Provided is a resin sheet for thermoforming, the resin sheet containing a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) resin. A difference between a melting point peak temperature and a melting point peak end temperature in differential scanning calorimetry analysis of the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) resin is 10° C. or more. The sheet has a thickness of 0.15 to 1 mm. The melt viscosity of the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) resin at 160° C. is preferably 10000 poise or more.

Provided is a resin sheet for thermoforming, the resin sheet containing a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) resin. A difference between a melting point peak temperature and a melting point peak end temperature in differential scanning calorimetry analysis of the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) resin is 10° C. or more. The sheet has a thickness of 0.15 to 1 mm. The melt viscosity of the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) resin at 160° C. is preferably 10000 poise or more.

Respiratory masks made of thermoformed EVA foam are provided. A mask can include a seal that contacts a user's face in use and a housing permanently joined to the seal. Both the seal and housing can be made of EVA foam. The seal and housing can be made of EVA foam having different densities. The mask can further include a frame removably or permanently coupled the housing. Headgear can be coupled to the frame and can couple the mask to the user's face in use.

A flat laminate element made of thermoplastic is hot-formed in a two-stage method. In a first stage, the flat laminate which includes film(s) and/or panels(n) is placed on a flat frame-shaped pallet and is heated to a forming temperature in a heating zone between two flat heat screens in a contactless manner. The edge zone of the hot flat laminate element lies on the pallet such that the laminate piece cannot be clamped in a first laminate direction but rather can be slide on the pallet in this direction. Two non-flat rigid contours which are identical or largely identical act on two opposing parallel laminate edge sections uniaxially and perpendicularly to the laminate plane and only in the first laminate direction, i.e. monodirectionally, and shape the entire heated laminate element into a monodirectionally molded blank.

A flat laminate element made of thermoplastic is hot-formed in a two-stage method. In a first stage, the flat laminate which includes film(s) and/or panels(n) is placed on a flat frame-shaped pallet and is heated to a forming temperature in a heating zone between two flat heat screens in a contactless manner. The edge zone of the hot flat laminate element lies on the pallet such that the laminate piece cannot be clamped in a first laminate direction but rather can be slide on the pallet in this direction. Two non-flat rigid contours which are identical or largely identical act on two opposing parallel laminate edge sections uniaxially and perpendicularly to the laminate plane and only in the first laminate direction, i.e. monodirectionally, and shape the entire heated laminate element into a monodirectionally molded blank.

A manufacturing system comprises a holder, a robot arm, a press and a laser. The holder is configured to receive a feature of a dental appliance and to hold the dental appliance by clamping the feature of the dental appliance, wherein the holder holds the feature of the dental appliance at a reference position. The robot arm is configured to retrieve an object and to place the object against the feature at the reference position. The press is configured to apply pressure to press the object against the feature of the dental appliance while the dental appliance is held by the holder. The laser is configured to expose an interface of the dental appliance and the object to coherent light to weld the object to the feature of the dental appliance while the press presses the object against the feature of the dental appliance.

A manufacturing system comprises a holder, a robot arm, a press and a laser. The holder is configured to receive a feature of a dental appliance and to hold the dental appliance by clamping the feature of the dental appliance, wherein the holder holds the feature of the dental appliance at a reference position. The robot arm is configured to retrieve an object and to place the object against the feature at the reference position. The press is configured to apply pressure to press the object against the feature of the dental appliance while the dental appliance is held by the holder. The laser is configured to expose an interface of the dental appliance and the object to coherent light to weld the object to the feature of the dental appliance while the press presses the object against the feature of the dental appliance.

Impact protection plate for a vehicle comprising at least an impact layer with an outer surface for receiving the impact comprising at least one fiber reinforced thermoplastic polymer layer, and whereby the impact protection plate further comprises a spacer layer comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer layer, formed in a 3-dimensional shape with one or more protrusions, and whereby the impact layer and spacer layer are at least over part of their surface materially connected to each other forming one or more cavities between the impact layer and the spacer layer.

Impact protection plate for a vehicle comprising at least an impact layer with an outer surface for receiving the impact comprising at least one fiber reinforced thermoplastic polymer layer, and whereby the impact protection plate further comprises a spacer layer comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer layer, formed in a 3-dimensional shape with one or more protrusions, and whereby the impact layer and spacer layer are at least over part of their surface materially connected to each other forming one or more cavities between the impact layer and the spacer layer.

A method for forming a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic control surface may comprise: stacking plies of thermoplastic composite sheets to a first desired thickness to form a first skin; stacking plies of thermoplastic composite sheets to a second desired thickness to form a second skin; forming the first skin in a first contour; forming the second skin in a second contour; forming a stiffening member including a thermoplastic resin, the stiffening member including a shape having a plurality of peaks and troughs; assembling the stiffening member between the first skin and the second skin; and joining the stiffening member to the first skin and the second skin.