A method of forming a ceramic matrix composite component includes forming a fiber preform, the fiber preform including a plurality of ceramic fiber plies, a non-reduced fiber region having an areal weight, and a reduced fiber region characterized by a reduced areal weight less than the areal weight of the non-reduced fiber region by at least 5 percent. The method further includes selectively applying ceramic particles to the reduced fiber region in such manner as to avoid applying the ceramic particles to the non-reduced fiber region, and subsequently densifying the preform.

Systems and methods for protecting threads of metal pipes while coating the metal pipes with a protective coating are disclosed herein. Innovative metal couplings are used to protect the threads while a protective coating is applied to the metal pipes. The couplings are reusable and result in multiple efficiency improvements over previous methods and systems. Benefits include elimination of plastic caps and reduced waste, improved flowthrough in the powder coating process, more efficient thermo transfer in the thermal chamber, and an increase in the overall capacity of the powder coating operation.

Systems and methods for protecting threads of metal pipes while coating the metal pipes with a protective coating are disclosed herein. Innovative metal couplings are used to protect the threads while a protective coating is applied to the metal pipes. The couplings are reusable and result in multiple efficiency improvements over previous methods and systems. Benefits include elimination of plastic caps and reduced waste, improved flowthrough in the powder coating process, more efficient thermo transfer in the thermal chamber, and an increase in the overall capacity of the powder coating operation.

A processing liquid supply system includes: a processing liquid supply apparatus including a first carrier accommodation section that accommodates a carrier, a first bottle accommodation section that accommodates a processing liquid bottle taken out from the carrier, a liquid feeding section that feeds a processing liquid to a substrate processing apparatus from the processing liquid bottle, and a first transfer arm; and a control device configured to control the first transfer arm to take a processing liquid bottle out from the carrier and transfer the processing liquid bottle to the first bottle accommodation section, to transfer the processing liquid bottle from the first bottle accommodation section to the liquid feeding section, and to transfer the consumed processing liquid bottle from the liquid feeding arm and accommodate the consumed processing liquid bottle in the carrier.

A processing liquid supply system includes: a processing liquid supply apparatus including a first carrier accommodation section that accommodates a carrier, a first bottle accommodation section that accommodates a processing liquid bottle taken out from the carrier, a liquid feeding section that feeds a processing liquid to a substrate processing apparatus from the processing liquid bottle, and a first transfer arm; and a control device configured to control the first transfer arm to take a processing liquid bottle out from the carrier and transfer the processing liquid bottle to the first bottle accommodation section, to transfer the processing liquid bottle from the first bottle accommodation section to the liquid feeding section, and to transfer the consumed processing liquid bottle from the liquid feeding arm and accommodate the consumed processing liquid bottle in the carrier.

A method of painting a vehicle component includes charging the vehicle component. The charge of the vehicle component in an area to be painted is selectively changed. Paint is applied to the vehicle component. The vehicle component is heated to fuse the paint to the vehicle component.

A substrate processing method includes performing a developing processing on a substrate. The developing processing includes supplying a developing liquid on a surface of the substrate to form a liquid film of the developing liquid on the surface of the substrate; maintaining the liquid film on the surface such that development progresses; and performing, during the maintaining of the liquid film, a first processing of supplying a gas to an inner region located at an inner side than a peripheral region on the surface of the substrate and a second processing of supplying an adjusting liquid configured to suppress progress of the development on the peripheral region to adjust a degree of the development between the peripheral region and the inner region. The second processing is started after a start time of the first processing, and the second processing is ended after an end time of the first processing.

A substrate processing method includes performing a developing processing on a substrate. The developing processing includes supplying a developing liquid on a surface of the substrate to form a liquid film of the developing liquid on the surface of the substrate; maintaining the liquid film on the surface such that development progresses; and performing, during the maintaining of the liquid film, a first processing of supplying a gas to an inner region located at an inner side than a peripheral region on the surface of the substrate and a second processing of supplying an adjusting liquid configured to suppress progress of the development on the peripheral region to adjust a degree of the development between the peripheral region and the inner region. The second processing is started after a start time of the first processing, and the second processing is ended after an end time of the first processing.

An automated process for producing exposed electrical contact areas on the conductor part of an epoxy coated bus bar. When the epoxy coating is in the glassy state, one can safely and economically, preferably via automated apparatus, put the epoxy into the rubbery state by positioning the bar and applying localized heat at a select area of the coating; monitoring the heating to above the glass transition temperature of the epoxy, bringing cutting tools into contact with the epoxy for cutting and removing the rubbery coating away from the bus bar, and cooling the bus bar to bring adjacent coating back to the glassy state, thereby leaving an exposed electrical contact area of conductor on the bus bar with little or no surface damage.

A device and method for lacquer transfer includes a lacquer application unit and at least one of a masking application unit and a masking removal unit, the application unit for applying lacquer to a work surface, wherein the masking application unit is configured to apply a masking to the work surface and is attached to the lacquer application unit so the masking application unit is moved in the application direction ahead of the lacquer application unit across the work surface when the lacquer application unit is moved across the work surface in the application direction. The masking removal unit can remove a previously applied masking from the work surface and is attached to the lacquer application unit such that the masking removal unit is moved in the application direction behind the lacquer application unit across the work surface when the lacquer application unit is moved across the work surface in the application direction.