An assembly for densification under load along at least one direction of compression. The assembly includes: at least one volume to be densified having a powdery and/or porous composition and having variations in thickness along the direction of compression; and at least one counter-form of a powdery and/or porous composition, having at least one face facing at least one portion of the volume. The face and each of the portions are separated by at least one deformable interface layer.

The invention relates to a component (1) made of plastic material and comprising a side. According to the invention, said side is at least partially in the shape of ascending steps, the rising side of the steps (4, 5) having a thickness (E1) of between 1 and 1.19 mm.

The present invention provides a hierarchical microstructure having nanopatterns formed on an upper surface as well as a side surface thereof, so as to maximize the effect of a multiscale structure. Therefore, the hierarchical microstructure can have a wider surface area. Also, the present invention provides a method of preparing a mold for forming the hierarchical microstructure using a sequential imprinting procedure and a creep behavior. According to the present invention, the mold for forming a hierarchical microstructure can be prepared more effectively and easily.

The present invention relates to a method for mould production including: preparing a first core made of polystyrene; shaping the first polystyrene core, thereby obtaining a first shaped core; executing a first thermoforming operation to coat the first shaped core with a first thermoformable thermoplastic material, thereby obtaining a first coated structure.

A mold arrangement for producing a preform element of a wind turbine blade includes a mold carrier and a plate- or tray-like mold element arranged at the mold carrier with a form defining mold surface adapted to receive preform building material, a first heating device arranged below the mold element for heating the preform building material from below the mold element, and a second heating device for heating the preform building material from above.

A method of forming a composite structure is presented. A charge is placed on a charge support surface of a charge forming table in a planar orientation, the charge support surface formed by a plurality of surfaces of a plurality of charge forming fingers. A number of charge forming fingers of the plurality of charge forming fingers is actuated to form a curvature into the charge. The charge having the curvature is removed from the charge forming table. The charge having the curvature is placed onto a tool having a matching surface curvature.

A decorative optical element that has an appearance of a glass optical element includes an optically transparent body having a faceted globular portion defined by a solid volume of polymeric material. A luminaire, such as for a street light, employs the decorative optical element and an LED circuit board mounted to the circuit board.

A mandrel assembly is configured to receive one or more layers of composite material to form a component. The mandrel assembly may include a tower having an outer forming wall surrounding a central passage, and an upper ring removably secured to the tower. The upper ring is configured to be removed from the tower after the layer(s) of composite material are wrapped around the outer forming wall and at least a portion of the upper ring. The component is removed from the tower after the upper ring is removed from the tower.

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.

Provided are a production method of a mold having a recessed pattern, and a manufacturing method of a pattern sheet having good accuracy and excellent productivity. The production method of a mold includes: a step of preparing an electroform having a protruding pattern and a mold having a first mold and a second mold forming a cavity; a step of fixing the electroform excluding an end portion of the electroform to the first mold; a clamping step of clamping the electroform excluding the end portion of the electroform and a region of the protruding pattern between the first mold and the second mold to form the cavity; and an injection step of filling the cavity with a resin.