A method of anchoring a first object in a second object is described. The first object extends along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end and has a circumferential surface. The circumferential surface comprises at least one helical protrusion of a thermoplastic material. For anchoring, the first object is brought in contact with the second object, and mechanical vibration is coupled into the first object from a proximally facing coupling-in face thereof so as to drive the first object into the second object in a manner that the vibration and pressing cause the first object to be subject to a helical movement relative to the second object and cause thermoplastic material of the first object to become flowable and to penetrate into structures of the second object to yield, after resolidification, a positive fit connection with the second object.

A system and method for welding two thermoplastic workpieces. The system has an ultrasonic tool, a support and a cooling unit. The ultrasonic tool is configured to generate mechanical vibrations. The system is configured to clamp together workpieces in the receiving region by the ultrasonic tool and the support if at least one fastening portion of the workpieces opposite one another is arranged in the receiving region. The ultrasonic tool is configured to introduce the mechanical vibrations into the fastening portion of the workpieces to weld the workpieces in a joining zone. The cooling unit is configured to cool, with cooling fluid, at least a part of the fastening portion of the workpieces and/or a cooling portion of the workpieces directly adjacent to the fastening portion.

A system and method for welding two thermoplastic workpieces. The system has an ultrasonic tool, a support and a cooling unit. The ultrasonic tool is configured to generate mechanical vibrations. The system is configured to clamp together workpieces in the receiving region by the ultrasonic tool and the support if at least one fastening portion of the workpieces opposite one another is arranged in the receiving region. The ultrasonic tool is configured to introduce the mechanical vibrations into the fastening portion of the workpieces to weld the workpieces in a joining zone. The cooling unit is configured to cool, with cooling fluid, at least a part of the fastening portion of the workpieces and/or a cooling portion of the workpieces directly adjacent to the fastening portion.

A net-shape ballistic panel is formed by a process of arranging a fiber bundle on a substrate to form a layer, the layer following a shape of the ballistic panel, securing the fiber bundle to the substrate with a plurality of stitches to form a preform layer, arranging additional layers of fiber bundles on the preform layer, each layer of the additional layers following the shape of the ballistic panel, and each fiber bundle being secured with a plurality of stitches to each layer of the additional layers to form a plurality of preform layers. A resin is then impregnated into the preform layers and subsequently cured using a process such as compression molding. The resulting ballistic panel is relatively thin while exhibiting an excellent ballistic rating (e.g., V50).

A screw rotor is made out of polymer. The screw rotor includes a shaft with a rotor body on it. The polymer of the shaft is reinforced with fibers. The shaft features elements that engage the rotor body or corresponding elements on the rotor body, such that the elements prevent an axial and/or rotational movement of the shaft with respect to the rotor body.

The present invention provides a system and method for preparing armor made of para-aramid fibers, including a plurality of rollers feeding an input source of the para-aramid fibers, the fibers being at a first temperature. The system and method include a heating mechanism encapsulating at least a portion of the plurality of rollers, the heating mechanism heating the para-aramid fibers fed by the rollers from the first temperature to a second temperature. The method and system include a press, including a plurality of plates, whereupon the para-aramid fibers reaching the second temperature, the para-aramid fibers are fed into and compressed between the plurality of plates by the press, and heated to a third temperature. The method and system include a cooling section supporting the plurality of plates and the para-aramid fibers compressed therein while the para-aramid fibers cool from the third temperature to a fourth temperature.

A system for manufacturing a rotor blade comprises a first tooling, positioned at a factory location and configured to assemble a first blade module, comprising a first-module skin and a first-module spar, each comprising a first thermoplastic polymer and a first reinforcement material. The system also comprises a second tooling, configured to assemble a second blade module, comprising a second-module skin and a second-module spar, each comprising a second thermoplastic polymer and a second reinforcement material. The system further comprises a first support, positioned at a field location and configured to receive the first blade module, and a second support, positioned at the field location and configured to receive the second blade module. The system also comprises a spar welding assembly, positioned at the field location and configured to join the first-module spar with the second-module spar.

A system for manufacturing a rotor blade comprises a first tooling, positioned at a factory location and configured to assemble a first blade module, comprising a first-module skin and a first-module spar, each comprising a first thermoplastic polymer and a first reinforcement material. The system also comprises a second tooling, configured to assemble a second blade module, comprising a second-module skin and a second-module spar, each comprising a second thermoplastic polymer and a second reinforcement material. The system further comprises a first support, positioned at a field location and configured to receive the first blade module, and a second support, positioned at the field location and configured to receive the second blade module. The system also comprises a spar welding assembly, positioned at the field location and configured to join the first-module spar with the second-module spar.

A metal-resin joining method of joining a metal member to a composite material member including a fiber reinforced plastic composite material includes an applying step of applying a first adhesive that is a thermosetting adhesive to a first region between the metal member and the composite material member, and applying a second adhesive that is a thermosetting adhesive to a second region between the metal member and the composite material member, a provisional bonding step of irradiating a first irradiation region of the metal member opposed to the first region with a laser light, and heating and curing the first adhesive to provisionally bond the metal member and the composite material member together, and a main bonding step of curing the second adhesive after the provisional bonding step to bond the metal member and the composite material member together.

A metal-resin joining method of joining a metal member to a composite material member including a fiber reinforced plastic composite material includes an applying step of applying a first adhesive that is a thermosetting adhesive to a first region between the metal member and the composite material member, and applying a second adhesive that is a thermosetting adhesive to a second region between the metal member and the composite material member, a provisional bonding step of irradiating a first irradiation region of the metal member opposed to the first region with a laser light, and heating and curing the first adhesive to provisionally bond the metal member and the composite material member together, and a main bonding step of curing the second adhesive after the provisional bonding step to bond the metal member and the composite material member together.