The invention relates to molding of a roller in which a roller body is provided integrally on the outer periphery of an axial core member, and the objective of the invention is to prevent the generation of a thin burr, and damage to the die. In order to achieve this objective, a die is provided with a first split die and a second split die which can butt against one another or separate from one another at mutually-opposing parting surfaces. A roller body molding surface, a cavity being defined between the axial core member and the roller body molding surface when the mold is clamped; and recessed portions which are located at both end portions of the supporting portions and extend along the parting surfaces, and which are not in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the axial core member when the mold is clamped.

An apparatus for forming a flange has a laminate component and a drum supporting the laminate component. A forming tool selectively engages the laminate component. A diaphragm member extends between the drum and the laminate component and selectively engages the forming tool. Movement of the diaphragm member deforms the laminate component away from the drum about an edge of the forming tool, and the laminate component maintains a substantially uniform thickness.

Systems and methods are provided for compacting laminates. One embodiment is a method for compacting a laminate onto a surface of a forming tool. The method includes placing the laminate onto the forming tool, disposing a compaction device over the laminate, gripping the compaction device to the forming tool, compacting the laminate with a pressure foot of the compaction device, and removing the compaction device from the forming tool.

A tool for forming a panel including a core area, at which plies sandwich a core, and a trim area surrounding the core, at which the plies are bonded together, is provided and includes a body having a surface on which the panel is formable, an assembly to apply bonding pressure to the plies at least at the core and trim areas and a clamping device external to the assembly to apply a clamping force to the vacuum bag and the plies.

A molding tool assembly, in particular for producing rotor blades of wind power plants, having a first mold shell (20) and a second mold shell (22) each for receiving one workpiece part, wherein the two mold shells in a proximal position face one another but do not bear on one another, having securing means for holding a workpiece part in at least one of the mold shells and having centering means for mutually centering the two mold shells in the proximal position or during convergence of the mold shells. The centering means and the securing means are mechanically intercoupled.

A spider for a rotary molding process is provided. The spider includes an upper mold enclosure, a lower mold enclosure, and a clamping assembly. The lower mold enclosure is configured to selectively cooperate with the upper mold enclosure to facilitate retention of a mold housing therebetween. The clamping assembly comprises a collar, a plurality of brace members, and a clamping member. Each brace member is coupled with each of the collar and the upper mold enclosure. The clamping member is rotatably coupled with the lower mold enclosure and is rotatable about an axis in a clamping and unclamping direction. The axis extends through the collar. The collar is spaced from the upper mold enclosure along the axis. Rotation of the clamping member in the clamping direction facilitates translation of the collar towards the lower mold enclosure to facilitate urging of the upper mold enclosure and the lower mold enclosure together.

A mold for molding a composite preform that has an outer edge thereabout and a plurality of tethers each attached at respective opposed ends thereof to the outer edge. The mold includes first and second mold halves defining a mold body and being configured to transition between an open position and a generally closed position, and a plurality of moveable members each having a moveable gage pin configured for being wrapped thereabout by a respective one of the tethers and a respective actuator configured for moving the moveable gage pin between a respective first position in which the respective moveable gage pin is disposed at a respective first distance from a center of the mold body and a respective second position in which the respective moveable gage pin is disposed at a respective second distance from the center of the mold body that is less than the first distance.

There is provided a forming apparatus for constraining a composite charge and forming the composite charge into a highly contoured composite structure. The forming apparatus includes a first die and a second die between which the composite charge is formed. The first die has pairs of first die portions spaced apart to define a die cavity into which the composite charge is formed into a contoured hat section having a cap. The forming apparatus includes a constraining assembly having a constraining device positioned in the die cavity. The constraining device is designed to constrain a cap portion, and to apply an upward resistive force against the cap portion, and against a downward compressive force applied by the second die, to provide wrinkle prevention in the cap as the contoured hat section is formed. The constraining assembly has a retaining element to retain the constraining device.

Cap wrinkling in a contoured composite hat stringer is reduced by constraining the cap as the hat stringer is being formed from a flat composite charge. The cap is constrained by an inflatable bladder placed in a tool set used to form the composite charge.

A mold container device includes a plurality of segments, an outer ring, and a conversion mechanism. The conversion mechanism connects the outer ring and the segment. The conversion mechanism moves the segment in a radial direction between a first position and a second position outside the first position in the radial direction, according to displacement of the outer ring in the direction of the axis O. The conversion mechanism further swings one of a lower edge portion and an upper edge portion of the segment in the radial direction, according to displacement of the outer ring in the direction of the axis O.