A casting mould comprising: an inorganic or refractory mould, wherein the mould is configured to receive feedstock; wherein the feedstock is configured to be heated in situ. A reusable mould, reusable susceptor, and/or release agent may be incorporated. Method of manufacturing a mould, and casting a part employing 5 in situ heating, are also provided.

A self-locking mold (100) includes sectors (108) circumferentially distributed around a shell (102) to resist internal pressure and remain in the closed position without the aid of additional components during curing. The mold (100) includes shoulder spacers (120) that, in the closed position of the mold, are arranged between the shell (102) and the sectors (108). An elastic means (130) is employed so as to avoid friction between them.

A moulding device, for forming lenses by moulding, includes: a moulding element including indentations formed in a face of the moulding element; a transparent plate held with respect to the moulding element so as to form, with the indentations, a cavity intended to allow the formation of a plurality of lenses; at least one injection passage intended to allow moulding product to be introduced into the cavity, the injection passage being arranged between the transparent plate and the moulding element; a moulding product injector arranged so as to allow moulding product to be introduced into the injection passage. The injector is removable, and the moulding device is configured so as to allow the injector to be removed while at the same time keeping the transparent plate held with respect to the moulding element.

Provided are a mold allowing smooth removal of a molded article therefrom without deforming the molded article, and a method of producing the molded article using the mold. The mold includes a first mold piece (A), a second mold piece (B), and a plurality of third mold pieces (C). One of the first mold piece (A) and the second mold piece (B) has a protrusion cavity surface (2f) that protrudes toward the third mold piece (C) from a mating surface (1a) to contact with the third mold piece (C) and shapes an external profile of the molded article (Ma) together with a cavity surface (3f) of the third mold piece (C) when the mold pieces are clamped with each other.

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.

Fixtures and related system and methods are disclosed. In accordance with an implementation, a method includes applying a resin onto a substrate and positioning the substrate on over a chuck of a base of a fixture. The method also includes moving a mold into engagement with the resin and curing the resin. The method also includes detaching the mold and the resin and, while detaching the mold and the resin, determining a detachment force applied as a function of a distance of detachment between the mold and the resin.

A tie-bar-less clamping unit for a moulding machine includes a machine frame formed for absorbing clamping forces, and a fixed platen arranged stationary in relation to the machine frame. A movable platen can move relative to the machine frame, and at least one push rod is preferably arranged substantially centrally with respect to the movable platen. At least one pressure pad is arranged between the push rod and the movable platen.

A containment jig (A) is disclosed of a holding apparatus for household appliance cabinets in a foaming system and its related locking mechanism, which includes holding walls (1, 2, 4), provided with a base edge and a free edge, apt to withhold a pressure force, basements (B1, B2), mutually approachable between a spaced relative position and a close relative position, which the base edges of said holding walls (1, 2, 4) are attached to locking means to constrain said free edges of said holding walls (1, 2, 4) to an opposite one of said basements (B1, B2) when they are in said close relative position, said locking means including, on one hand, one or more locking prongs (5, 6) and, on the other hand, corresponding matching seats, at least one of said locking prongs and said matching seats being mounted adjustable in position by a control.

A first cut and kitted material is held against a first flange face of a first die. A second cut and kitted material is held against a second flange face of a second die. The method simultaneously forms the first cut and kitted material against a first blade face of the first die and the second cut and kitted material against a second blade face of the second die. The first cut and kitted material and the second cut and kitted material are clamped between the first die and the second die after forming the first cut and kitted material and the second cut and kitted material. A composite stringer preform comprising the first cut and kitted material, the second cut and kitted material, a noodle, and a base material is cured while the composite stringer preform is against the first forming surface and the second forming surface.

A self-locking mold (100) includes sectors (108) circumferentially distributed around a shell (102) to resist internal pressure and remain in the closed position without the aid of additional components during curing. The mold (100) includes shoulder spacers (120) that, in the closed position of the mold, are arranged between the shell (102) and the sectors (108). An elastic means (130) is employed so as to avoid friction between them.