The invention relates to a press for producing a component from a fibre-composite material, which is designed as a membrane press, comprising a press frame (15), a press lower part (3) on which a mould (4) is arranged, a press upper part (5) having a pressure chamber (6) that can be sealed against the press lower part (3), one or more press cylinders (9) which are supported on the press frame and act on the press upper part (5) and/or the press lower part (3), a membrane (11) that can be tensioned over the mould (4), a vacuum pump (12) with which a vacuum can be generated on a side of the membrane (11), for example on the underside, characterised in that the press frame is designed as a C-frame with an upper horizontal C-arm, a lower horizontal C-frame and a vertical C-base.

A composite manufacturing system and method are provided. The composite manufacturing system comprises a press and a bladder. The press has an upper portion having a desired shape for a composite structure and a lower portion configured to receive layers of composite material. The bladder is associated with the upper portion of the press and is configured to reach a superplastic state when heated such that the bladder forms to the composite structure by applying heat and pressure to the layers of composite material. The bladder cools without appreciable shrinkage, applying a desired amount of pressure to the composite structure during the entire cooling cycle. Once one composite structure is formed using the bladder, the bladder may be reused to form similar structures.

A method for fusing thermoplastic composite structures includes placing a substructure on an inner surface of a skin that is laid up on a shaping surface of a tool configured to maintain the shape of an outer mold line. The method further includes applying at least one insulation layer over a flange of the substructure and over exposed portions of the inner surface of the skin not in contact with the substructure, and applying a vacuum bag to at least partly enclose the skin and the substructure. The method yet still further includes applying heat to the shaping surface to fuse the substructure to the skin such that the skin exceeds its melting point and at least a portion of a raised segment of the substructure does not exceed its melting point.

A method for fusing thermoplastic composite structures includes placing a substructure on an inner surface of a skin that is laid up on a shaping surface of a tool configured to maintain the shape of an outer mold line. The method further includes applying at least one insulation layer over a flange of the substructure and over exposed portions of the inner surface of the skin not in contact with the substructure, and applying a vacuum bag to at least partly enclose the skin and the substructure. The method yet still further includes applying heat to the shaping surface to fuse the substructure to the skin such that the skin exceeds its melting point and at least a portion of a raised segment of the substructure does not exceed its melting point.

A 3D processing device configured to attach a decorative film on a surface of a 3D glass, the 3D processing device includes a decorative film pre-deformation unit and a attachment unit. The decorative film pre-deformation unit includes an upper mould and a lower mould opposite to the upper mould, wherein the upper mould engages the lower mould to press the decorative film and cause the decorative film to have a shape matching a surface of the 3D glass. The attachment unit defines a sealing chamber, and includes a mould and a gas bag within the sealing chamber, wherein the mould is configured to support the 3D glass. The present disclosure further provides a method thereof.

A laminating device and a method for producing a laminate. The laminating device has at least one membrane element. The laminating device has at least one force distributing element, wherein a laminating force which can be transmitted onto a lamination object by the membrane element can be distributed onto at least one sub region of a membrane-side surface of the lamination object via the at least one force distributing element. The at least one force distributing element is held on the laminating device.

A first tooling die and a second tooling die are movable with respect to each other. The first tooling die and the second tooling die form a die cavity. The first tooling die and the second tooling die comprise a plurality of stacked metal sheets. A plurality of air gaps is defined between adjacent stacked metal sheets. A first smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and connected to the first tooling die. The first smart susceptor material has a first Curie temperature. A second smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and associated with the second tooling die. The second smart susceptor material has a second Curie temperature lower than the first Curie temperature. A flexible membrane is between the second tooling die and the first smart susceptor material. The flexible membrane is configured to receive pressure.

A first tooling die and a second tooling die are movable with respect to each other. The first tooling die and the second tooling die form a die cavity. The first tooling die and the second tooling die comprise a plurality of stacked metal sheets. A plurality of air gaps is defined between adjacent stacked metal sheets. A first smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and connected to the first tooling die. The first smart susceptor material has a first Curie temperature. A second smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and associated with the second tooling die. The second smart susceptor material has a second Curie temperature lower than the first Curie temperature. A flexible membrane is between the second tooling die and the first smart susceptor material. The flexible membrane is configured to receive pressure.

A bonding device includes a flexible platen disposed between an upper platen assembly (9) and a transmission device and within a vacuum chamber (6). The flexible platen can expand to apply a downward pressure to the upper platen assembly (9) connected thereto. Under the effect of the pressure, the upper platen assembly (9) slowly moves downward until the upper platen assembly (9) itself and a lower platen assembly (7) respectively come into tight contact with objects to be bonded. After that, the flexible platen continues exerting the downward pressure on the upper platen assembly (9). In this way, the pressure applied by the upper platen assembly (9) to the objects to be bonded is uniform. Meanwhile, because of slow expansion of the flexible platen, the uniform pressure is applied slowly by the upper platen assembly (9).

A bonding device includes a flexible platen disposed between an upper platen assembly (9) and a transmission device and within a vacuum chamber (6). The flexible platen can expand to apply a downward pressure to the upper platen assembly (9) connected thereto. Under the effect of the pressure, the upper platen assembly (9) slowly moves downward until the upper platen assembly (9) itself and a lower platen assembly (7) respectively come into tight contact with objects to be bonded. After that, the flexible platen continues exerting the downward pressure on the upper platen assembly (9). In this way, the pressure applied by the upper platen assembly (9) to the objects to be bonded is uniform. Meanwhile, because of slow expansion of the flexible platen, the uniform pressure is applied slowly by the upper platen assembly (9).