A method of forming an article including: contacting a fugitive tool with a powdered parent material; densifying the powdered material; and destructively removing the fugitive tool. A coating of a different material may be formed against the parent material using a similar approach.

An additive manufacturing device (AMD) for manufacturing objects through deposition of superposed layers of material in a granulate or powder form, the AMD comprising: a hydraulic cylinder; a mold for sealable attachment to the hydraulic cylinder; a material deposition station having an outlet for depositing the material in the mold layer-by-layer; a heating element; and a compressor. Between the deposition of one or more layers of material in the mold, the mold and the hydraulic cylinder are sealably attached to form a pressure container, the compressor injects gas in the container to increase a pressure within the pressure container and the heating element provides heat within the pressure container to further increase the pressure and to perform sintering or high-temperature synthesis of the material while submitting the material to the pressure.

An additive manufacturing device (AMD) for manufacturing objects through deposition of superposed layers of material in a granulate or powder form, the AMD comprising: a hydraulic cylinder; a mold for sealable attachment to the hydraulic cylinder; a material deposition station having an outlet for depositing the material in the mold layer-by-layer; a heating element; and a compressor. Between the deposition of one or more layers of material in the mold, the mold and the hydraulic cylinder are sealably attached to form a pressure container, the compressor injects gas in the container to increase a pressure within the pressure container and the heating element provides heat within the pressure container to further increase the pressure and to perform sintering or high-temperature synthesis of the material while submitting the material to the pressure.

The invention relates to a plane plate 1 for a pressing tool 2 of a press 3; wherein the plane plate 1 for activating a punch 6 of the press 3 by way of at least one lifting cylinder 4 can be displaced along an axial direction 5; wherein the plane plate 1 has an upper side 39 that points in a first axial direction 38 and a lower side 41 that points in a second axial direction 40 counter to the first axial direction 38, a link 34 to the at least one lifting cylinder 4, a centrally disposed receptacle 9 for contacting the punch 6 or a punch holder of the press 3, as well as at least a first at least partially cylindrical guiding face 7 which for contacting a first guide column 8 is parallel with the axial direction 5, and a second at least partially cylindrical guiding face 31 which for contacting a second guide column 37 is parallel with the axial direction 5; wherein on the lower side 41 of the plane plate 1 the first guiding face 7 has a first lower end 28 and the second guiding face 31 has a second lower end 32, wherein the first lower end 28 and the second lower end 3 in relation to the axial direction 5 are disposed at mutually dissimilar heights 29 and thus are disposed so as to be mutually spaced apart in the axial direction 5.

A method of and apparatus for sinter forging a precursor powder to form a film may reduce or eliminate the stress in the film and may facilitate processing of continuous length of films such as ceramic films for use in batteries. The precursor powder can be provided on a substrate and is simultaneously heated and pressed in a pressing direction parallel to a thickness of the film so as to sinter and densify the precursor powder to form the film in a sinter forging area. Notably, in a plane perpendicular to the pressing direction, there are no lateral constraints on the sinter forging area or the material received therein.

A method of and apparatus for sinter forging a precursor powder to form a film may reduce or eliminate the stress in the film and may facilitate processing of continuous length of films such as ceramic films for use in batteries. The precursor powder can be provided on a substrate and is simultaneously heated and pressed in a pressing direction parallel to a thickness of the film so as to sinter and densify the precursor powder to form the film in a sinter forging area. Notably, in a plane perpendicular to the pressing direction, there are no lateral constraints on the sinter forging area or the material received therein.

The disclosure provides a mold for a downhole tool or component thereof. The mold includes a grain material, a sodium silicate and carbon dioxide reaction product, and between 0.1% and 10% graphite by weight, inclusive, graphite. The disclosure further provides a method of forming a mold for a downhole tool or component thereof by filling a mold housing with graphite/sodium silicate/grain material mixture including between 0.1% and 10% graphite by weight, inclusive and shaping the mixture into a pre-mold having the same shape as the mold to be formed, and subjecting the pre-mold to an atmosphere having elevated amounts of carbon dioxide as compared to ambient air for a time sufficient to allow the sodium silicate to react with the carbon dioxide to form sufficient reaction products to bind the other pre-mold components and solidify a mold.

The disclosure provides a mold for a downhole tool or component thereof. The mold includes a grain material, a sodium silicate and carbon dioxide reaction product, and between 0.1% and 10% graphite by weight, inclusive, graphite. The disclosure further provides a method of forming a mold for a downhole tool or component thereof by filling a mold housing with graphite/sodium silicate/grain material mixture including between 0.1% and 10% graphite by weight, inclusive and shaping the mixture into a pre-mold having the same shape as the mold to be formed, and subjecting the pre-mold to an atmosphere having elevated amounts of carbon dioxide as compared to ambient air for a time sufficient to allow the sodium silicate to react with the carbon dioxide to form sufficient reaction products to bind the other pre-mold components and solidify a mold.

Provided is a sizing apparatus including: a die set including a die plate that holds a die provided with a through hole to which a workpiece is to be supplied, and upper and lower punches that are to be inserted into the through hole to press the workpiece; a press main body that includes punch driving mechanisms that actuate the punches and in which the die set is configured to be attached to and detached from a predetermined position; and a turntable that is rotated on the die plate and supplies a workpiece to the die and discharges a workpiece from the die. The die set includes the turntable, and a supporting base on which the turntable is placed. The supporting base includes an axis positioning portion that is provided coaxially with a central axis of the turntable and positions the central axis at a predetermined position of the supporting base.

Provided is a sizing apparatus including: a die set including a die plate that holds a die provided with a through hole to which a workpiece is to be supplied, and upper and lower punches that are to be inserted into the through hole to press the workpiece; a press main body that includes punch driving mechanisms that actuate the punches and in which the die set is configured to be attached to and detached from a predetermined position; and a turntable that is rotated on the die plate and supplies a workpiece to the die and discharges a workpiece from the die. The die set includes the turntable, and a supporting base on which the turntable is placed. The supporting base includes an axis positioning portion that is provided coaxially with a central axis of the turntable and positions the central axis at a predetermined position of the supporting base.