A fixing assembly for mounting UV lamps includes a base, a first gear and a plurality of mounting modules. The first gear is arranged on one side of the base; the mounting modules are arranged around the first gear. The mounting module includes a first driving assembly, a second driving assembly and a support frame. The first driving assembly is used to drive the second driving assembly and the support frame to move circumferentially around the first gear in a considerably horizontal plane, and the second driving component is used to drive the support to move back in a considerably vertical direction. The support frame is used for mounting UV lamp. The flexibility of the fixing assembly is improved. The UV lamp may comprehensively irradiate and cure the photosensitive adhesive.

A system for fusing thermoplastic composite structures includes a skin and a substructure on an inner surface of the skin. The system also includes a shaping surface of a tool, with the skin laid up on the shaping surface. The shaping surface is configured to maintain the shape of an outer mold line. The system further includes at least one insulation layer applied over a flange of the substructure and over exposed portions of the inner surface of the skin not in contact with the substructure, and a vacuum bag at least partly enclosing the skin and the substructure. Heat can be applied to the shaping surface to fuse the substructure to the skin such that the skin exceeds its melting point and at least a portion of a raised segment of the substructure does not exceed its melting point.

A method for reconditioning a rollable wheel includes coupling a polymeric wheel to a reconditioning system, the polymeric wheel having an outer surface including an abraded area, the abraded area having a first average surface roughness, and applying heat to the abraded area of the outer surface with one or more heater of the reconditioning system, such that a substantial portion of the abraded area is transformed to have a second average surface roughness, the second average surface roughness less than the first average surface roughness.

A method and apparatus for forming a composite structure. A plurality of consolidated overbraided thermoplastic preforms are co-consolidated in a circumferential stackup that is circumferentially constrained. Fibers of the plurality of consolidated overbraided thermoplastic preforms are tensioned during co-consolidation.

This patent application claims the use of directed energy in the form of electronically scanned ion beams to form plastic parts by selectively curing commodity or engineering resin in the shape of the part. Polymerization is limited to the vicinity of the controlled Bragg-peak of the ion beam (i.e., where linear energy transfer is maximized), if necessary, by the use of chemical polymerization inhibitors or conditions that inhibit polymerization.

An optical forming device includes a light source to emit light for causing liquid photocurable resin to undergo curing and an optical modulator to modulate the light for causing the liquid photocurable resin to undergo curing in a pattern based on a shape of a three-dimensional object, and irradiate the liquid photocurable resin with the modulated light. The optical modulator includes a liquid crystal device to modulate the light for causing the liquid photocurable resin to undergo curing in the pattern, and emit the modulated light as linearly polarized light and an optical retardation device to impart a phase difference to the linearly polarized light emitted from the liquid crystal device, and emit the light imparted with the phase difference.

An induction heated tool system for receiving and heating polymer-fiber components from a starting temperature to a target temperature includes a tool part having a receiving cutout, the tool part formed from a thermally dimensionally stable material so it has a coefficient of thermal longitudinal expansion less than 10×10.sup.−6 K.sup.−1, or less than 5×10.sup.−6 K.sup.−1, or less than 4×10.sup.−6 K.sup.−1 in the plane of the largest dimension of the receiving cutout, at temperatures between the starting and target temperatures. A receiving cutout for receiving a polymer-fiber component is in the tool part, the receiving cutout delimited by a receiving surface portion so a polymer-fiber component received in the receiving cutout can lie against the receiving surface portion. A susceptor element includes a ferromagnetic material with a first Curie temperature. The susceptor element is on a surface portion of the tool part outside the receiving cutout and the receiving surface portion.

A method including receiving a model of a composite structure having an inconsistency. The model includes a pre-calculated heating model that specifies areas of the inconsistency for which corresponding different amounts of heating are applied to an uncured composite material that is applied to the inconsistency. A design for heating elements of varying density across the areas is generated from the model. The design is configured to cause the heating elements in a first sub-area of a heat blanket system to generate a first amount of heat in a third area in the areas, and to cause the heating elements in a second sub-area of the heat blanket system to generate a second, different amount of heat in a fourth area of the areas. The heating elements are printed according to the design on a blanket to manufacture the heat blanket system.

A heat blanket system including a blanket including a first sub-area and a second sub-area. The heat blanket system also includes heating elements printed on the blanket. First spacings between first ones of the heating elements in the first sub-area varies relative to second spacings between second ones of the heating elements in the second sub-area. The first spacings and the second spacings vary according to a design. The design is configured for use on a uniquely defined rework area on a uniquely defined composite material object including a third area including a heat sink region and a fourth area including a non-heat sink region. The first sub-area is sized and dimensioned to be placed over the third area. The second sub-area is sized and dimensioned to be placed over the fourth area.

An article may include a first polymeric material layer having a surface. A first conductive trace may form at least a portion of the first layer surface. The article may further include a second polymeric material layer. The second layer may have a first surface, a portion of the second layer first surface being bonded to a portion of the first layer surface. The second layer may have a portion of a channel defined therein, the channel at least partially coinciding with a portion of the first conductive trace. The article may also include a first patch interposed between the first layer surface and the second layer first surface. The first patch may span the channel and cover a portion of the first conductive trace.