We disclose a component of an injection molding tool that includes a one piece side of a mold built up by additive manufacturing using a polymer, the side of the mold defining part of an injection cavity. The side of the mold further includes an injection port coupled to the injection cavity and a heating fluid manifold separated from the injection cavity by a heat transfer wall. The heat transfer wall is reinforced against pressure in the injection cavity by a backing of engineered supports. Inlet and outlet ports are coupled to the heating fluid manifold, configured to channel a thermally conductive fluid into and out of the heating fluid manifold. Additional additive manufacturing features and material properties are described. Complementary methods of manufacturing also are disclosed.

A production method of a mold having a recessed pattern includes: a plate precursor preparation step of preparing a plate precursor having a pedestal on which a protruding pattern is disposed; a resin plate preparation step of preparing a thermoplastic resin plate having a recessed step portion; and a resin plate precursor production step of producing a thermoplastic resin plate precursor, the resin plate precursor production step including a positioning step of positioning the protruding pattern of the plate precursor and a center position of the recessed step portion, and a recessed pattern forming step of forming a recessed pattern having an inverted shape of the protruding pattern on the thermoplastic resin plate by pressing the protruding pattern of the heated plate precursor and the pedestal against the recessed step portion, thereafter cooling the plate precursor, and separating the plate precursor from the thermoplastic resin plate.

Rib- or fin-shaped element (1, 10) comprising an anchoring part (1 b.sub.1, 10b.sub.1) and a molding part (1b.sub.2, 10b.sub.2), wherein the anchoring part (1 b.sub.1, 10b.sub.1) can be anchored in a profile ring segment of a profile ring of a vulcanizing mold that molds the tread of a vehicle tire and the molding part (1 b.sub.2, 10b.sub.2) is provided for molding a sipe or a groove in the tread. The element (1, 10) has at least one elongate projection (1a, 11), which forms a bevel at the periphery of the tread and is produced by means of selective laser melting.

A method of heating a tool assembly includes the step of joining a first piece of the tool assembly with a second piece of the tool assembly via a first joint portion and a second joint portion. The method further includes the step of inserting a fastener through the first joint portion and the second joint portion of the tool assembly. The method further includes the step of applying heat to the tool assembly, wherein upon heating, interlock surfaces of the first joint portion and the second joint portion tighten against each other.

A simulated carbon fiber weave texture for use on component parts for automobiles and other vehicles and a method of applying same are provided. The component part can be prepared using plastic injection molded methods for varying types of plastic resins and applying different surface finishing processes, and a combination of texture etching practices can be used on the injection mold tool steel to simulate conventional carbon fiber appearance.

An assembly useful for thermoforming a dental aligner from polymer sheet material includes (a) a custom dental model having a planar bottom surface and a receptacle formed in said planar bottom surface; and (b) a reusable die removably received in said receptacle.

The invention relates to a scaled-up master for imprinting of micro- and nano-structures, the master being made-up from a plurality of tile-shaped master units, wherein the plurality of tile-shaped master units making-up the master comprises tile-shaped master units having a non-hexagonal shape wherein adjoining edges of neighbouring master units are parallel with each other and wherein the master units forming the master are arranged such that the splice lines between the master units only have junctions between master units where at most three corners of neighbouring master units are brought together. The invention further relates to a flexible stamp for imprinting of micro- and nano-structures, the flexible stamp being copied from such scaled-up master. Also an imprinted product is claimed which is copied from the flexible stamp.

The present invention relates to micro-/nanostructured compound-eye arrays and fabrication method thereof, and discloses a fabrication method and applications for the molded polymer parts with the micro-/nanostructured compound-eye arrays on their surfaces, which exhibit both hydrophobicity and light trapping. The fabrication method for the molded polymer parts with the micro-/nanostructured compound-eye arrays includes following steps. A flexible microlens array template is assembled; the flexible microlens array template is fixed on an injection mold cavity, and a polymer part with microlens arrays distributing on its surface is molded by using injection molding; the microlens arrays on the molded polymer part are imprinted onto the surface of an ultra-pure aluminum foil, nanopores are formed on its surface via anode oxidation, and so an aluminum template with negative micro-/nanostructured compound-eye arrays is fabricated; the aluminum template is fixed on an injection mold cavity, and a polymer part with micro-/nanostructured compound-eye arrays distributing on its surface is molded by using injection molding. The dual-level compound-eye arrays (orderly distributed convex semi-sphere microlens and densely distributed nanopillars) are developed on the surface of the molded polymer part, which exhibits both hydrophobicity and light trapping.

A method is provided for manufacturing a mold for injection molding, especially for injection molding of optical components of automotive lighting devices. The method includes at least the following steps: providing a mold body, laser milling a pattern into a surface of the mold body, and coating the surface of the mold body by electroless nickel plating.

The present invention is directed to injection molded articles as well as methods of manufacture of the same. The injection molded article is a helmet cover for a protective helmet, and more particularly a replaceable helmet cover for enhancing the aesthetic outer appearance of a helmet used in military, construction, manufacturing, and/or contact sports such as American football, baseball, lacrosse, hockey, equestrian, skiing, snowboarding, and the like.