An apparatus for making a three-dimensionally curved object, said apparatus comprising a membrane having a moulding surface, which is configurable into a predetermined shape by individually adjusting an array of actuators acting on the surface opposite the moulding surface of said membrane, wherein the membrane is a ferromagnetic membrane and the actuators are provided with magnetic joints at the distal ends of said actuators.

According to some aspects, a method is provided of casting an object from a mold, the method comprising obtaining a mold comprising a hollow shell of rigid material, the material comprising a thermoset polymer having a plurality of pores formed therein, providing a metal and/or ceramic slurry into an interior of the mold, exposing at least part of the mold to a low pressure environment so that a net flow of gas is produced from the interior of the mold into the low pressure environment. According to some aspects, a method of forming a porous mold is provided. According to some aspects, a photocurable liquid composition is provided, comprising a liquid photopolymer resin, particles of a solid material, in an amount between 30% and 60% by volume of the composition, and a water-soluble liquid.

A sealing member for a powder slush molding apparatus includes an elastomeric main body comprising a head portion, an anchor portion, and a neck portion extending between and joining the head portion and the anchor portion. The head portion of the sealing member defines at least one interior channel that is centered on a midline of the elastomeric main body and which has a polygonal sectional shape. The polygonal sectional shape of the at least one interior channel, and its location on the midline, permits the head portion of the sealing member to attain a measure of compressibility that helps limit the force needed to compress the head portion without rendering the sealing member too flexible that it cannot adequately retain its shape. The sealing member is useful in establishing a seal between a shell and a powder box of a powder slush molding apparatus.

The present invention concerns an apparatus for making a three-dimensionally curved object, said apparatus comprising a membrane having a moulding surface, which is configurable into a predetermined shape by individually adjusting an array of actuators acting on the surface opposite the moulding surface of said membrane, wherein the membrane is a ferromagnetic membrane and the actuators are provided with magnetic joints at the distal ends of said actuators.

A press tool for a press assembly includes an additive manufactured body including a plurality of stacked layers of additive manufacturable material extending between an interior side and an exterior side. The interior side has a part forming surface including a surface profile for forming a part. The exterior side has a plurality of hollow cores defined by longitudinal walls and lateral walls meeting at joints. Press inserts are coupled to the longitudinal walls and the lateral walls at the exterior side. The press inserts are configured to be pressed inward by a pressing load during a pressing operation for forming the part. The press inserts distribute the pressing load along the longitudinal and lateral walls.

A method for producing a structural component having a foam structure formed by foaming a foamable material, includes the following steps: additively building a receiving component that reproduces the outer geometry of the structural component to be produced at least in some sections, in particular completely, and having a receiving space for receiving foamable material; introducing at least one foamable material into the receiving space of the receiving component; and carrying out at least one measure for foaming the foamable material introduced into the receiving space of the receiving component so as to form the foam structure.

A method of joining a first workpiece substrate and a second workpiece substrate is disclosed in which a local mold tool is positioned into contact with the first workpiece substrate and the second workpiece substrate. The local mold tool defines a mold cavity and encloses an edge portion of the first workpiece substrate and an edge portion of the second workpiece substrate such that the edge portion of the first workpiece substrate and the edge portion of the second workpiece substrate are contained within the mold cavity. Once the local mold tool is positioned, a liquid polymer molding compound is injected into the mold cavity. The liquid polymer molding compound is hardened in the mold cavity into a polymer joint that adheres the edge portion of the first workpiece substrate and the edge portion of the second workpiece substrate together.

According to some aspects, a method is provided of casting an object from a mold, the method comprising obtaining a mold comprising a hollow shell of rigid material, the material comprising a thermoset polymer having a plurality of pores formed therein, providing a metal and/or ceramic slurry into an interior of the mold, exposing at least part of the mold to a low pressure environment so that a net flow of gas is produced from the interior of the mold into the low pressure environment. According to some aspects, a method of forming a porous mold is provided. According to some aspects, a photocurable liquid composition is provided, comprising a liquid photopolymer resin, particles of a solid material, in an amount between 30% and 60% by volume of the composition, and a water-soluble liquid.

A mold device configured for use in a rotational molding device configured to perform a rotational molding process by rotating the mold device by means of a robot arm is provided. The mold device generally includes a connector part for connecting to the robot arm, first and second mold parts configured to assemble to each other for enclosing a mold cavity in an assembled state. The mold device includes a magnet gripper for releasably attaching the mold parts and heating and cooling elements integrated in at least one of the mold parts for respectively heating and cooling the mold part. The heating elements may be arranged in first grooves positioned in an exterior face of the respective mold part. The cooling elements may be arranged in second grooves positioned in the exterior face of the respective mold part in between the first grooves.

A method of producing an in-situ molded concrete object includes positioning a form on a substrate. The form can include a leg portion, a face portion, and a frangible portion. The frangible portion can connect the leg portion to the face portion. The method includes coupling the leg portion to the substrate to create a container open on at least one side. The method also includes pouring concrete into the container. The frangible portion can be fractured to separate the face portion from the leg portion.