. The present approach helps to tune these particles from one‐dimensional rods to two‐dimensional petals like structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing importance of submicrometer‐structured surfaces across a variety of different fields has driven progress in light manipulation, color diversity, water‐repellency, and functional enhancements. To enable mass production, processes like hot‐embossing (HE), roll‐to‐roll replication (R2R), and injection molding (IM) are essential due to their precision and material flexibility. However, these processes are tool‐based manufacturing (TBM) techniques requiring metal molds, which are time‐consuming and expensive to manufacture, as they mostly rely on galvanoforming using templates made via precision microlithography or two‐photon‐polymerization (2PP). In this work, a novel approach is demonstrated to replicate amorphous metals from fused silica glass, derived from additive manufacturing and structured using hot embossing and casting, enabling the fabrication of metal insets with features in the range of 300 nm and a surface roughness of below 10 nm. By partially crystallizing the amorphous metal, during the replication process, the insets gain a high hardness of up to 800 HV. The metal molds are successfully used in polymer injection molding using different polymers including polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE) as well as glass nanocomposites. This work is of significant importance to the field as it provides a production method for the increasing demand for sub‐micron‐structured tooling in the area of polymer replication while substantially reducing their cost of production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The punching machine is a mechanical equipment that is widely used in leather cutting. To facilitate mass production, both the punching table and layout are designed to accommodate long strokes over a large area. This enables one-time automatic continuous punching of large leather sheets. However, as the punching layout increases in size, it becomes more difficult to maintain the equal distance of the die cutter and table plate. Moreover, the table plate is overlaid with a polypropylene (PP) punching pad that is approximately 25 mm thick. Although it acts as a buffer to preserve the sharpness of the die, it causes cumulative deformation and defects in the die after repeated punching. Additionally, there often exists a height deviation of approximately 1–2 mm between the die and the punching pad at different positions. As the thickness of the leather sheet is often between 0.1 and 2 mm, automatic punching has a few drawbacks; although the leather is cut completely according to the set depth in some areas, other areas of the sheet might be over- or under-cut. This results in excessive consumption of the die or punching pad or generates excessive waste at the locations where the cutting is incomplete. To determine the effective punching stroke for a large layout (1.2 m × 2.2 m), this study proposes the innovative method of using the object packing as the reference to obtain the actual depth of the punching point for each die through automatic search before automated mass production. The results are then recorded in the packing system. In addition, the control delay time of the hydraulic solenoid valve is obtained from signal analysis. This approach enables the adjustment of the punching depth, to punch and cut the leather material successfully in a large layout. Moreover, the depth of the die mark left in the punching pad is restricted to a value between 0.1 and 0.2 mm. This effectively increases the life of the die and reduces the consumption of the punching pad, greatly improving the accuracy and stability of the punching system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]