A powder compaction mold includes a die and upper and lower punches configured to fit into the die and is configured to compress a powder between the upper and lower punches to manufacture a powder compact. Of the members forming the powder compaction mold, at least one of two members in sliding contact with each other has therein a vent passage through which gas is vented from a filling space for the powder surrounded by the die and the lower punch to an outside of the powder compaction mold. The vent passage has a gas intake port that is open to a clearance section formed between the two members and connecting to the filling space.

A press for making a cutting tool green body having at least one helical flute includes a die having an opening with a helical protrusion and a punch having at least one helical groove having a shape that matches a shape of the helical protrusion. An electrical punch drive system is arranged to simultaneously rotate the punch, relative to a longitudinal axis of the opening in the die, and axially advance the punch into and along a direction of the longitudinal axis of the opening in the die. A method for making a cutting tool green body having at least one helical flute is also disclosed.

A method and device for manufacturing a cutting insert green body, the method includes the step of providing a compression tool having an upper and lower die, and an upper and lower punch. The upper die defines a punch tunnel in which the upper punch slides, and the lower die defines a punch tunnel in which the lower punch slides. The dies define a die cavity to accommodate a powder to be compressed by action of the respective punches to form the green body. Powder in the die cavity is compressed by forwarding the upper punch through the punch tunnel of the upper die and a predetermined distance L through the opening of the lower die. The upper die is displaced relative to the opening of the lower die and the upper punch is removed from the lower die to move the green body out of the lower die through the opening thereof.

Molds and processes that permit high-speed, mass production of retaining wall blocks having patterned or other processed front faces, as well as retaining wall blocks formed by such processes. The invention permits the front face of the block to be impressed with a pattern or otherwise directly processed, to allow the formation of pre-determined block front faces, while at the same time facilitating high-speed, high-volume production of blocks. A mirror image of the desired pattern can be created on a stripper shoe by selecting a desired three-dimensional surface from a naturally occurring or man made object and digitally scanning the selected three-dimensional pattern to create scanned data. The scanned data can then be used to machine a face of the stripper shoe that is the mirror image of the selected pattern.

Molds and processes that permit high-speed, mass production of retaining wall blocks having patterned or other processed front faces, as well as retaining wall blocks formed by such processes. The invention permits the front face of the block to be impressed with a pattern or otherwise directly processed, to allow the formation of pre-determined block front faces, while at the same time facilitating high-speed, high-volume production of blocks. A mirror image of the desired pattern can be created on a stripper shoe by selecting a desired three-dimensional surface from a naturally occurring or man made object and digitally scanning the selected three-dimensional pattern to create scanned data. The scanned data can then be used to machine a face of the stripper shoe that is the mirror image of the selected pattern.

In a device for producing concrete slabs, a mold lower part is inserted into a frame secured via retaining braces to receiving areas of guiding columns oriented along an insertion direction and having, above the mold lower part, a structural loading device movable along the guiding columns and having, on the side facing the mold lower part, a mold upper part with one or more pressure plates inserted or insertable into one or more recesses of the mold lower part, the structural loading device being connected to the pressure plates via pressure rams. An upper guide element arranged between the structural loading device and the pressure rams interacts with a lower guide element arranged on the retaining brace such that, during the production of concrete slabs, the structural loading device is constantly guided relative to the mold lower part on a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction.

Molds and processes that permit high-speed, mass production of retaining wall blocks having patterned or other processed front faces, as well as retaining wall blocks formed by such processes. The invention permits the front face of the block to be impressed with a pattern or otherwise directly processed, to allow the formation of pre-determined block front faces, while at the same time facilitating high-speed, high-volume production of blocks. A mirror image of the desired pattern can be created on a stripper shoe by selecting a desired three-dimensional surface from a naturally occurring or man made object and digitally scanning the selected three-dimensional pattern to create scanned data. The scanned data can then be used to machine a face of the stripper shoe that is the mirror image of the selected pattern.

Molds and processes that permit high-speed, mass production of retaining wall blocks having patterned or other processed front faces, as well as retaining wall blocks formed by such processes. The invention permits the front face of the block to be impressed with a pattern or otherwise directly processed, to allow the formation of pre-determined block front faces, while at the same time facilitating high-speed, high-volume production of blocks. A mirror image of the desired pattern can be created on a stripper shoe by selecting a desired three-dimensional surface from a naturally occurring or man made object and digitally scanning the selected three-dimensional pattern to create scanned data. The scanned data can then be used to machine a face of the stripper shoe that is the mirror image of the selected pattern.

There is provided a method for controlling a powder compacting apparatus including: a die having a hollow; an upper punch and a floating lower punch; a first actuator that pushes down the upper punch; a second actuator that controls a floating load of the floating lower punch; and a stopper that defines a pressurization stop position of the floating lower punch. The powder compacting apparatus is configured such that the first actuator is operated to push down the upper punch to pressurize powder charged into the cavity, and the second actuator is controlled to pressurize the powder such that a load acting on the powder during pressurization becomes a prescribed floating load required to compact the powder. The method includes reducing the floating load in a stepwise manner after completion of the pressurization.

There is provided a method for controlling a powder compacting apparatus including: a die having a hollow; an upper punch and a floating lower punch; a first actuator that pushes down the upper punch; a second actuator that controls a floating load of the floating lower punch; and a stopper that defines a pressurization stop position of the floating lower punch. The powder compacting apparatus is configured such that the first actuator is operated to push down the upper punch to pressurize powder charged into the cavity, and the second actuator is controlled to pressurize the powder such that a load acting on the powder during pressurization becomes a prescribed floating load required to compact the powder. The method includes reducing the floating load in a stepwise manner after completion of the pressurization.