A method for manufacturing a metal-clad laminate sheet including forming a laminate sheet having the thermoplastic liquid crystal polymer film and the metal foil bonded together; and providing the laminate sheet with a heat treatment which satisfies conditions (1) and (2) below: (1) a heat treatment temperature ranges between 1° C. inclusive and 50° C. exclusive higher than a melting point of the thermoplastic liquid crystal polymer film. (2) a time for the heat treatment ranges from one second to 10 minutes.

A system and method for thermoplastic composite welding comprising a cooling means and a heat source. The cooling means cools a heat-side laminate so as to create a thermal gradient in the heat-side laminate. The heat source heats the heat-side laminate after the cooling step is initiated but before the thermal gradient dissipates so that a first side of the heat-side laminate closer to the heat source does not deform as faying surfaces of the heat-side laminate and another laminate farther away from the heat source are welded together.

A system and method for thermoplastic composite welding comprising a cooling means and a heat source. The cooling means cools a heat-side laminate so as to create a thermal gradient in the heat-side laminate. The heat source heats the heat-side laminate after the cooling step is initiated but before the thermal gradient dissipates so that a first side of the heat-side laminate closer to the heat source does not deform as faying surfaces of the heat-side laminate and another laminate farther away from the heat source are welded together.

Disclosed is an elastomeric bladder tool and related systems and methods. In one embodiment, the elastomeric bladder tool comprises an elastomeric inner layer substantially defining an inner cavity of the elastomeric bladder tool, an elastomeric outer layer substantially defining an outer surface of the elastomeric bladder tool, and a permeable middle layer positioned between the elastomeric inner layer and the elastomeric outer layer. The permeable middle layer has greater permeability than both the elastomeric outer layer and the elastomeric inner layer to allow for evacuating of gases that have entered the permeable middle layer.

An extensible bearing element of a tool for sealing a bottom or a lid of a cardboard package on a body of said package has a generally polygonal shape and a cross-sectional profile. The bearing element is formed by two parallel extension sections extending along an extension direction, each connected, at one of their ends, to a bearing section. The extension sections and the bearing section define an inflation cavity. The extension sections are configured to extend along the extension direction when the bearing element is inflated. The bearing section comprises a substantially flat, free bearing surface that contacts the package body. The bearing surface extends along a plane substantially normal to the extension direction. The bearing section further comprises, at the junctions with the extension sections, beveled release portions. An inflation device comprising such an extensible bearing element is also described.

An extensible bearing element of a tool for sealing a bottom or a lid of a cardboard package on a body of said package has a generally polygonal shape and a cross-sectional profile. The bearing element is formed by two parallel extension sections extending along an extension direction, each connected, at one of their ends, to a bearing section. The extension sections and the bearing section define an inflation cavity. The extension sections are configured to extend along the extension direction when the bearing element is inflated. The bearing section comprises a substantially flat, free bearing surface that contacts the package body. The bearing surface extends along a plane substantially normal to the extension direction. The bearing section further comprises, at the junctions with the extension sections, beveled release portions. An inflation device comprising such an extensible bearing element is also described.

A thermal membrane for manufacturing a vehicle interior panel. The thermal membrane includes a flexible body, a part contour in the flexible body, and a thermal array that includes a thermal temperature control element. The thermal array follows the part contour of the flexible body, and the thermal temperature control element is at least partially embedded in the flexible body. The thermal array of the thermal membrane can be used to heat and activate an adhesive layer during a method of manufacturing a vehicle interior panel, such as during a vacuum forming process to attach a skin layer to a substrate.

Methods for mass production of new microfluidic devices are described. The microfluidic devices may include an array of micro-needles with open channels in fluid communication with multiple reservoirs located within a substrate that supports the micro-needles. The micro-needles are configured so as to sufficiently penetrate the skin in order to collect or sample bodily fluids and transfer the fluids to the reservoirs. The micro-needles may also deliver medicaments into or below the skin.

A bag-making and packaging machine, that makes bags by forming a conveyed film into a cylindrical film and putting product inside the cylindrical film, is disclosed. The bag-making and packaging machine includes a pair of ultrasonic sealing members, a cutting member, and clamps. The pair of ultrasonic sealing members are configured to sandwich the cylindrical film along a direction intersecting a conveyance direction and perform transverse sealing. The cutting member is configured to move between the pair of sealing members and cut transversely sealed portions of bags that have been made. The clamps are provided under the pair of sealing members and the cutting member. The clamps are configured to restrain the bags when the transversely sealed portions are cut.

A bag-making and packaging machine, that makes bags by forming a conveyed film into a cylindrical film and putting product inside the cylindrical film, is disclosed. The bag-making and packaging machine includes a pair of ultrasonic sealing members, a cutting member, and clamps. The pair of ultrasonic sealing members are configured to sandwich the cylindrical film along a direction intersecting a conveyance direction and perform transverse sealing. The cutting member is configured to move between the pair of sealing members and cut transversely sealed portions of bags that have been made. The clamps are provided under the pair of sealing members and the cutting member. The clamps are configured to restrain the bags when the transversely sealed portions are cut.