A device and a method are provided for setting a press-in element into a workpiece at a predetermined location. The device includes main body; a fixing unit, which is attached to the main body and which is designed to fix the workpiece; and a processing unit, which is attached to the main body and includes: a boring unit, which is designed to create a bore in the workpiece fixed by the fixing unit; and a pressing unit, which is designed to press a press-in element into the bore. The method fixes the workpiece; creates a bore in the workpiece; positions a press-in element over the bore; and presses the press-in element into the bore, wherein a single device is used to carry out the method.

A method of manufacturing a fastening portion of an anisogrid composite structure includes winding the fibers to form multiple rib parts of the fastening portion configured by winding fibers on a mold, cutting a prepreg into a shape corresponding to a shape of an opening defined by the multiple ribs, inserting the cut prepreg into the corresponding opening, covering the fastening portion with a release film, and winding a compression film on the release film to apply pressure to the fastening portion.

A method of bonding a second object to a first object includes: providing the first object having a thermoplastic liquefiable material in a solid state; providing the second object having a surface portion that has a coupling structure with an undercut, so that the second object is capable of making a positive-fit connection with the first object; pressing the second object against the first object with a tool that is in physical contact with a coupling-in structure of the second object while mechanical vibrations are coupled into the tool; continuing to press and couple vibrations into the tool until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material of the first object is liquefied and flows into the coupling structures of the second object; and letting the thermoplastic material re-solidify to yield a positive-fit connection between the first and second objects by the re-solidified flow portion interpenetrating the coupling structures.

According to some aspects, a method is provided of removing debris from a liquid photopolymer in an additive fabrication device. According to some embodiments, a mesh of solid material may be formed in an additive fabrication device from a liquid photopolymer, and particles of debris present in the liquid photopolymer may adhere to the mesh. The debris may thereby be removed from the liquid photopolymer by removing the mesh from the additive fabrication device. The mesh may then be discarded.

The invention relates to a dowel for arranging in lightweight building boards, wherein a lightweight building board has a first cover layer and a second cover layer made of compact, pressure-resistant material and, arranged between the cover layers, a core layer made of material having a lower density than the cover layers, comprising a first dowel part and a second dowel part, wherein the first and the second dowel part are designed to be displaceable relative to one another, in which dowel the first dowel part and the second dowel part each have at least two fingers which extend parallel to a longitudinal direction of the dowel, wherein, in the plugged-together state of the first and second dowel part, the fingers of the first dowel part and the fingers of the second dowel part inter-engage at least in certain portions.

A method is provided for plastic forming of a ball which forms a connecting element or part of a connecting element intended for connecting at least two components. At least some of the energy required for the plastic forming of the ball is introduced into the ball by way of ultrasound.

A method of mechanically securing a first object including a thermoplastic material in a solid state to a second object with a generally flat sheet portion, with a perforation of the sheet portion, and with the sheet portion having an edge along the perforation is provided, wherein the first object is positioned relative to the second object so that the edge is in contact with the thermoplastic material and wherein mechanical vibration energy is coupled into the assembly including the first and second objects until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material due to friction heat generated between the edge and the thermoplastic material becomes flowable and flows around the edge to at least partially embed the edge in the thermoplastic material. After the mechanical vibration stops, the thermoplastic material is caused to re-solidify, whereby the re-solidified thermoplastic material at least partially embedding the edge anchors the first object in the second object.

A method and apparatus for forming a part having a cavity with a complex contour is presented. The molding apparatus comprises a mold cavity and a molding insert. The mold cavity is formed by a first mold portion and a second mold portion. The molding insert is within the mold cavity, wherein the molding insert has a forming surface, and wherein the molding insert is configured to move in more than one direction relative to the first mold portion.

A diffuser assembly includes a flexible diffuser membrane and a diffuser body. The flexible diffuser membrane defines a circumferential bead. The diffuser body defines a circular plate underlying the flexible diffuser membrane, and an edge ring covering a covered portion of the circumferential bead. The edge ring defines an inside surface that conforms to an outside shape of the covered portion of the circumferential bead. The edge ring is integral to the diffuser body. Such a diffuser assembly may provide a disposable diffuser assembly option with many advantages over conventional technologies such as improved ease of installation, lower weight, and lower cost.

An apparatus and method for creating openings in a material that solidifies is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a rigid board and at least one rigid retainer plate. The rigid retainer plate comprises at least one buoyancy plate to resist the buoyant force of the material that solidifies, at least one hydrostatic plate to resist the hydrostatic force of the material that solidifies, and a retainer tie. The rigid board further comprises retainer plate slots configured to accept the retainer plates. When the apparatus is in use, the retainer plates are inserted into the retainer plate slots and the retainer ties are coupled to formwork panels. The material that solidifies is then poured into the gap between the formwork panels. Once the material is solidified, the formwork panels are removed and the apparatus can be either reused or thrown out. The apparatus may be used with any material that solidifies.