The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods involving a mechanism for feeding in a desired amount of fresh recoater blade. This can be accomplished by, for example, spooling the fresh blade material from a spool. This helps prevent work stoppage when a portion of a recoater blade becomes damaged. As such, the present disclosure also relates to a system and method for detecting whether a recoater blade is damaged, and if there is damage, then causing a fresh blade portion to be fed in.

The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods involving a mechanism for feeding in a desired amount of fresh recoater blade. This can be accomplished by, for example, spooling the fresh blade material from a spool. This helps prevent work stoppage when a portion of a recoater blade becomes damaged. As such, the present disclosure also relates to a system and method for detecting whether a recoater blade is damaged, and if there is damage, then causing a fresh blade portion to be fed in.

The object of the invention is a lens for a lighting and/or signaling device of a motor vehicle including a first layer of material (4), arranged on a first face (8) of which is a second layer of material (6) with additional thickness, said second layer extending partially over the first layer so as to have one end edge (16) overhanging an exposed portion (14) of the first layer of material.

The exposed portion (14) of the first layer of material (4), which is not covered by the second layer of material, includes on said first face (8) a notch (18) which extends along said end edge (16) of the second layer of material (6).

The present disclosure is directed methods for modifying molds of rotor blades of a wind turbine. In certain embodiments, the blade mold is constructed, at least in part, of a thermoplastic material optionally reinforced with a fiber material. In one embodiment, the method includes identifying at least one blade mold addition for the mold of the rotor blade and positioning the blade mold addition at a predetermined location of the mold of the rotor blade. Further, the blade mold addition is constructed, at least in part, of a thermoplastic material. Thus, the method includes applying at least one of heat, pressure, or one or more chemicals at an interface of the blade mold addition and the mold so as to join the blade mold addition to the mold. In further embodiments, the methods described herein are also directed repairing thermoplastic blade molds.

Provided is an apparatus for molding a shell hull made of composite material for a boat having a first mold part and a second mold part, each having a molding surface and adapted to be coupled to jointly define a concave molding cavity that extends longitudinally between a stern end and a bow end. The apparatus has a humidity sensor for detecting humidity at the first and/or second mold parts. A plurality of sensors, arranged in a respective plurality of detection positions on a detection surface extending over at least one of the first mold part and the second mold part, and arranged directly in contact therewith, produce signals representative of respective strains of the detection surface in directions substantially perpendicular to the detection surface.

An apparatus for restoring a tool for fabricating a part from a composite laminate material including a contact member which includes a contact surface, wherein the contact member is adapted to be positioned within a bore of a wall of the tool such that at least a portion of the contact surface of the contact member aligns with a surface of the wall. The apparatus further includes a resilient member positioned with respect to the contact member such that an opposing side to the contact surface of the contact member, is positioned between the contact surface and the resilient member. A method is included for restoring a tool for fabricating a part from a composite laminate material.

An apparatus for restoring a tool for fabricating a part from a composite laminate material including a contact member which includes a contact surface, wherein the contact member is adapted to be positioned within a bore of a wall of the tool such that at least a portion of the contact surface of the contact member aligns with a surface of the wall. The apparatus further includes a resilient member positioned with respect to the contact member such that an opposing side to the contact surface of the contact member, is positioned between the contact surface and the resilient member. A method is included for restoring a tool for fabricating a part from a composite laminate material.

This is a mold repairing method for removing a resin material deposited on a mold, of which the surface is a porous film with a plurality of recesses that have been created through anodization. The mold repairing method includes the steps of: (I) removing the resin material that is exposed on the surface of the mold over the plurality of recesses without performing atmospheric pressure plasma processing; and (II) removing at least partially the resin material that is still left inside the plurality of recesses by the atmospheric pressure plasma processing, after the step (I) has been performed, thereby recovering the original function of the mold.

This is a mold repairing method for removing a resin material deposited on a mold, of which the surface is a porous film with a plurality of recesses that have been created through anodization. The mold repairing method includes the steps of: (I) removing the resin material that is exposed on the surface of the mold over the plurality of recesses without performing atmospheric pressure plasma processing; and (II) removing at least partially the resin material that is still left inside the plurality of recesses by the atmospheric pressure plasma processing, after the step (I) has been performed, thereby recovering the original function of the mold.

The present disclosure is directed methods for modifying molds of rotor blades of a wind turbine. In certain embodiments, the blade mold is constructed, at least in part, of a thermoplastic material optionally reinforced with a fiber material. In one embodiment, the method includes identifying at least one blade mold addition for the mold of the rotor blade and positioning the blade mold addition at a predetermined location of the mold of the rotor blade. Further, the blade mold addition is constructed, at least in part, of a thermoplastic material. Thus, the method includes applying at least one of heat, pressure, or one or more chemicals at an interface of the blade mold addition and the mold so as to join the blade mold addition to the mold. In further embodiments, the methods described herein are also directed repairing thermoplastic blade molds.