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.

A tool for laying up composite material to form a workpiece having a target contour is disclosed. The tool includes a support structure including an elongated member having a longitudinal axis, and support plates connected to the elongated member and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis. The elongated member includes a metallic material. The tool also includes a non-metallic backing structure connected to the support plates, the non-metallic backing structure comprising a working surface that includes a backing contour complementary to the target contour.

Provided is a sheet-shaped mold possessing a high strength and having a low breakage rate in demolding even in a case where the mold is thin and has a large-area. The sheet-shaped mold is prepared by combining a cured silicone rubber containing a polyorganosiloxane and a fiber for reinforcing the cured silicone rubber. The fiber may comprise a cellulose nanofiber. The sheet-shaped mold may have an uneven pattern on at least one surface (or side) thereof. The fiber may be surface-treated with a hydrophobizing agent. The fiber may forma nonwoven fabric, and the nonwoven fabric may be impregnated with the cured silicone rubber. The cured silicone rubber may comprise a two-component curable silicone rubber having a polydimethylsiloxane unit. The sheet-shaped mold may be a mold for nanoimprint lithography using a photo-curable resin.

A demolding device that removes a thin-walled part from a mold, the thin-walled part being tubular and having a partially open wall, the demolding device including: contour units that are located in a circumferential direction of the thin-walled part and each of which includes a contact structure that contacts an outer surface of the thin-walled part and moves in a thin-walled surface outward direction extending away from the outer surface of the thin-walled part; and a puller that engages with edges of the partially open wall of the thin-walled part and that applies a load to the thin-walled part, the load including a force component acting in the circumferential direction of the thin-walled part. In response to application of the load from the puller to the thin-walled part, each of the contour units moves the contact structure to keep the contact structure in contact with the thin-walled part.

The present disclosure concerns a molding apparatus including: a first thermally conductive flange and a second thermally conductive flange, said first and second thermally conductive flanges delimiting a cavity configured to receive thermoplastic pre-impregnated textiles, a mold thermally conductive and thermoregulated by a heat transfer fluidcomprising an upper impression and a lower impression, said upper and lower impressions being configured to receive said first and second thermally conductive flanges.

The present invention teaches an assembly and corresponding method for producing a plastic part having a sandwich mold including an upper half and a lower half. Each of the halves exhibit an opposing inner face which, upon assembling, collectively define an interior cavity corresponding to a configuration of the part to be produced. An insert sheet of a polymer material (typically a thermoplastic at room temperature) is placed upon a lower of the mold halves and prior to assembling the upper mold half. A heat source is communicated to the closed mold to cause the insert sheet to melt into the cavity. A cool source is subsequently communicated to the closed mold to cause the thermoplastic to harden within the cavity and prior to opening of the mold and removal of the finished part.

A molding die includes: a pair of dies, i.e., a first die and a second die respectively having abutting surfaces; a first die part and a second die part respectively having cavity forming portions inside which a cavity is formed, and thick portions provided at both ends of the cavity forming portions, the die parts being detachably fitted to die part attachment grooves provided in the abutting surfaces of the pair of dies; and induction heating coils for heating a surface of the cavity, wherein thicknesses of the cavity forming portions are smaller than thicknesses of the thick portions, and the distance between the induction heating coils and the cavity is smaller than the thicknesses of the thick portions.

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 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.

The invention is directed to a method of forming a moulded item said method comprising the steps of (a) providing a mould former comprising an indentation having an inner surface and a bottom face and made of plastics and manufactured by a 3-dimensional printing process, said mould former being shaped to form a mould having (i) an indentation corresponding to the desired shape of said moulded item; and (ii) a series of holes extending between the inner surface and the bottom face of the mould former, (b) forming a mould in said mould former from a plastics material; (c) positioning an elongate member in said mould; (d) introducing a volume of liquid into said indentation; (e) positioning a cover over said mould and sealing it thereto; (f) causing said liquid to solidify.