Provided is a mold opening/closing device that can prevent a ball screw shaft from reaching a risky speed while using a ball screw having a cantilever supporting structure. A mold clamping device according to the present invention is provided with: a ball screw having a ball screw shaft and a ball screw nut that meshes with the ball screw shaft; and a motor that drives the ball screw. One end of the ball screw shaft is supported by a fixation plate or a movable plate so as to be rotatable or non-rotatable, while being restricted in movement in an axial direction and thereby serving as a fixed end, and the other end thereof serves as a free end. Further, the mold clamping device is characterized in that a distance between the ball screw nut and the fixed end is shorter than a distance between the fixed plate and the movable plate.

A press for pressing a component, such as a thermoplastic consolidation and/or forming press, has a first fixed part as a first pressing tool, a movable part as a second pressing tool for pressing a component together with the first pressing tool, and a second fixed part for applying a pressing force to the movable part, wherein the second fixed part and the movable part apply the pressing force generated via interaction between a magnetic field of a pressing magnet and a superconductor cooled below its step temperature.

A press for pressing a component, such as a thermoplastic consolidation and/or forming press, has a first fixed part as a first pressing tool, a movable part as a second pressing tool for pressing a component together with the first pressing tool, and a second fixed part for applying a pressing force to the movable part, wherein the second fixed part and the movable part apply the pressing force generated via interaction between a magnetic field of a pressing magnet and a superconductor cooled below its step temperature.

A resin shaping mold includes an upper mold, a lower mold arranged to be opposed to the upper mold, a sliding mechanism configured to be slidable on a surface of the lower mold and having a pressing surface including a surface directed in a different direction from a direction of pressing on a resin by the upper mold and the lower mold, and a rubber member formed to cover at least the pressing surface of the sliding mechanism and a gap between the pressing surface and the lower mold.

A resin shaping mold includes an upper mold, a lower mold arranged to be opposed to the upper mold, a sliding mechanism configured to be slidable on a surface of the lower mold and having a pressing surface including a surface directed in a different direction from a direction of pressing on a resin by the upper mold and the lower mold, and a rubber member formed to cover at least the pressing surface of the sliding mechanism and a gap between the pressing surface and the lower mold.

A molding apparatus provided with a transfer capable of transferring a heavy-weight mold clamping device. The molding apparatus that molds a molded product, includes: a mold clamping device clamping a parison extruded from an extruder to obtain a molded body, a transfer rail to support the mold clamping device in a transferable manner, and an electric cylinder to transfer the mold clamping device along the transfer rail. The mold clamping device includes first and second platens for holding a die, and a clamping drive unit for driving the first and second platens closer to or separated from each other, the electric cylinder includes a motor having an output shaft and a feed screw mechanism that converts the rotary motion of the output shaft into a linear motion.

A molding apparatus provided with a transfer capable of transferring a heavy-weight mold clamping device. The molding apparatus that molds a molded product, includes: a mold clamping device clamping a parison extruded from an extruder to obtain a molded body, a transfer rail to support the mold clamping device in a transferable manner, and an electric cylinder to transfer the mold clamping device along the transfer rail. The mold clamping device includes first and second platens for holding a die, and a clamping drive unit for driving the first and second platens closer to or separated from each other, the electric cylinder includes a motor having an output shaft and a feed screw mechanism that converts the rotary motion of the output shaft into a linear motion.

A die face monitoring system may include an upper die having an upper die face and an upper die opening extending towards the upper die face. Similarly, a lower die may include a lower die face and a lower die opening extending towards the lower die face. The lower die face is arranged to confront the upper die face and form a concavity therebetween. Furthermore, a plurality of sensors are mounted on a press, with each sensor corresponding to each one of the upper and lower die openings. Each sensor emits a beam of light towards and receives a reflection from a target surface within the upper and lower die openings in order to calculate a distance thereto.

A die face monitoring system may include an upper die having an upper die face and an upper die opening extending towards the upper die face. Similarly, a lower die may include a lower die face and a lower die opening extending towards the lower die face. The lower die face is arranged to confront the upper die face and form a concavity therebetween. Furthermore, a plurality of sensors are mounted on a press, with each sensor corresponding to each one of the upper and lower die openings. Each sensor emits a beam of light towards and receives a reflection from a target surface within the upper and lower die openings in order to calculate a distance thereto.

A system and method for forming a composite structure. The apparatus comprises a base, a plate, a number of movement systems, and a number of sheets. The number of movement systems move one of the base and the plate relative to the other. The number of sheets is connected to the plate.