A method of automatically advancing a polymer cut-board, such as cellular polyvinyl chloride, through a stationary, non-spinning sealing element having a rounded or cylindrical surface that contacts and compresses a cut edge of the board to provide a sealed skin surface to the cut edge.

A system for peen-forming of thermoplastic composite material is provided. The system includes a tool, a heater, and a peen-forming device. The thermoplastic composite material is positioned on the tool, which supports the thermoplastic composite material as it is being process. The tool has a surface to which a portion of the thermoplastic composite material is intended to conform. The heater is configured to heat the thermoplastic composite material while it is positioned on the tool to make the thermoplastic composite material more malleable. The peen-forming device directs particles against the thermoplastic composite material positioned on the tool so that the portion of the thermoplastic composite material conforms to the surface of the tool.

A polymer board with a cut edge is automatically advanced through a stationary, non-spinning sealing element that contacts and compresses the cut edge and provides a sealed and smooth surface to the cut edge.

A method of forming a composite article. One step involves applying adhesive on surfaces of a plurality of sublaminate units, each ply of each sublaminate unit comprising fibers impregnated with resin which has been initially cured to 30% to 50% of full cure. The initially cured sublaminate units are then arranged in a stack, which stack is pressed against a surface of a forming tool. While pressure is being applied, the stack is heated to an intermediate temperature above a glass transition temperature of the resin for a time interval sufficient to intermediately cure the resin to 50% to 70% of full cure to form a composite laminate having a contour defined by the surface of the forming tool. Then the resin is finally cured at a final temperature higher than the intermediate temperature.

A support for supporting a workpiece from below efficiently while reducing the amount of necessary materials, and a shaping method for shaping the workpiece and support efficiently includes a hollow state support for supporting a workpiece from below, and the hollow state support has a lattice form with crossing of straight linear or curved columnar bodies, wherein a sintered strength at a connecting region with the workpiece is lower than the sintered strength at the other regions.

A method of forming a cored composite laminate, the method including forming a first recess in a first coupling surface of a first layer of the cored composite laminate, forming a second recess in a second coupling surface of a second layer of the cored composite laminate so that when the first layer of the cored composite laminate and the second layer of the cored composite laminate are coupled, the first recess and the second recess form a cavity through the cored composite laminate, and disposing a shape memory alloy member in the cavity, so that the shape memory alloy member supports the cored composite laminate during curing of the cored composite laminate.

Multi-layered assembly including at least: a decorative layer including a first decorative material and a second decorative material, wherein the first and second decorative materials lie in a or one plane and have the same thickness within the decorative layer; a first carrying layer for a glue layer, wherein the first carrying layer includes a plastic which is present in a woven or in a nonwoven; wherein the glue layer bonds the decorative layer to the first carrying layer.

A method for producing a composite glass pane, includes placing a first glass pane having a thickness less than or equal to 1 mm on a support mould, wherein the first glass pane is curved into a shape determined by the support mould; placing at least one thermoplastic film on the first glass pane; placing a curved second glass pane having a thickness greater than or equal to 1.5 mm on the thermoplastic film; and joining the first glass pane to the second glass pane via the thermoplastic film to form a composite glass pane by lamination.

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.

The present invention is directed towards a window sill flashing comprising a base having a substantially rectangular shape. A front flange projects perpendicularly downward from a front edge of the base and at least one side flange extends vertically from a side edge of the base. The side flange includes a front surface. The window sill flashing is made from a rigid homopolymer vinyl film.