The invention relates to a device and a method wherein a product mold is placed in a basin. The product mold is filled with wet concrete and an intermediate space between the product mold and the basin is filled with a non-hardening slurry having a density substantially similar to the density of the wet concrete. During the filling, the level difference between the wet concrete surface level and the non-hardening slurry surface level is controlled such that the pressure of the wet concrete on the inside of an outer wall of the form mold is substantially balanced by the pressure of the slurry on the outside of the outer wall of the form mold. The invention thus enables the use of a product mold that differs from traditional form works in that its outer wall does not need to support the pressure of the wet concrete contained within the product cavity.

A method of forming simulated stone or brick column or a retaining wall is made up of rows of masonry blocks of generally trapezoidal configuration arranged in end-to-end relation to one another in each row, each block including a recessed portion being aligned with one another in each row and each block having textured wall surfaces simulating the appearance of brick or stone along one or more wall surfaces arranged in different configurations without the necessity of interlocking the blocks together.

A method for producing a counter-form (20) for manufacturing a part having a complex shape (24) by pressure sintering densification. The counter-form (20) is formed from successive layers produced by numerically-controlled three-dimensional (3D) additive printing according to the following steps: numerically recording a three-dimensional negative of the part to be produced (24) in a control unit of a three-dimensional additive printing system in order to constitute the positive form of the counter-form to be produced; producing the counter-form (20) using a 3D additive printing technique. The part having a complex shape (24d) is then manufactured by pressure sintering, then separated from the counter-form which is also sintered (20).

A preform tooling arrangement includes a base plate comprising a male die surface and a stripper plate comprising a female die surface. A plurality of perforations are disposed in the base plate and/or the stripper plate. The stripper plate is moveable with respect to the base plate. The preform tooling arrangement is configured to receive a fibrous preform between the male die surface and the female die surface. The preform tooling arrangement is a dual-purpose fixture configured to accommodate z-needling and densification, all while the fibrous preform remains in the same fixture (i.e., the preform tooling arrangement). The perforations are configured to receive one or more textile needles for through thickness reinforcement of the fibrous preform.

A preform tooling arrangement includes a base plate comprising a male die surface and a stripper plate comprising a female die surface. A plurality of perforations are disposed in the base plate and/or the stripper plate. The stripper plate is moveable with respect to the base plate. The preform tooling arrangement is configured to receive a fibrous preform between the male die surface and the female die surface. The preform tooling arrangement is a dual-purpose fixture configured to accommodate z-needling and densification, all while the fibrous preform remains in the same fixture (i.e., the preform tooling arrangement). The perforations are configured to receive one or more textile needles for through thickness reinforcement of the fibrous preform.

A method for fabricating a molded piece includes filling a mold with a slurry, curing the slurry in the mold to create a cured piece, and heating the mold, with the cured piece therein, to burn off the mold and a binder of the slurry. The mold is fabricated from a material that vaporizes at a temperature lower than the melting temperature of the molded piece, thereby ensuring that the molded piece maintains its shape while the mold and binder burns off. The mold may be fabricated from a resin or polymer using three-dimensional (3D) printing. The molded piece may be a porous ceramic electrospray emitter. To create this emitter with a sharp tip, at least part of the mold may be fabricated using 3D printing based on two-photon polymerization, which has a higher spatial resolution than other types of 3D printing.

A mould liner for a fabrication assembly is disclosed. The fabrication assembly is for fabricating an elongate concrete article in a substantially upright orientation and includes a core assembly and an outer mould assembly defining a mould cavity between the core assembly and an inner moulding surface of the outer mould assembly with the outer mould assembly being separable following casting of the elongate concrete article to strip the outer mould assembly from the elongate concrete article. The mould liner during casting forms an intermediate layer between the inner moulding surface of the outer mould assembly and the elongate concrete article being cast, wherein on stripping of the core and outer mould assemblies following casting, the mould liner is adapted to form an outer containment layer to the elongate concrete article.

A wax pattern surface-treating agent includes a solvent, boron nitride, and at least one surfactant selected from a group consisting of an anionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, a non-ionic surfactant, and an amphoteric surfactant.

An airfoil is disclosed. The airfoil may comprise a leading edge, a body portion and a trailing edge formed from a high-modulus plating. The body portion of the airfoil may be formed from a material having a lower elastic modulus than the high-modulus plating. The high-modulus plating may improve the stiffness of the trailing edge, allowing for thinner trailing edges with improved fatigue life to be formed.

The invention comprises a concrete form. The concrete form comprises a first mold for concrete and a second mold for concrete, the first and second molds being in thermal communication with each other. The concrete form also comprises thermal insulating material substantially surrounding the first and second molds but not between the first and second molds. A method of using the concrete form is also disclosed.