Molds and processes that permit high-speed, mass production of retaining wall blocks having patterned or other processed front faces, as well as retaining wall blocks formed by such processes. The invention permits the front face of the block to be impressed with a pattern or otherwise directly processed, to allow the formation of pre-determined block front faces, while at the same time facilitating high-speed, high-volume production of blocks. A mirror image of the desired pattern can be created on a stripper shoe by selecting a desired three-dimensional surface from a naturally occurring or man made object and digitally scanning the selected three-dimensional pattern to create scanned data. The scanned data can then be used to machine a face of the stripper shoe that is the mirror image of the selected pattern.

An acetabular reamer of the type used in total hip arthroplasty (THA) to prepare a patient's acetabulum for implantation of a hip prosthesis is described. The acetabular reamer consists of a substantially hemispherical cup having a plurality of cutter-hole combinations aligned along one or more loxodromes on the surface of the hemispherical cup. The reamer, complete with integral back plate for connecting the reamer to a driver, is produced to net shape using a molding and sinterwelding technique.

A permeable surface covering unit comprises a top surface, a bottom surface and at least two pairs of sides. A cavity is formed in the unit from the top surface to the bottom surface, and has side walls. The cavity may be a side cavity between units and/or a core cavity within the unit. An undercut is provided in the cavity. Pervious material plugs fill the cavity and extend into the undercut. Thereby the plug is locked into the cavity like a rivet and resists being dislodged by mechanical or hydraulic forces.

A permeable surface covering unit comprises a top surface, a bottom surface and at least two pairs of sides. A cavity is formed in the unit from the top surface to the bottom surface, and has side walls. The cavity may be a side cavity between units and/or a core cavity within the unit. An undercut is provided in the cavity. Pervious material plugs fill the cavity and extend into the undercut. Thereby the plug is locked into the cavity like a rivet and resists being dislodged by mechanical or hydraulic forces.

A mold and method for manufacturing interlocking concrete blocks. The mold comprises a mold box, comprising two side walls joined to end walls to define a mold cavity, a top face, and a substantially open bottom face. Top insert members are configured to define a space between adjacent blocks, for forming a portion of the transverse profile of the top surface of one block or a portion of the transverse profile of the bottom surface of an adjacent block, or both. A removable draw plate for closing the bottom of the mold box comprises a generally planar floor and bottom insert members configured to define a space between adjacent blocks, for forming a remaining portion of the transverse profile of the top surface of one block or a remaining portion of the transverse profile of the bottom surface of an adjacent block, or both.

A mold and method for manufacturing interlocking concrete blocks. The mold comprises a mold box, comprising two side walls joined to end walls to define a mold cavity, a top face, and a substantially open bottom face. Top insert members are configured to define a space between adjacent blocks, for forming a portion of the transverse profile of the top surface of one block or a portion of the transverse profile of the bottom surface of an adjacent block, or both. A removable draw plate for closing the bottom of the mold box comprises a generally planar floor and bottom insert members configured to define a space between adjacent blocks, for forming a remaining portion of the transverse profile of the top surface of one block or a remaining portion of the transverse profile of the bottom surface of an adjacent block, or both.

A concentric-ring single-sided dovetail groove ceramic tile back mold core is disclosed. A vulcanized rubber of back mold core surface comprises raised patterns and recessed patterns integrally formed, pasted and covered on a back mold core iron substrate. The raised patterns are equidistantly offset outwards layer by layer with a central position of the back mold core as a center; and a side of each raised pattern close to the center is of an equiangular obtuse angle, and a side of each raised pattern far away from the center is of an acute angle with an angular equal difference gradually decreasing.

A concentric-ring single-sided dovetail groove ceramic tile back mold core is disclosed. A vulcanized rubber of back mold core surface comprises raised patterns and recessed patterns integrally formed, pasted and covered on a back mold core iron substrate. The raised patterns are equidistantly offset outwards layer by layer with a central position of the back mold core as a center; and a side of each raised pattern close to the center is of an equiangular obtuse angle, and a side of each raised pattern far away from the center is of an acute angle with an angular equal difference gradually decreasing.

A base assembly with a pair of doors slidingly attached to the base assembly for moving between an open position and a closed position. An inner core comprising a first end and a throat end with the throat end having a larger diameter than the first end is positioned downward on top of the base assembly with the first end in an upright position. A pallet is positioned around the throat end of the inner core. When the pair of doors are in the closed position, a cavity is formed that is open from the top of the pair of doors and is located between the inner core and the pair of doors and corresponds to the shape of the concrete product with the flared end. The foregoing assembly allows for wet casting concrete products in a vertically upright position.

A base assembly with a pair of doors slidingly attached to the base assembly for moving between an open position and a closed position. An inner core comprising a first end and a throat end with the throat end having a larger diameter than the first end is positioned downward on top of the base assembly with the first end in an upright position. A pallet is positioned around the throat end of the inner core. When the pair of doors are in the closed position, a cavity is formed that is open from the top of the pair of doors and is located between the inner core and the pair of doors and corresponds to the shape of the concrete product with the flared end. The foregoing assembly allows for wet casting concrete products in a vertically upright position.