A method of adjusting a coefficient of thermal expansion of a member made of a fiber-reinforced resin, the method including: adjusting a coefficient of thermal expansion in a predetermined direction by increasing or decreasing a quantity of fiber having a grain direction in agreement with the predetermined direction. Also disclosed is a mold (100) for curing a cylindrical laminate (30) obtained by laminating prepreg. The mold includes a core die (10) and a surface die (2) outside the laminate including a plurality of partial surface dies (21 to 27). The partial surface dies are arranged to cover the entire circumferential surface of the laminate. Each of the partial surface dies is made of a fiber-reinforced resin in which a quantity of fiber having a grain direction in agreement with the circumferential direction differs from a quantity of fiber having a grain direction in agreement with an axial direction.

The disclosure proposes a method for producing a panel having an outer skin and stiffeners that have a connecting portion, and at least one projecting portion, the method comprising a step of draping layers of fibers over at least one insert such that each layer of fibers has a connecting portion and a portion that projects downwardly from the connecting portion, a step of draping a layer of fibers that forms the outer skin, and a step of bonding the layers of fibers together. The disclosure also provides a device for implementing the method.

The invention is directed to an apparatus for making conical bellows for air springs. The apparatus includes a clamping/spreading device transferable between first and second end positions corresponding to an introduction position and a vulcanization position, respectively. The external diameter of the device in the first end position is less than the external diameter thereof of the second end position. The device has clamping segments which in the introduction position are converged so that the external diameter of the device enables an air spring bellows preform to be pushed over the device, and the clamping segments in the vulcanization position are diverged increasing the external diameter of the device so that the bellows preform is pressed tightly against the corresponding external form from the inside. Open gaps because of the enlargement of the external diameter of the device remain between the clamping segments.

Described are a mold and molding process for manufacturing devices and containers that are scalable, modular, and lockable laterally and vertically with other like devices or containers. The mold is formed with a cup mold and top end mold sections specially designed to allow for molding and demolding a container with an undercut. The cup mold includes, on a vertical wall, one or more undercuts. Multiple undercuts may further form tongues with undercuts each of which forms a groove with undercuts on the molded article, and/or one or more grooves with undercuts each of which form a tongue with undercuts in the molded article. Molding and Demolding of the article with undercuts is further enabled by utilizing an improved method of molding said article with an undercut, and demolding said article from the mold once it is molded, by improvements to each stage of the molding process, including the preform stage, the conditioning station stage, the blow stage and the release stage.

Described are a mold and molding process for manufacturing devices and containers that are scalable, modular, and lockable laterally and vertically with other like devices or containers. The mold is formed with a cup mold and top end mold sections specially designed to allow for molding and demolding a container with an undercut. The cup mold includes, on a vertical wall, one or more undercuts. Multiple undercuts may further form tongues with undercuts each of which forms a groove with undercuts on the molded article, and/or one or more grooves with undercuts each of which form a tongue with undercuts in the molded article. Molding and Demolding of the article with undercuts is further enabled by utilizing an improved method of molding said article with an undercut, and demolding said article from the mold once it is molded, by improvements to each stage of the molding process, including the preform stage, the conditioning station stage, the blow stage and the release stage.

A precast composite wall structure and method for forming the wall structure are disclosed. The method includes providing a casting bed defining a plurality of shapes corresponding to a three-dimensional outer surface of a wall structure, placing a first layer of uncured concrete to conform to the shapes defined by the lower surface, positioning a forming member in overlying relation above the frame, the forming member defining a plurality of rectangular-shaped channels therebetween, positioning a stud frame within the casting bed along the forming member, placing a second layer of uncured concrete within the casting bed to conform to the rectangular-shaped channels between the rectangular protrusions, and allowing the concrete to cure.

A collapsing core mould is provided for forming a moulded part. The collapsing core mould has a longitudinally moveable center section for withdrawing from a plurality of surrounding laterally moveable peripheral sections, at least some of which laterally moveable peripheral sections are also longitudinally moveable. Withdrawal of the center section allows lateral movement of the at least some of the peripheral sections toward each other. Subsequent longitudinal withdrawal of the at least some of the peripheral sections allows for the remaining peripheral sections to move toward each other and release the moulded part.

A method of vacuum forming an object includes heating a plastic sheet. After heating the plastic sheet, a vacuum is applied to pull the sheet against an outer surface of a flexible mold so that the plastic sheet has a formed shape that conforms to a contoured shape of the outer surface of the flexible mold. A rigid core is withdrawn from a cavity in the flexible mold. The flexible mold is then withdrawn from the plastic sheet by applying force to the flexible mold in a single direction, thereby causing flexing of the flexible mold past the undercut. An apparatus for vacuum forming a plastic sheet includes the flexible mold.

Within examples, methods and systems for a multi-state bladder or elastomeric apparatus for manufacture of composite material are provided. The elastomeric apparatus includes a housing having a flexible surface state and a rigid surface state, a rod within the housing extending along a length of the housing, and a plurality of components mounted to the rod, such that in an engaged position of the rod the plurality of components cause the housing to have the rigid surface state, and in a disengaged position of the rod the plurality of components enable the housing to have the flexible surface state.

A core system for the production of a fiber composite component includes at least two core elements which are coupled to one another and are displaceable relative to one another. At least one core element has a surface which is oblique to a displacement direction. A method for producing the fiber composite component uses the core system.