Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for a spacer for a manufactured structure. A spacer includes a plurality of legs where each leg includes an elongate member that extends from a proximal end to a distal end. The proximal end of each leg is connected to one another at a central point such that the legs are spaced radially about the central point and substantially equidistant from one another. The distal ends of the legs include a material that has a predefined melting point such that the distal ends attach to a surface in contact with the distal ends responsive to the predefined melting point being reached during a molding process.

A fiber reinforced resin hollow molded body 30 in which a resin-integrated fiber sheet is used. The resin-integrated fiber sheet includes unidirectional continuous fibers that are spread fibers of a continuous fiber group and arrayed unidirectionally in parallel, and thermoplastic resin that is present at least on a surface of the unidirectional continuous fibers. In the hollow molded body, in a state where the resin-integrated fiber sheet or a plurality of the resin-integrated fiber sheets 30 are stacked, the resin-integrated fiber sheet or the plurality of resin-integrated fiber sheets are wound to produce a wound body having an overlapping portion. The thermoplastic resin is impregnated in the unidirectional continuous fibers. The resin-integrated fiber sheet or the plurality of resin-integrated fiber sheets are consolidated.

The tube body intermediate includes: a carbon fiber disposed with respect to an outer circumferential surface of a mandrel such that the carbon fiber extends in an axial direction of the mandrel in a manner of being wound by less than one turn; and a first fixing member wound with respect to an outer circumferential surface of the mandrel such that the first fixing member extends in the axial direction of the mandrel in a manner of being wound over the carbon fiber by one or more turns in a circumferential direction.

A padding device (10a; 10b; 10c; 10d; 10e), for a carrying belt system (100) for a respirator (1000), has a closed pad core shell (20) and a pad core (30) configured in the pad core shell. The padding device is formed by injection molding a hollow profiled section, inserting of a pad core material into the hollow profiled section for forming the pad core in the hollow profiled section, and closing the hollow profiled section (21) for creating the closed pad core shell (20). The padding device (10a; 10b; 10c; 10d; 10e) has a closed pad core shell (20) and a pad core (30) arranged in the pad core shell. The pad core shell is seamless as an injection-molded component in at least some sections. A carrying belt system and a respirator with the carrying belt system are provided with the belt system having the padding device.

Systems and methods are provided for consolidating a preform of braided fiber. One embodiment is a method that includes acquiring a braided preform comprising fibers of unidirectional material that have been woven into a shape having a closed cross-section, disposing the braided preform within a mandrel, disposing an inflatable bladder within the closed cross-section of the braided preform, and iteratively applying pressure to the braided preform via the bladder to consolidate the braided preform against the mandrel.

A component for a water bearing appliance, wherein the component comprises a first polymeric material and a second polymeric material. The first polymeric material constitutes the external surface of the component and completely covers the second polymeric material. The first polymeric material and the second polymeric material have different characteristics.

A system for forming a container from a preform includes a first mold having a plurality of first portions that cooperate to define a first internal surface against which the preform is blown for forming a first form. The system also includes a second mold having a plurality of second portions that cooperate to define a second internal surface against which the first form is blown for forming a second form. Also, the system includes a mold servo motor that actuates the plurality of first portions relative to each other and/or actuates the plurality of second portions relative to each other. Furthermore, the system includes a controller that controls the mold servo motor for controlled actuation of the plurality of first portions and/or the plurality of second portions.

A method for manufacturing a fiber reinforced structure includes the following. A mandrel of a first material comprises a hollow interior and an aperture that allows a fluid to enter the interior. A layer of a second material provided on the mandrel includes an uncured resin and fibers. The mandrel and the layer are placed in a mold cavity formed by a mold. A pressurized fluid is introduced into the interior of the mandrel via the aperture to generate a force acting to expand the mandrel outward. The mandrel is heated so that it becomes deformable and expand outward to press the layer against the mold. The layer is heated so that it cures. The mandrel is then heated to a temperature above its melting point of the first material so that it melts, after which it is removed.

A method and apparatus is presented. A portion is cut from a thermoplastic sheet of a first thermoplastic material based on a three dimensional model. The portion is secured to a mold. The portion and the mold are heated under vacuum to form a structure. The structure may take the form of a protective covering. In some illustrative examples, the mold may be formed of a second thermoplastic material based on the three dimensional model using additive manufacturing.

A process for the production of fiber composite hollow SMC components is provided. In the process an SMC-suitable semi-finished fiber composite material is arranged over or around a wash-removable salt core system. The semi-finished fiber composite material and core system are arranged in an SMC mold, followed by molding of an SMC component incorporating the semi-finished fiber composite material and core system. The wash-removable salt may then be removed by washing to result in an SMC component containing a hollow region.