An apparatus is provided for molding a contact pad in place on an automation template. The apparatus includes an automation template having a contact pad retainer and a molding cap received over the contact pad retainer and retained using a self-locking fit. A mold cavity is formed between the automation template and the molding cap.

A hybrid mold includes (a) an Invar eggcrate structure, (b) an Invar interim working surface and (c) a CF composite material overlay. The eggcrate and interim working surface are welded or otherwise connected together to form a unitary base mold. The CF overlay is bonded to the interim working surface. The CF overlay is easily reconfigurable and can be replaced without destroying the integrity of the base mold.

The present invention relates to a material system for 3D printing, to a 3D printing process using a lignin-containing component or derivatives thereof or modified lignins, to soluble moldings that are produced by a powder-based additive layer manufacturing process and to the use of the moldings.

The present invention is an apparatus for curing composites out-of-autoclave and out-of-oven. The apparatus is a multilayered composite tool for shaping and curing composites. It also contains a sealant layer and composite resistive heating element on the tool's surface. This heating element provides heat to the composites during cure while binding it to the other layers, eliminating the need for external heat from autoclave and oven sources. A ceramic layer is applied to the top surface of the resistive heater for electrical insulation, heater protection and to provide a smooth surface for finish for the composite components being processed with the invention. A method for using the invention is also described. Finally, one embodiment of the invention is presented where a negative composite tool is created to apply additional pressure to the composite component during curing. This additional pressure enables the current invention to more closely mimic autoclave composite processing.

A hybrid mold includes (a) an Invar eggcrate structure, (b) an Invar interim working surface and (c) a CF composite material overlay. The eggcrate and interim working surface are welded or otherwise connected together to form a unitary base mold. The CF overlay is bonded to the interim working surface. The CF overlay is easily reconfigurable and can be replaced without destroying the integrity of the base mold.

A hybrid mold includes (a) an Invar eggcrate structure, (b) an Invar interim working surface and (c) a CF composite material overlay. The eggcrate and interim working surface are welded or otherwise connected together to form a unitary base mold. The CF overlay is bonded to the interim working surface. The CF overlay is easily reconfigurable and can be replaced without destroying the integrity of the base mold.

According to some aspects, a method is provided of casting an object from a mold, the method comprising obtaining a mold comprising a hollow shell of rigid material, the material comprising a thermoset polymer having a plurality of pores formed therein, providing a metal and/or ceramic slurry into an interior of the mold, exposing at least part of the mold to a low pressure environment so that a net flow of gas is produced from the interior of the mold into the low pressure environment. According to some aspects, a method of forming a porous mold is provided. According to some aspects, a photocurable liquid composition is provided, comprising a liquid photopolymer resin, particles of a solid material, in an amount between 30% and 60% by volume of the composition, and a water-soluble liquid.

A bodywork component for a vehicle includes a base element and a transmission element. The base element has fiber-reinforced plastic with base fibers. The transmission element has fiber-reinforced plastic with transmission fibers. The transmission fibers are configured to enable radio signal communication through the transmission element, and have a higher radio signal transmissibility than the base fibers.

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.

Method for seaming a multi-sectional composite tooling for use in molding large composite structures. The tooling includes at least two tooling sections that are made from quasi-isotropic sheet molding compound. The two tooling sections are seamed together with a scarf plug at the tooling surface. The scarf plug is composed of specially oriented layers of consolidated quasi-isotropic sheet molding compound. The scarf plug is made from the same type of quasi-isotropic sheet molding compound that is used to make the tooling sections.