Provided is a method of forming a shaped structure. The method includes coupling a first section of a mold to a second section of the mold such that a mold cavity is defined, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the mold cavity corresponds to a cross-sectional shape of the shaped structure and wherein at least one of the first section of the mold and the second section of the mold comprise a soluble material; at least partially filling the mold cavity with a curable polymer; and curing the curable polymer in the mold cavity to make the shaped structure.

Provided is a method of forming a shaped structure. The method includes coupling a first section of a mold to a second section of the mold such that a mold cavity is defined, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the mold cavity corresponds to a cross-sectional shape of the shaped structure and wherein at least one of the first section of the mold and the second section of the mold comprise a soluble material; at least partially filling the mold cavity with a curable polymer; and curing the curable polymer in the mold cavity to make the shaped structure.

This invention is directed to a process for applying a symbol to a molded device which symbol on the molded device is visible as an indentation in the surface of the device. The process involves the step of applying the symbol as an elevation to the mold before using the mold for making the molded device. The process of the invention is characterized in that the elevation on the mold is produced by applying a material to the mold surface which material is liquid when being applied and which material is applied at a temperature higher than the temperature which is at or preferably below the melting point of the material, and which material solidifies at the temperature of the mold. The material applied to the mold and solidified on the mold surface as an elevation needs to remain solid during the process of using the mold for making the molded device. During the molding process the elevation of the symbol on the mold is transferred as an indentation of the symbol to the surface of the molded device. After the molding process is complete and the molded device has been separated from the mold the elevation on the mold surface can be removed and the mold can be re-used without an elevation or with another elevation being applied to make another molded device.

This invention is directed to a process for applying a symbol to a molded device which symbol on the molded device is visible as an indentation in the surface of the device. The process involves the step of applying the symbol as an elevation to the mold before using the mold for making the molded device. The process of the invention is characterized in that the elevation on the mold is produced by applying a material to the mold surface which material is liquid when being applied and which material is applied at a temperature higher than the temperature which is at or preferably below the melting point of the material, and which material solidifies at the temperature of the mold. The material applied to the mold and solidified on the mold surface as an elevation needs to remain solid during the process of using the mold for making the molded device. During the molding process the elevation of the symbol on the mold is transferred as an indentation of the symbol to the surface of the molded device. After the molding process is complete and the molded device has been separated from the mold the elevation on the mold surface can be removed and the mold can be re-used without an elevation or with another elevation being applied to make another molded device.

The present disclosure is directed at a method for making an article from a curable material, such as pliable fibre-reinforced polymer. The method includes printing a dissolvable, three dimensional substructure using a substructure material; applying the curable material to the substructure; curing the curable material while it is on the substructure; and dissolving the substructure using a dissolving agent. Using a 3D printer to print the substructure allows for faster and more economical manufacture of composite articles, such as prototype parts, relative to conventional methods that utilize CNC machines.

The present disclosure is directed at a method for making an article from a curable material, such as pliable fibre-reinforced polymer. The method includes printing a dissolvable, three dimensional substructure using a substructure material; applying the curable material to the substructure; curing the curable material while it is on the substructure; and dissolving the substructure using a dissolving agent. Using a 3D printer to print the substructure allows for faster and more economical manufacture of composite articles, such as prototype parts, relative to conventional methods that utilize CNC machines.

A disposable mold core for producing a fiber-reinforced component includes a support core having a granulate and a binder. The support core has a hard shell formed of the binder and the granulate, and an inner core which is binder-free and formed of the granulate. A related method of producing a fiber-reinforced component is disclosed.

A disposable mold core for producing a fiber-reinforced component includes a support core having a granulate and a binder. The support core has a hard shell formed of the binder and the granulate, and an inner core which is binder-free and formed of the granulate. A related method of producing a fiber-reinforced component is disclosed.

Provided is a resin for core used for injection molding, with which an inner surface of an outer molded body is less likely to be roughened, and an inner surface of a finally obtained molded body is smooth and less likely to have chipping. The resin for core includes a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin, used for an application in which a core is dissolved in water after an outer molded body is molded in an injection molding process, and includes an easy stripping agent that enhances easy stripping properties when the resin for core dissolves in a proportion of more than 0.1 wt % and less than 1.2 wt %.

A main object of the present invention is to provide beneficial improvements relating to a method for producing a fiber reinforced plastic product, the method including curing while pressurizing a prepreg preform by using a core having a fusible part as means for pressurizing. A method for producing a fiber reinforced plastic product, the method including: a core preparation step of preparing a core comprising a fusible part and an outer skin covering the fusible part; a molding step of disposing a prepreg preform inside a mold together with the core, and heating and pressurizing the prepreg preform in the mold to obtain a cured product; and a core removal step of removing materials of the fusible part from the cured product, in the molding step, at least a portion of the prepreg preform being pressurized by expansion of the core, in which the fusible part comprises a first fusible part and a second fusible part having a fusion temperature higher than that of the first fusible part, a material of the first fusible part and a material of the second fusible part are incompatible with each other, and in the molding step, the first fusible part fuses partially or entirely, while the second fusible part does not fuse partially or entirely.