An injection-compression molding device (1), wherein the rod (3) and the core (5) are connected to each other by means of a joint (20) which allows to have a rigid connection in some steps of an injection-compression molding process, and an articulated connection during the compression step of the injection-compression molding process.

An injection-compression molding device (1), wherein the rod (3) and the core (5) are connected to each other by means of a joint (20) which allows to have a rigid connection in some steps of an injection-compression molding process, and an articulated connection during the compression step of the injection-compression molding process.

An apparatus and method for laminating fibers for direct manufacturing of a preform, in which rows of fibers are drawn at the same time and are arranged in the form of a preform. The apparatus for laminating fibers for direct manufacturing of a preform according to an aspect of the present invention is an apparatus which supplies reinforced fibers to a table 22 and laminating the reinforced fibers thereon, so as to manufacture a fiber preform by laminating the reinforced fibers on the table 22, the apparatus including: a reinforced fiber supply robot 30 configured to supply a predetermined length of a plurality of reinforced fibers, on which a thermoplastic resin is coated; at least one or more edge fixing robots 40 configured to press and fix an end of the reinforced fibers drawn from the reinforced fiber supply robot 30 to the table 22 while the reinforced fibers are adhered as the thermoplastic resin is melted. Particularly, the reinforced fiber supply robot 30 includes: a plurality of reels 33, around which the reinforced fibers F coated with the thermoplastic resin are wound; a plurality of supply rollers 34 configured to transfer the reinforced fibers F, drawn from the plurality of reels, to the table 22 to supply the reinforced fibers thereto; a cutter configured to cut the reinforced fibers F, supplied through the plurality of supply rollers 34, into a predetermined length; and a compression roller 37 configured to press the end of the reinforced fibers F, cut by the cutter, to the table 22.

An apparatus and method for laminating fibers for direct manufacturing of a preform, in which rows of fibers are drawn at the same time and are arranged in the form of a preform. The apparatus for laminating fibers for direct manufacturing of a preform according to an aspect of the present invention is an apparatus which supplies reinforced fibers to a table 22 and laminating the reinforced fibers thereon, so as to manufacture a fiber preform by laminating the reinforced fibers on the table 22, the apparatus including: a reinforced fiber supply robot 30 configured to supply a predetermined length of a plurality of reinforced fibers, on which a thermoplastic resin is coated; at least one or more edge fixing robots 40 configured to press and fix an end of the reinforced fibers drawn from the reinforced fiber supply robot 30 to the table 22 while the reinforced fibers are adhered as the thermoplastic resin is melted. Particularly, the reinforced fiber supply robot 30 includes: a plurality of reels 33, around which the reinforced fibers F coated with the thermoplastic resin are wound; a plurality of supply rollers 34 configured to transfer the reinforced fibers F, drawn from the plurality of reels, to the table 22 to supply the reinforced fibers thereto; a cutter configured to cut the reinforced fibers F, supplied through the plurality of supply rollers 34, into a predetermined length; and a compression roller 37 configured to press the end of the reinforced fibers F, cut by the cutter, to the table 22.

A vehicle component that includes at least one fiber preform. The fiber preform includes a substrate, a fiber bundle having one or more types of reinforcing fibers, and a thread. The fiber bundle is arranged on the substrate and attached to the substrate by a plurality of stitches of the thread to form a first preform layer having a principal orientation. The vehicle component includes a core having a geometry with at least one edge and at least one the fiber preforms positioned along the at least one edge, the core and the fiber preform being overmolded in a resin. A process of making the vehicle component includes providing the core having the at least one edge, positioning the at least one fiber preform along the at least one edge, and overmolding the core and the at least one fiber preform in the resin.

A vehicle component that includes at least one fiber preform. The fiber preform includes a substrate, a fiber bundle having one or more types of reinforcing fibers, and a thread. The fiber bundle is arranged on the substrate and attached to the substrate by a plurality of stitches of the thread to form a first preform layer having a principal orientation. The vehicle component includes a core having a geometry with at least one edge and at least one the fiber preforms positioned along the at least one edge, the core and the fiber preform being overmolded in a resin. A process of making the vehicle component includes providing the core having the at least one edge, positioning the at least one fiber preform along the at least one edge, and overmolding the core and the at least one fiber preform in the resin.

There is provided method of manufacturing a knuckle for a vehicle. The method includes a preform forming operation of forming a preform serving as a preliminary molding object for forming the knuckle for a vehicle; and a main-molding-object forming operation of hot-pressing the preform to form a main molding object for forming the knuckle for a vehicle. The preform formed in the preform forming operation may be formed in a shape corresponding to a shape of the main molding object, and may be formed in a shape offset inward by a predetermined dimension from an outer shape of the main molding object.

There is provided method of manufacturing a knuckle for a vehicle. The method includes a preform forming operation of forming a preform serving as a preliminary molding object for forming the knuckle for a vehicle; and a main-molding-object forming operation of hot-pressing the preform to form a main molding object for forming the knuckle for a vehicle. The preform formed in the preform forming operation may be formed in a shape corresponding to a shape of the main molding object, and may be formed in a shape offset inward by a predetermined dimension from an outer shape of the main molding object.

A system for manufacturing a thermoplastic prepreg includes a double belt mechanism that is configured to compress a fiber mat, web, or mesh that is passed through the double belt mechanism, a resin applicator that is configured to apply monomers or oligomers to the fiber mat, web, or mesh, and a curing oven that is configured to effect polymerization of the monomers or oligomers and thereby form the thermoplastic polymer as the fiber mat, web, or mesh is moved through the curing oven. The double belt mechanism compresses the fiber mat, web, or mesh and the applied monomers or oligomers as the fiber mat, web, or mesh is passed through the curing oven so that the monomers or oligomers fully saturate the fiber mat, web, or mesh. Upon polymerization of the monomers or oligomers, the fiber mat, web, or mesh is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer.

A system for manufacturing a thermoplastic prepreg includes a double belt mechanism that is configured to compress a fiber mat, web, or mesh that is passed through the double belt mechanism, a resin applicator that is configured to apply monomers or oligomers to the fiber mat, web, or mesh, and a curing oven that is configured to effect polymerization of the monomers or oligomers and thereby form the thermoplastic polymer as the fiber mat, web, or mesh is moved through the curing oven. The double belt mechanism compresses the fiber mat, web, or mesh and the applied monomers or oligomers as the fiber mat, web, or mesh is passed through the curing oven so that the monomers or oligomers fully saturate the fiber mat, web, or mesh. Upon polymerization of the monomers or oligomers, the fiber mat, web, or mesh is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer.