The present disclosure provides methods for printing at least a portion of a three-dimensional (3D) object, comprising receiving, in computer memory, a model of the 3D object. Next, at least one filament material from a source of the at least one filament material may be directed towards a substrate that is configured to support the 3D object, thereby depositing a first layer corresponding to a portion of the 3D object adjacent to the substrate. A second layer corresponding to at least a portion of the 3D object may be deposited. The first and second layer may be deposited in accordance with the model of the 3D object. At least a first energy beam from at least one energy source may be used to selectively melt at least a portion of the first layer and/or the second layer, thereby forming at least a portion of the 3D object.

Composite laminate parts are made using a gradient cured subset of fiber reinforced thermoset resin plies. A portion of the subset is cured to rigidity to thereby maintain the shape of a part layup, while other plies in the subset are actively cooled to prevent them from curing. Additional plies are laid up on the uncured plies of the subset to complete the layup. The completed layup is then fully cured.

Some examples include an additive manufacturing machine including a dose plate to receive build material onto, a heating element to selectively heat the build material dispensed on the dose plate, the build material selectively heated in at least two zones, a sensor to detect a temperature of each of the at least two zones, and a controller to control the heating element based on the temperatures of each of the at least two zones.

A resin sheet production method includes a preparation step of preparing a resin molding sheet including a base and a thermally expansive layer that is formed on one main surface of the base, the thermally expansive layer including a thermally expandable material; a heat conversion layer forming step of forming a heat conversion layer that converts electromagnetic waves to heat on at least one of the first main surface of the resin molding sheet or a second main surface on a side opposite to the first main surface; a pre-heating step of heating the resin molding sheet on which the heat conversion layer is formed to a temperature that is lower than an expansion starting temperature at which the thermally expandable material starts to expand; and a main heating step of irradiating the heat conversion layer of the resin molding sheet that is heated in the pre-heating step with the electromagnetic waves to cause the heat conversion layer to distend, thereby causing the base to deform and forming a shaped object on the resin molding sheet.

A method for producing a component includes forming a component body having a surface by an additive build-up operation from a hardenable material which is built up in an additive manner or providing the component body having the surface which is formed by the additive build-up operation from the hardenable material which is built up in the additive manner. The method further includes hardening the surface of the component body and forming a surface texture on the surface of the component body prior to the hardening of the surface of the component body and/or during the hardening of the surface of the component body.

A thermally expandable sheet includes a base, a thermally expansive layer, and a color adjustment layer. The thermally expansive layer is provided on a first side of the base and includes a thermally expandable material that distends in accordance with an amount of heat absorbed, the heat being generated from a thermal conversion layer that includes a thermal conversion material that converts electromagnetic waves to heat. The color adjustment layer is provided on at least one of the thermally expansive layer and a second side of the base and includes a color adjusting agent. When the thermal conversion layer is provided on the color adjustment layer, the color adjustment layer reduces a visual difference in color between a first region where the thermal conversion layer is provided and a second region where the thermal conversion layer is not provided.

A resin molded sheet includes: a base material made of resin; a first thermal expansion layer including a thermally expandable material and provided on a first surface of the base material; and a second thermal expansion layer including a thermally expandable material and provided on a second surface of the base material, wherein the first thermal expansion layer is provided at least on a first region, where the base material is deformed by the first thermal expansion layer, on the first surface of the base material, and the second thermal expansion layer is provided at least in a second region, where the base material is deformed by the second thermal expansion layer, on the second surface of the base material.

Disclosed herein is a cure tool for managing a thermal cycle of a composite component. The cure tool, in certain examples, includes a base plate comprising a work surface, for supporting the composite component, and a back surface opposite the work surface. The cure tool also includes one or more fins protruding from the back surface of the base plate and in thermal communication with the base plate. The cure tool additionally includes one or more heating elements coupled to each of the one or more fins and configured to selectively provide heat to the base plate.

In a shaping device, a sheet that distends due to being irradiated with electromagnetic waves is placed a conveyor belt. An irradiator irradiates the sheet placed on and conveyed by the conveyor belt with electromagnetic waves. At least one heater heats the conveyor belt.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade, comprising arranging one or more layers of fibre material and a preform in a mould (66), injecting the one or more layers of fibre material and the preform (76) with a curable resin, and curing the resin. The preform (76) is impregnated with a curing promoter such that the concentration of curing promoter varies spatially within the preform.