A three-dimensional image forming system according to the present invention includes a conveying unit which conveys a heat-expandable sheet along a conveyance path, a heating unit which heats the heat-expandable sheet by irradiating the heat-expandable sheet with light, and a control unit which preheats the surroundings of the heating unit to a previously determined preheat temperature and then causes the conveying unit to convey the heat-expandable sheet.

A method and apparatus for volumetric manufacture of three-dimensional physical objects from a precursor material based on plans, specifications, or virtual models. A build domain is provided comprising an enclosed three-dimensional wire grid in which the wires are connected to one or more electric power sources configured to controllably and addressably apply power to one or more individual wires to cause the wires to dissipate heat produced by Joule heating to the surrounding precursor material situated within the build domain, and to further allow for the control of the three-dimensional heat distribution and accordingly temperature distribution within the build domain. By activating and deactivating one or more predetermined subsets of the wires in the build domain, the precursor can be caused to melt and/or solidify so as to form a three-dimensional object within the build domain.

The invention relates to a fibrous-preform conveying device for conveying fibrous preforms, wherein at least one contact roller which on its circumferential face displays an electrode and/or counter electrode is provided, such that an electric contact with the fibrous preform to be conveyed is achieved in order to initiate a current flow in the fibrous preform when the fibrous preform is conveyed in the conveying direction.

A method of forming a consolidated structure. The method comprises placing a thermoplastic material onto a forming tool to form a structure; positioning the structure within a tool; and consolidating the structure to form the consolidated structure. The tool has a number of die liners configured to generate heat in response to a magnetic field. Consolidating comprises applying a magnetic field to the number of die liners to heat the structure to a consolidation temperature.

A resin molding method includes a first step of supplying electricity to and heating a stator coil via a stator terminal in a state that the stator terminal clamped; and a second step of molding an insulating resin at a coil end of the heated stator coil. The first step places the stator terminal on a conducting terminal block in such a state that clamping of the stator terminal by the conducting terminal block and a terminal holding member is released, before supplying electricity to the stator coil, and lifts up and down the conducting terminal block, such that the portion of the stator terminal becomes within a predetermined range.

A process and installation for producing a composite material part in which plies of continuous and electrically conductive fibers are deposited to form a stack of plies on a substrate. At least the face of the substrate bearing the stack is electrically insulating and the following steps are carried out a) an electrical terminal is inserted between the ends of at least two plies placed directly one on top of the other in the stack, and on at least two opposite sides of these plies b) when the fibers are dry, introducing a resin in order to impregnate the fibers and c) making a current flow between the electrical terminals through the plies in order to set the resin by resistive heating.

A method of forming a fibre composite component (10), the method comprising: providing a plurality of first fibres (102), the first fibres (102) being arranged in a plurality of layers (104a-e) with an uncured thermoset resin matrix (106) being provided therebetween. The resin matrix (106) comprises a plurality of second electrically conductive fibres (108) suspended therein having a shorter length than the first fibres (102). The method comprises then applying an energy field to the resin matrix (106) to thereby align the second fibres (108) such that they provide an electrically conductive path between adjacent layers (104a-e) of first fibres (102) to form an electrically conductive fibre network comprising the first and second fibres (102, 108). The method comprises then inducing an electric current through the electrically conductive fibre network to thereby heat and cure the resin matrix (106).

A method for thermally processing a minimally absorbing thin film in a selective manner is disclosed. Two closely spaced absorbing traces are patterned in thermal contact with the thin film. A pulsed radiant source is used to heat the two absorbing traces, and the thin film is thermally processed via conduction between the two absorbing traces. This method can be utilized to fabricate a thin film transistor (TFT) in which the thin film is a semiconductor and the absorbers are the source and the drain of the TFT.

A method of making a part comprising stacking a plurality of uncured composite sheets to form an uncured composite stack. The method also comprises interposing a resistor wire between an adjacent two of the uncured composite sheets of the uncured composite stack. The method further comprises applying heat to the uncured composite stack externally of the uncured composite stack to at least partially cure the plurality of uncured composite sheets. The method additionally comprises transmitting an electric current through the resistor wire to generate heat, from the resistor wire, internally within the uncured composite stack to at least partially cure the plurality of uncured composite sheets. Applying heat to the uncured composite stack externally and generating heat internally converts the plurality of uncured composite sheets into a plurality of cured composite sheets and converts the uncured composite stack into a cured composite stack.

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.