A method is shown for manufacturing a hardened gripping element for a sealing and restraint system used for forming a pipe joint in a fluid pipeline. Instead of machining the gripping elements used in the system from a metal stock, a special series of metal injection molding steps are utilized. A metal polymer composite mix is first formed having a metal particulate phase and a polymer phase. A green metal composite article is formed by either extruding the composite mix or molding the composite mix into a metal polymer composite article having at least one gripping surface having a plurality of gripping teeth. The composite article is subjected to thermal debinding and sintering to produce a finished or near finished hardened gripping element.

A monolithic substrate including a silica material fused to bulk copper is provided for coupling with electronic components, along with methods for making the same. The method includes arranging a base mixture in a die mold. The base mixture includes a bottom portion with copper micron powder and an upper portion with copper nanoparticles. The method includes arranging a secondary mixture on the upper portion of the base mixture. The secondary mixture includes a bottom portion with silica-coated copper nanoparticles and an upper portion with silica nanoparticles. The method includes heating and compressing the base mixture and the secondary mixture in the die mold at a temperature, pressure, and time sufficient to sinter and fuse the base mixture with the secondary mixture to form a monolithic substrate. The resulting monolithic substrate defines a first major surface providing thermal conductivity, and a second major surface providing an electrically resistive surface.

A drilling tool includes a drive assembly with a shank that is configured to couple to a power tool and a step drill bit. The step drill bit includes a body having a proximal end adjacent the shank, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and a bit axis extending centrally through the body between the proximal end and the distal end. The body is defined by a wall extending around the bit axis to define a hollow interior cavity of the body. The step drill bit also includes a plurality of axially stacked, progressively sized steps with a first step at the proximal end and a terminal step at the distal end and a flute extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The flute defines a cutting edge.

A drilling tool includes a drive assembly with a shank that is configured to couple to a power tool and a step drill bit. The step drill bit includes a body having a proximal end adjacent the shank, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and a bit axis extending centrally through the body between the proximal end and the distal end. The body is defined by a wall extending around the bit axis to define a hollow interior cavity of the body. The step drill bit also includes a plurality of axially stacked, progressively sized steps with a first step at the proximal end and a terminal step at the distal end and a flute extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The flute defines a cutting edge.

A three-dimensional object manufacturing method includes a molding step of molding a first three-dimensional object, a second three-dimensional object and a first support part for coupling the first and second three-dimensional objects at mutually different positions on a base plate by an additive manufacturing, and a separation step of separating the first three-dimensional object, the second three-dimensional object, the first support part and the base plate from each other. In the separation step, the first and second three-dimensional objects are separated from each other by dividing the first support part after at least one of the first and second three-dimensional objects is separated from the base plate.

A method of fabricating a near net shape component includes forming a sacrificial shell from a pulverant material using an additive manufacturing process, the shell having an aperture. The method further includes filling the shell with a second pulverant material, subjecting the filled shell to a consolidation process, and removing the shell from the consolidated second pulverant material.

A fine blanking device and method for forming a friction plate with friction material layers. The fine blanking device includes an upper die, a lower die, a guide mechanism, a punch and a counter punch. Upper and lower blank holders are respectively provided at outer circumferences of the punch and the counter punch. The upper and lower blank holders are respectively provided with a buffer mechanism. Friction material powders are sintered on both sides of the base sheet. The friction material layers are trimmed and planished by hot pressing. The base sheet with the friction material layers is fixed by the upper blank holder and the lower blank holder. A tooth profile with an absolute shear fractural surface is formed. The fixing indentation of the V-shaped structure of the friction material layers is cut off for obtaining a finished friction plate product with the friction material layers.

A fine blanking device and method for forming a friction plate with friction material layers. The fine blanking device includes an upper die, a lower die, a guide mechanism, a punch and a counter punch. Upper and lower blank holders are respectively provided at outer circumferences of the punch and the counter punch. The upper and lower blank holders are respectively provided with a buffer mechanism. Friction material powders are sintered on both sides of the base sheet. The friction material layers are trimmed and planished by hot pressing. The base sheet with the friction material layers is fixed by the upper blank holder and the lower blank holder. A tooth profile with an absolute shear fractural surface is formed. The fixing indentation of the V-shaped structure of the friction material layers is cut off for obtaining a finished friction plate product with the friction material layers.

A supported product manufactured using additive manufacturing, wherein the supported product provides a simplified post processing. The supported product contains a product and a support structure, wherein the supported product has been manufactured using additive manufacturing as a whole, wherein the support structure is adapted to be removed to provide the product, wherein the support structure provides an interface adapted to interact with a counterpart of a tool for removing the support structure.

A supported product manufactured using additive manufacturing, wherein the supported product provides a simplified post processing. The supported product contains a product and a support structure, wherein the supported product has been manufactured using additive manufacturing as a whole, wherein the support structure is adapted to be removed to provide the product, wherein the support structure provides an interface adapted to interact with a counterpart of a tool for removing the support structure.