A sole component molded with different portions molded from different bead foams where there is a gradual transition between the different bead foams, as well as a method and apparatus for manufacturing the same. The molding system includes a mold cavity that is partially divided into at least two adjacent mold regions by at least one blade. The blade does not fully separate adjacent regions, but instead defines a space allowing beads introduced into adjacent regions to intermingle or overlap at the interface between the mold regions. The size, shape and configuration of the blade and the space may vary from application to application. The molding system may include a blade retractor that allows the blade to be retracted after the beads are loaded and before the beads are joined. The different bead foams may be different expanded thermoplastic polyurethane bead foams that vary in density or hardness or color.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object, is carried out by (a) providing a carrier and a build plate, the build plate comprising a semipermeable member, the semipermeable member comprising a build surface with the build surface and the carrier defining a build region therebetween, and with the build surface in fluid communication by way of the semipermeable member with a source of polymerization inhibitor; (b) filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, the polymerizable liquid contacting the build surface; (c) irradiating the build region through the build plate to produce a solid polymerized region in the build region, while forming or maintaining a liquid film release layer comprised of the polymerizable liquid formed between the solid polymerized region and the build surface, the polymerization of which liquid film is inhibited by the polymerization inhibitor; and (d) advancing the carrier with the polymerized region adhered thereto away from the build surface on the build plate to create a subsequent build region between the polymerized region and the build surface; (e) wherein the carrier has at least one channel formed therein, and the filling step is carried out by passing or forcing the polymerizable liquid into the build region through the at least one channel. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also described

A method for manufacturing a composite fiber component for a rotor blade of a wind turbine that includes introducing a fiber material into a mold, supplying a flowable matrix material via a longitudinally extending runner of the mold using a vacuum infusion method such that the fiber material is soaked with matrix material from the runner and the matrix material flows transversely to the longitudinal extension of the runner such that a first region of the fiber material is substantially soaked with matrix material from a first section of the runner and a second region of the fiber material is substantially soaked with matrix material from a second region of the runner, and matrix material flow rates are set for the first section and the second section of the runner depending on thicknesses of the fiber material in the first region and the second region of the runner, respectively.

Systems and methods are disclosed herein that generally involve CED devices with various features for reducing or preventing backflow. In some embodiments, CED devices include a tissue-receiving space disposed proximal to a distal fluid outlet. Tissue can be compressed into or pinched/pinned by the tissue-receiving space as the device is inserted into a target region of a patient, thereby forming a seal that reduces or prevents proximal backflow of fluid ejected from the outlet beyond the tissue-receiving space. In some embodiments, CED devices include a bullet-shaped nose proximal to a distal fluid outlet. The bullet-shaped nose forms a good seal with surrounding tissue and helps reduce or prevent backflow of infused fluid.

Devices, systems, and methods for modular molding of wind turbine blades are provided. Methods of molding wind turbine blades using a modular molding assembly or system and methods of substituting molds are provided. In some embodiments, a modular assembly includes a first base frame and a second base frame hingedly coupled to one another, a first tooling frame disposed on the first base frame, a second tooling frame disposed on the second base frame, a first shell mold coupled to the first tooling frame, and a second shell mold coupled to the second tooling frame. The first shell mold has a first mold surface and a first perimeter and the second shell mold has a second mold surface and a second perimeter. When in an open configuration, the first base frame is coplanar with the second base frame, and, in a closed configuration, the first perimeter contacts the second perimeter.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object, is carried out by (a) providing a carrier and a build plate, the build plate comprising a semipermeable member, the semipermeable member comprising a build surface with the build surface and the carrier defining a build region therebetween, and with the build surface in fluid communication by way of the semipermeable member with a source of polymerization inhibitor; (b) filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, the polymerizable liquid contacting the build surface; (c) irradiating the build region through the build plate to produce a solid polymerized region in the build region, while forming or maintaining a liquid film release layer comprised of the polymerizable liquid formed between the solid polymerized region and the build surface, the polymerization of which liquid film is inhibited by the polymerization inhibitor; and (d) advancing the carrier with the polymerized region adhered thereto away from the build surface on the build plate to create a subsequent build region between the polymerized region and the build surface; (e) wherein the carrier has at least one channel formed therein, and the filling step is carried out by passing or forcing the polymerizable liquid into the build region through the at least one channel. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also described.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object, comprises providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid; irradiating the build region through the optically transparent member to form a solid polymer from the polymerizable liquid while concurrently advancing the carrier away from the build surface to form the three-dimensional object from the solid polymer, while also concurrently: (i) continuously maintaining a dead zone of polymerizable liquid in contact with the build surface, and (ii) continuously maintaining a gradient of polymerization zone between the dead zone and the solid polymer and in contact with each thereof, the gradient of polymerization zone comprising the polymerizable liquid in partially cured form. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also described.

A device for producing an edging of a flat extended panel has: a molding tool; a material dispenser which is movable in relation to the molding tool, for dispensing a material for the edging, wherein the molding tool has: a first mold body having a holding region for the panel; a second mold body having a holding region for the panel such that the panel is capable of being held by the first mold body and by the second mold body; a third mold body which with the first mold body shares a common contact region, wherein the first mold body, the second mold body, and the third mold body are configured such that they conjointly with the panel surround a space in which the edging is configurable; an access duct to the space, the former being configured between the second mold body and the third mold body.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object, is carried out by (a) providing a carrier and a build plate, the build plate comprising a semipermeable member, the semipermeable member comprising a build surface with the build surface and the carrier defining a build region therebetween, and with the build surface in fluid communication by way of the semipermeable member with a source of polymerization inhibitor; (b) filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, the polymerizable liquid contacting the build surface, (c) irradiating the build region through the build plate to produce a solid polymerized region in the build region, while forming or maintaining a liquid film release layer comprised of the polymerizable liquid formed between the solid polymerized region and the build surface, wherein the polymerization of which liquid film is inhibited by the polymerization inhibitor; and (d) advancing the carrier with the polymerized region adhered thereto away from the build surface on the build plate to create a subsequent build region between the polymerized region and the build surface while concurrently filling the subsequent build region with polymerizable liquid as in step (b). Apparatus for carrying out the method is also described.

Various examples provide a mold including a molding component and a supplementary component. The molding component may have a cavity, to enable a molten material to fill into the molding component to form an object. The supplementary component may include a bypass having a first opening located at a first position of the molding component and a second opening located at a second position of the molding component. The molten material may flow from the first position to the second position via the molding component, flow from the first opening to the second opening via the bypass and fill into the second position of the molding component through the second opening.