A variety of polymeric composites with tunable mechanical stiffness and electrical conductivity are claimed herein. For example, the composite may have an elastomeric matrix, a plurality of tunable particles, and a plurality of conductive fibers embedded in the matrix. The composites may also be a tunable foam matrix and an elastomeric matrix. In some embodiments, the composites are a low melting point alloy (LMPA) foam infiltrated by an elastomer, whose stiffness can be tuned by more than two orders of magnitude through external heating. In other embodiments, the composite may be a conductive particle-fiber-matrix three-component composite capable of changing its elastic rigidity rapidly and reversibly when powered with electrical current.

A variety of polymeric composites with tunable mechanical stiffness and electrical conductivity are claimed herein. For example, the composite may have an elastomeric matrix, a plurality of tunable particles, and a plurality of conductive fibers embedded in the matrix. The composites may also be a tunable foam matrix and an elastomeric matrix. In some embodiments, the composites are a low melting point alloy (LMPA) foam infiltrated by an elastomer, whose stiffness can be tuned by more than two orders of magnitude through external heating. In other embodiments, the composite may be a conductive particle-fiber-matrix three-component composite capable of changing its elastic rigidity rapidly and reversibly when powered with electrical current.

A manufacturing method contemplates performing vacuum-assisted resin infusion to enclose an elongated core within a cured composite laminate without employing a mold. Not relying upon an external mold enables the process to be efficiently performed for core shapes that are manufactured in low volumes. Typical resin infusion processes utilize flow media that induces bag bridging during vacuum draw in order to provide gaps facilitating resin flow. However, popular flow media also tends to impart directional aggregate forces during vacuum draw, which forces can deform the core since no mold is being used. To avoid unequal and non-dispersed directional forces from deforming the elongated core, a flow media is employed that is configured to disperse and/or reduce such forces. Some such flow media may be knitted so as to allow overlapping strands to slide over one another. Other flow media may ensure that strands are interleaved so that no one strand or group of strands is disposed outwardly of other strands along a substantial length of the strands, thus dispersing bag bridging forces in several directions and avoiding directional aggregate forces. However, such flow media may have inhibited resin flow relative to popular high-flow flow media, and thus new strategies have been developed to ensure appropriate wetting of fibrous reinforcement. An adjustable brace can also be employed to restrain the elongated core from deflecting during application of vacuum and/or resin infusion.

A manufacturing system including catalog database for retaining a plurality of three-dimensional content for use to at least one of create a produced object and repair an existing object with at least one additive manufacturing process, one or more user interfaces to access the catalog database at least one of simultaneously and at different times, a communication infrastructure to provide for real-time communication between the catalog database and the one or more user interfaces, and a manufacturing system comprising at least one user interface to apply the at least one additive manufacturing process to at least one of create the produced object and to repair the existing object. Methods are also disclosed.

A manufacturing system including catalog database for retaining a plurality of three-dimensional content for use to at least one of create a produced object and repair an existing object with at least one additive manufacturing process, one or more user interfaces to access the catalog database at least one of simultaneously and at different times, a communication infrastructure to provide for real-time communication between the catalog database and the one or more user interfaces, and a manufacturing system comprising at least one user interface to apply the at least one additive manufacturing process to at least one of create the produced object and to repair the existing object. Methods are also disclosed.

A resin part for a vehicle includes a fender main body formed of a fiber-reinforced resin using a resin fiber, and a fastening section formed of the same resin material as the resin fiber, formed integrally with the fender main body and fastened to the vehicle body.

A resin part for a vehicle includes a fender main body formed of a fiber-reinforced resin using a resin fiber, and a fastening section formed of the same resin material as the resin fiber, formed integrally with the fender main body and fastened to the vehicle body.

Provided are: a method for manufacturing a molded article having high compressive strength and excellent appearance by compressing a shaped article obtained using a 3D printer, and a material containing another resin; and a manufacturing device for the same. The method for manufacturing a molded article includes: shaping a filament containing a resin and continuous reinforcing fibers using a 3D printer; and manufacturing a molded article by compressing a second material containing resin against a shaped article formed by the shaping, wherein the shaped article has a void ratio of from 5 to 30%.

A microfluidic package may include a fluid passage, a substrate having a substrate surface adjacent an interior of the fluid passage and components inset in the substrate, the components having component surfaces adjacent the fluid passage and substantially flush with the substrate surface.

A microfluidic package may include a fluid passage, a substrate having a substrate surface adjacent an interior of the fluid passage and components inset in the substrate, the components having component surfaces adjacent the fluid passage and substantially flush with the substrate surface.