Embodiments relate to automating removal of an untrimmed shell from a mold. In one embodiment, a shell removal device includes a body and a platform disposed within the body. The platform is configured to secure a mold that has an untrimmed shell formed over the mold. The shell removal device further includes a cover configured to secure the untrimmed shell to an upper surface of one or more sidewalls of the body and provide a seal between a lower surface of the untrimmed shell and the upper surface of the one or more sidewalls of the body. The shell removal device may include a media inlet in the body to permit pressurized media into the interior of the body to cause a pressure differential between an upper surface of the untrimmed shell and the lower surface of the untrimmed shell to cause the untrimmed shell to release from the mold.

Provided are induction heating cells including pressure bladders used for supporting dies and methods of using these induction heating cells. A pressure bladder may be disposed between a die and a bolster of the cell. Even when the bolster is deformed during operation of the cell, the pressure bladder continues to provide uniform support to the die thereby preserving integrity of the die and prevents its cracking or braking. As such, the cell may be operated at a higher processing pressure inside the cavity formed by the die without further strengthening the bolster. The bolster is allowed to deform without compromising the integrity of the die. The deformation of the bolster is compensated by the shape change of the pressure bladder. The number and/or position of the bladders in the cell may depend on the shape of processed parts.

A mold die includes: a mold die body that is configured to hold an object to be molded, the object including a substrate and a chip mounted in a central area of the substrate, and that has a cavity which is rectangular in a plan view and which is configured to receive a resin material, the mold die body including: a pot for containing the resin material; a gate disposed at one side of the cavity and configured to allow the resin material to flow into the cavity; and a flow-path restricting mechanism that is disposed on both lateral sides of the cavity that are perpendicular to the one side and that is configured to narrow lateral flow paths, the lateral flow paths being flow paths for the resin material flowing through the cavity in which the chip is not disposed.

A rigid wind turbine blade mould structure capable of rapidly replacing a mould shell without change of supporting structure of the mould includes a stationary supporting structure for supporting an upper mould and a lower mould and a clamping structure for clamping the upper mould and the lower mould; wherein if the mould shell on the supporting mechanism is the lower mould, to change a different mould shell type, there is no need to move the bottom support adjusting devices to support the lower mould, and only lift away the lower mould profile/shell structure by an overhead crane; if the mould shell on the supporting mechanism is the upper mould, the upper mould needs to be turned over to be above the lower mould through the hinge beam, and the hinge beam supporting structure stays.

A method of moulding (10; 20) and apparatus (108; 208; 308) therefor, in which a workpiece (100) is preheated and/or post-cooled before and/or after a moulding process, allowing optimal use of the tool for high precision moulding operations.

A tool for curing and bonding a honeycomb stack with void filler. The tool has a first tool piece with a cavity for receiving layers of unfilled honeycomb material and a second tool piece with a cavity for receiving at least one layer of void-filled honeycomb. The tool also has a compression seal arrangement that creates gas-tight seals between the first tool piece, second tool piece, and a barrier layer positioned between them, with a further seal covering the cavity of the first tool piece to form a gas-tight sealed volume including the first cavity, a pressure plate to cover the cavity of the second tool piece to apply pressure to the void-filled honeycomb, with a further seal to cover the pressure plate to form a gas-tight sealed volume including the second cavity.

Provided are induction heating cells including pressure bladders used for supporting dies and methods of using these induction heating cells. A pressure bladder may be disposed between a die and a bolster of the cell. Even when the bolster is deformed during operation of the cell, the pressure bladder continues to provide uniform support to the die thereby preserving integrity of the die and prevents its cracking or braking. As such, the cell may be operated at a higher processing pressure inside the cavity formed by the die without further strengthening the bolster. The bolster is allowed to deform without compromising the integrity of the die. The deformation of the bolster is compensated by the shape change of the pressure bladder. The number and/or position of the bladders in the cell may depend on the shape of processed parts.

Tooling assemblies and methods for using a tooling assembly to shape an article are provided. For example, a tooling assembly has a forward end and an aft end and comprises a first tool segment, a second tool segment, a forward cam portion near the forward end, and an aft cam portion near the aft end. The forward cam portion defines a follower surface, and at least a portion of the follower surface has a curvilinear profile. The aft cam portion defines a first surface extending at a first angle and a second surface extending at a second angle. The first and second tool segments define a cavity for shaping an article. An exemplary method comprises positioning an article preform within the cavity and inserting a fastener within the aft end of the tooling assembly until the fastener is fully inserted within the tooling assembly.

A mold for forming a wind turbine blade comprising first and second mold surfaces including a flange portion having an opening therein, wherein the first and second mold surfaces are configured for relative movement therebetween from an open position to a closed position. The opening of the first flange portion is aligned with the opening of the second flange portion when in the closed position, and a first magnet is disposed within the opening in the opening of the first mold surface, and a second magnet is disposed within the opening of the second mold surface.

Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to a clamp assembly that includes: a first base and a second base; and a mold operational to be clamped between the first base and the second base. The clamp assembly is operational to stretch and compress the clamped mold without movement of the first base and the second base. For instance, each of the first base and the second base may include a plurality of apertures with pegs that are associated with the mold, where the pegs are operational for stretching and compressing the mold through adjustment. Further embodiments pertain to methods of moving a mold by utilizing the clamp assemblies of the present disclosure.