Flexible molds have an elastic membrane supported by modules, arranged next to one another along a horizontal longitudinal axis of the mold. Each module has traction units, each forming a respective group with a respective thrust unit, with the groups arranged opposite one another at a preset distance. Pairs of traction units are arranged opposite one another in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and the respective thrust units thereof are arranged therebetween. The modules hold the membrane with the mold via reinforced eyelets distributed on both edges parallel to the axis. Each traction unit has linear actuators arranged horizontally and another linear actuator arranged vertically, which together enable movement. The membrane is previously deformed according to an approximation of the prior design of a part to be molded, and prestressed according to a mathematical prediction of the deformation thereof after receiving a conglomerate in liquid or plastic state.

A conformable apparatus for treating a composite material. The conformable apparatus includes a contact layer that is conformable and includes a plurality of contact elements. Each contact element of the plurality of contact elements includes a first major side, a second major side opposed from said first major side, and at least one side surface extending between said first major side and said second major side. The contact layer further includes a contact surface at least partially defined by the first major sides of the plurality of contact elements and a backing surface at least partially defined by the second major sides of said plurality of contact elements. The conformable apparatus also includes a backing layer positioned against said backing surface of said contact layer.

A toothbrush comprised at least one unitary brush head having a base and at least one filament and extending therefrom and having a free end terminating with a tip, wherein the filament has a length of from 6.0 mm to 20.0 mm between the base and the free end, and wherein the unitary brush head is made from a plastic material that has a melt flow rate of not greater than about 30 g/10 min measured in accordance with ISO 1133.

A method of manufacturing an optical member by curing a thermally polymerizable composition by heating includes, in the following order: a first step of filling an inside of a mold with the thermally polymerizable composition in which the mold is configured by disposing a frame-shaped member, with a Young's modulus of 1.0 GPa or more at a polymerization initiation temperature of the thermally polymerizable composition, between two mold members facing each other; and a second step of heating the mold to the polymerization initiation temperature or more.

A core mould element can be mounted between first and second mould parts. The first and second mould parts and the core mould element can be mounted between first and second thermal platens. The thermal platens can have generally planar faces for mounting in a press, for maintaining a desired pressure within the mould assembly. The thermal platens can provide for heating and cooling the mould assembly, and each can include a central portion and end portions, with thermal breaks between the central portion and the end portions. Bores can extend through the central and end portions, for receiving heating elements and pipes for cooling fluid. The end portions can include bores for a cooling fluid for cooling the end portions.

Improvements relating to wind turbine blade manufacture A method of making wind turbine blades of variable length is described. The method involves forming first and second half shells of a main blade section in a main blade mould assembly. A pre-manufactured tip section is selected from a plurality of tip sections of different lengths according to a total length requirement for the wind turbine blade. The tip section is supported adjacent to the main blade mould assembly such that an inboard end of the tip section overlaps with an outboard end of one of the half shells of the main blade section. The main mould assembly is then closed to bond the two main half shells together and to bond the tip section to the main blade half shells. The invention allows blades of different overall length to be produced using a common main blade mould assembly.

Devices, systems, and methods for modular molding of wind turbine blades are provided. Methods of molding wind turbine blades using a modular molding assembly or system and methods of substituting molds are provided. In some embodiments, a modular assembly includes a first base frame and a second base frame hingedly coupled to one another, a first tooling frame disposed on the first base frame, a second tooling frame disposed on the second base frame, a first shell mold coupled to the first tooling frame, and a second shell mold coupled to the second tooling frame. The first shell mold has a first mold surface and a first perimeter and the second shell mold has a second mold surface and a second perimeter. When in an open configuration, the first base frame is coplanar with the second base frame, and, in a closed configuration, the first perimeter contacts the second perimeter.

A template manufacturing method includes preparing a structure including a first substrate and a stacked body that is provided on the first substrate, the stacked body including a first lower layer including a first material, a first upper layer provided on the first lower layer including a second material different from the first material, and a first cover layer provided on a first cover region of the first upper layer and including a third material different from the second material. The method further includes forming a first resist layer on a portion of the first cover layer and on a first portion of the first upper layer, and exposing a second portion of the upper layer. The method yet further includes removing the second portion of the first upper layer using the first cover layer and the first resist layer as a mask.

A mold insert has at least one filament cavity and a stack of at least a first and second insert plates, wherein the first plate has a front face that closely abuts a front face of the second insert plate. A portion of the a filament cavity is provided in at least one of the front faces of the first and second insert plates such that the filament cavity is open at a top surface of the mold insert but does not extend to a bottom surface of the mold insert. A venting cavity is provided in the same front face of the insert plate in which the portion of the at least one filament cavity is provided. The venting cavity, which is in air-conducting connection with the blind-hole end of the filament cavity, has a depth between 1 μm and 20 μm. A method of manufacturing the mold insert includes providing first and second insert plates, forming a portion of a filament cavity into at least one of the front faces of the insert plates, forming a venting cavity into the front face with the filament cavity, and bringing the front faces of the plates into close abutment to form a filament cavity.

A template manufacturing method includes preparing a structure including a first substrate and a stacked body that is provided on the first substrate, the stacked body including a first lower layer including a first material, a first upper layer provided on the first lower layer including a second material different from the first material, and a first cover layer provided on a first cover region of the first upper layer and including a third material different from the second material. The method further includes forming a first resist layer on a portion of the first cover layer and on a first portion of the first upper layer, and exposing a second portion of the upper layer. The method yet further includes removing the second portion of the first upper layer using the first cover layer and the first resist layer as a mask.