A method and apparatus for cutting a Non-Crimp Fabric for improving edge stability and reducing stitch retraction is disclosed. The part of the NCF to be cut is treated with a binder and heated to activate the binder and therefore bind the tows and stitches together. By treating only the cutting path the drapability of the wider fabric is maintained. This may be achieved by heating only the part of the NCF to be cut, or applying binder to only the part of the NCF to be cut. The NCF may be compressed and cooled before cutting to improve binding action. A ply cutter may be adapted to carry out the invention by including a heat source and optionally a binder dispenser, compressor and cooler.

Molded rubber objects may be molded and de-molded by defining both a desired final form for the molded rubber object and a tab extending from the final form of the molded rubber object using a cavity in a mold. Rubber pellets may be dispensed in predetermined amounts at desired location(s) within the cavity to provide the rubber needed to form the molded rubber object. Heat and pressure may be applied to the mold to cause the rubber pellets to fill the cavity defining both the desired final form of the molded rubber object and the tab. After the heat and pressure has been applied, a gripping device may grasp the tab and move the tab in a direction and with sufficient force to peel the rubber object from the mold cavity. If desired, the tab may be removed from the molded rubber object.

A system for forming a component includes one or more heaters configured to generate heat to form the component, wherein the component, upon formation, includes the one or more heaters. A method for forming a component includes generating, by one or more heaters, heat to form the component; and forming the component, at least in part, by said generating, wherein the component, upon formation, includes the one or more heaters.

Methods and systems for forming a composite part and controlling an amount of time heat is applied for curing composite material. The method may include applying thermocouples to a plurality of locations on a composite material, applying curing heat to the composite material, determining a predicted percentage of cure of the composite material, and removing heat from the composite material when the predicted percentage of cure reaches a predetermined percentage of cure. Determining the predicted percentage of cure may be performed at predetermined time intervals and determined based on a current temperature sensed by one of the thermocouples and a curing model corresponding to the type of material the composite material comprises. The method may also include training the curing model for a range of different thermal ramp up speeds and hold temperatures via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of a polymer sample of a known weight or other training methods.

A heater for heating a contoured surface of a structural member includes a bladder, a granular material within the bladder, where the granular material is capable of exhibiting granular jamming when air is removed from the bladder, and a heating element positioned within the bladder and in contact with the granular material.

A method for manufacturing of a pre-form part for a wind turbine blade including one or more components and an adhesive, wherein the component or at least one of the components is a mat-like component including fibres, includes the steps: arranging the adhesive at one or more positions on the component or arranging the components in a stack, wherein the adhesive is arranged at one or more positions between the components, and heating the adhesive by providing an electric current to at least one actively heated layer, wherein the mat-like component is used as actively heated layer and/or wherein at least one additional mat-like heating means provided and arranged on top of or below the component or the stack of components is used as actively heated layer.

A system is for thermoregulating metal rotating cylinders in applications relating to plastic film converting and extruding systems, for multiple raw polymer materials. In particular, a heating system is for a rotating cylinder, e.g., a roller of a calender or a roller of a stretching unit. The heating system is an electromagnetic induction system.

A system can include an array of at least one heat source adapted to heat a stack including a superstrate, a substrate, and a polymerizable composition between the superstrate and the substrate, and at least one actinic radiation source adapted to at least photocure the polymerizable composition to form a photocured planarization layer. Implementations of the system can allow more flexibility regarding heating and exposure operations and may allow a system to occupy less area. Separate stations for heating a pre-cured layer of a polymerizable composition and exposing the pre-cured layer is not required. The array of actinic radiation sources and heat sources allow greater flexibility with respect to timing for heating and exposing to actinic radiation the pre-cured layer. The system can be used in a method that forms a photocurable planarization layer from a pre-cured layer of a polymerizable composition.

Provided is a heating device including: a heating unit that heats a laminate which includes a plurality of sheet-like composite materials including reinforced fiber and thermoplastic resin, and heats, via a first contact surface disposed in contact with the laminate, the thermoplastic resin included in the laminate being in contact with the first contact surface to a softening temperature or higher; a cooling unit that cools, via a second contact surface disposed in contact with the laminate, the thermoplastic resin included in the laminate located outside of the second contact surface to a temperature lower than the softening temperature; and a pressing unit that applies a predetermined pressure to the laminate via the first contact surface and the second contact surface, the second contact surface being disposed so as to surround the first contact surface.

A formation method is provided during which a lightning strike protection and thermoplastic material are arranged on a tool. The lightning strike protection includes a plurality of interconnected conductive elements. A thermoplastic composite structure is arranged over the lightning strike protection and the thermoplastic material with the lightning strike protection and the thermoplastic material between the tool and the thermoplastic composite structure. The tool is heated to provide a heated tool. The thermoplastic material is heated using the heated tool to melt the thermoplastic material and bond the lightning strike protection layer to the thermoplastic composite structure.