A wave plug of a wave generator of a wave gear device includes: a metallic outer hollow body with an elliptical wave plug outer circumferential surface formed thereon; a metallic inner hollow body with a wave plug inner circumferential surface formed thereon; and an intermediate hollow body sandwiched between the outer hollow body and the inner hollow body. The intermediate hollow body includes CFRP layers. It is possible to implement a light wave plug in which a big hollow portion can be formed while assuring a required rigidity. Using the wave plug makes it possible to implement a light wave gear device which allows jumping to occur at a high load torque and which includes a big hollow portion.

To provide a molding apparatus that has satisfactory thermal energy efficiency and can be reduced in size and a molding method.

A molding apparatus 1 includes a tape conveying mechanism 6 that conveys a molding material 10 having flexibility to a molding position on a stage 2, a laser radiating mechanism 7 that radiates a laser beam on the molding material 10 conveyed to the molding position, and a moving mechanism 4 that moves the molding position P relatively to the stage.

A method for use when retrofitting a panel of a storage compartment having a mechanical latch assembly with an electric latch assembly includes removing the mechanical latch assembly from the panel of the storage compartment; and preparing the panel of the storage compartment to receive a potted insert. The preparation may include defining and marking a location to receive the potted insert. The method may include removing a portion of the panel to define a potted insert cavity and inserting the potted insert through the potted insert cavity of the panel. The method may also include applying at least one of a potting compound and an adhesive to bond the potted insert to the panel and coupling a portion of the electric latch assembly to the potted insert.

A method for fabricating a part includes sectionalizing a computer-generated representation of a part into strata having an order, forming layers corresponding to the strata from sheet material, stacking at least two of the layers in the order, and joining the layers together. The method is suitable for producing a phase-change material container for a thermal energy harvesting device, for example.

Systems are provided for fabricating a preform for a fuselage section of an aircraft. The system includes advancing a series of arcuate mandrel sections in a process direction through an assembly line, laying up fiber reinforced material onto the arcuate mandrel sections via layup stations, uniting the series of arcuate mandrel sections into a combined mandrel; and splicing the fiber reinforced material laid-up onto the arcuate mandrel sections.

A method of making a wing for an aerospace vehicle includes forming a frame member defining opposing perpendicular legs being spaced by an interconnecting member. A plurality of ribs is interconnected along the frame member at spaced locations forming an internal wing structure. Each of the ribs define an upper rib surface and a lower rib surface. A composite upper skin and lower skin are formed as a continuous sheet by way of a pultrusion process defining a shape that is complimentary to the plurality of ribs. The upper skin is secured to the upper surface defined by the plurality of ribs and the lower skin is secured to the lower surface of the plurality of ribs forming the aerospace wing.

An additive manufacturing method includes receiving an electronic representation of a part with a control system, determining a plurality of layers for the electronic representation of the part, and separating one or more of the layers associated with the electronic representation of the part into a plurality of segments. The additive manufacturing method further includes adding a joint structure to two or more of the segments and generating instructions for controlling a machining apparatus based on the electronic representation of the part, the layers, the segments, and the joint structure.

A method for the additive manufacturing of an object and a system for manufacturing an object. The method includes depositing a first foil layer, the first foil layer including a first body section, a first support section connected to the first body section, and a second support section connected to the first body section; depositing a second foil layer, the second foil layer comprising a second body section, a third support section, and a fourth support section; aligning the second foil layer and the first foil layer; and applying at least one of heat and pressure to the first foil layer and the second foil layer to form the object comprising the first body section and the second body section.

A method of manufacturing a part with a plurality of cut segments includes receiving a sheet of material with a machining apparatus and removing material during one or more first passes with the machining apparatus to form a plurality of segments in the sheet of material. The method also includes forming a tab by removing material during the one or more first passes with the machining apparatus for forming the segments, the tab connecting two segments within the sheet of material to each other and removing material with the machining apparatus to form joints on the segments.

A method for the additive manufacturing of an object and a system for manufacturing an object. The method includes depositing a second foil sheet onto the first foil sheet, wherein the first foil sheet and the second foil sheet each comprise a structural layer, forming a layer stack comprising the first foil sheet and the second foil sheet, the layer stack comprising an object section and at least one support section configured to enclose the object section in the layer stack, and applying at least one of heat or pressure to opposite sides of the layer stack with a first plate and a second plate, wherein applying the at least one of heat or pressure increases the temperature of the layer stack to a temperature lower than the melting temperature of the structural layer, and the at least one of heat or pressure bonds the first foil sheet to the second foil sheet in the layer stack, the first plate and the second plate are in contact with the at least one support section, and the at least one support section is configured to conduct the at least one of heat or pressure through the layer stack to the object section.