The present disclosure is directed at a method for making an article from a curable material, such as pliable fibre-reinforced polymer. The method includes printing a dissolvable, three dimensional substructure using a substructure material; applying the curable material to the substructure; curing the curable material while it is on the substructure; and dissolving the substructure using a dissolving agent. Using a 3D printer to print the substructure allows for faster and more economical manufacture of composite articles, such as prototype parts, relative to conventional methods that utilize CNC machines.

A mold system and method for forming a casting article for investment casting is disclosed. The mold system includes a mold for receiving therein a selected core chosen from a plurality of varied cores. The mold includes a plurality of separable mold portions that are coupleable together to create the mold and configured to form a sacrificial material from a sacrificial material fluid about the selected core. At least one selected separable mold portion of the plurality of separable mold portions includes a set of varied interchangeable versions of the at least one selected separable mold portion. Each varied interchangeable version of the selected separable mold portion is configured to accommodate a different core of the plurality of varied cores. A number of systems for controlling a temperature of the mold are also disclosed.

Provided are a method with which a spectacle lens molding mold having a minute recess can be made with high accuracy, and the like. A method for producing a molding mold 12 for molding a spectacle lens 1 in which a minute protrusion 6 is formed on at least one surface thereof includes a first molding mold preparation step of preparing a first mold 14 that includes a base material 26 and a coating portion 28, the coating portion being made of a nickel alloy, coating the base material, and having a surface formed into a shape corresponding to the shape of one surface of the spectacle lens; and a cutting step of cutting a recess 28A corresponding to the protrusion into the surface of the coating portion of the first mold.

The present disclosure provides various aspects for mobile and automated processing utilizing additive manufacturing and the methods for their utilization and for making material dispensing element arrays for use of the additive manufacturing device.

A mold assembly for use in manufacturing parts includes a first and second mold halves and a mold temperature control system. The first mold half comprises at least a first mold cavity and a first coolant passage. The second mold half comprising at least a second mold cavity and a second coolant passage. The mold temperature control system is in fluid communication with the first and second coolant passages of the first and second mold half. The mold temperature control system comprises a fluid, a means to control the temperature of the fluid, and a pump to circulate the fluid through the mold temperature control system and the first and second coolant passages.

A method for producing a molding mold for use in the production of a spectacle lens in which a minute protrusion is formed on one surface thereof includes preparing a master mold that has a base material and a coating portion coating the base material and having a surface formed into a shape corresponding to the shape of the one surface of the spectacle lens; cutting a recess corresponding to the protrusion into the surface of the coating portion; producing a transfer mold by performing electroforming on the coating portion in which the recess has been cut, the transfer mold having a surface that is complementary to the surface of the coating portion; and producing a first mold by performing electroforming on the surface of the transfer mold, the first mold having a surface that is complementary to the surface of the transfer mold.

A microwave printing device comprising an inlet for a filament 1 of an electrically conductive material, an outlet for the filament and a microwave heating device 4 for heating the filament 1 by means of microwave radiation. The microwave heating device 4 comprises at least one coaxial resonator. The coaxial resonator is formed by an outer conductor, which forms a cavity 11, and a coaxial inner conductor. The coaxial resonator also comprises a microwave radiation input for coupling in microwave radiation. The filament 1 preferably forms the inner conductor or part of the inner conductor of the resonator. A system for the additive manufacture of moulds, comprising the microwave printing device, and a process for the additive manufacture of moulds with the aid of the microwave printing device.

A method for manufacturing a molding mold used in an injection molding apparatus includes: generating a first plasticized material by plasticizing a first shaping material containing an amorphous metal and a resin; and shaping a laminate that is a part of the molding mold by discharging the first plasticized material toward a stage to laminate a layer.

An additive manufacturing method includes removing material from a sheet to create a plurality of individual layer segments formed, placing at least two first layer segments adjacent to each other at the same height to form a first layer having a hollow interior, the at least two first layer segments defining a first portion of an exterior of a part, and placing at least one second layer segment above the at least two first layer segments to form a second layer having a hollow interior, the at least one second layer segment defining a second portion of the exterior of the part. The method includes attaching the first layer to the second layer and removing material from the first layer and from the second layer to form the part having a continuous surface that extends along the first layer and the second layer.

In one embodiment, a method includes fastening a plurality of components of a composite structure in an assembly fixture, wherein the assembly fixture comprises a plurality of strands of a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material, wherein the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material comprises a thermoplastic embedded with a plurality of reinforcement fibers, wherein the plurality of reinforcement fibers is aligned within each strand of the plurality of strands, and wherein the assembly fixture further comprises an anisotropic thermal expansion property based on an orientation of the plurality of reinforcement fibers within the assembly fixture; and heating the assembly fixture in an autoclave to bond the plurality of components of the composite structure.