Methods and systems are provided for ultra-violet curing, and in particular, for ultra-violet curing of optical fiber surface coatings. In one example, a curing device includes a first elliptic cylindrical reflector, with a second elliptic cylindrical reflector housed within the first elliptic cylindrical reflector. The first elliptic cylindrical reflector and second elliptic cylindrical reflector have a co-located focus, and a workpiece to be cured by the curing device may be arranged at the co-located focus.

A method of manufacturing three-dimensional (3D) objects is provided. The method includes generating a plan for printing a plurality of 3D objects in a 3D printing medium at least in part by identifying an unprinted area of the 3D printing medium for insertion of a cooling device and determining where at least some of the plurality of 3D objects are to be printed in the 3D printing medium such that none of the at least some of the plurality of 3D objects, when printed, intersect the identified unprinted area for the insertion of the cooling device. The method further includes printing, using a 3D printer, the at least some of the plurality of 3D objects in accordance with the plan and, after the printing, inserting the cooling device into the unprinted area of the 3D printing medium and cooling the 3D printing medium using the cooling device.

In one example, an apparatus for generating a three-dimensional object includes an energy source to apply energy to a layer of build material to cause a first portion of the layer to coalesce and solidify, an agent distributor to selectively deliver a cooling agent onto a second portion of the layer, and a controller to control the energy source to apply energy to the layer to cause the first portion to coalesce and solidify in a first pattern and to control the agent distributor to selectively deliver the cooling agent onto the second portion of the layer in a second pattern independent of the first pattern.

A molding die and a molding method are provided, which allow high-cycle manufacturing of molded bodies of a thermoplastic resin or thermoplastic resin-fiber composite material, thereby improving productivity. Molding is performed using a molding die including a plurality of die portions that form a cavity in which a molded body is molded, the molding die including: a first temperature adjusting unit disposed in the vicinity of the cavity surface and capable of at least cooling the cavity surface; and a second temperature adjusting unit disposed on a side of the first temperature adjusting unit opposite from the cavity surface and capable of at least heating the cavity surface, wherein a distance L0 from the cavity surface to the first temperature adjusting unit and a distance L1 from the cavity surface to a surface of the corresponding die portion opposite from the cavity surface satisfy the relationship: (L1/L0)>3.

The present embodiments provide an apparatus for producing a pressure vessel blank, comprising at least one connection element, a multi-part blow-moulding tool, and at least one blowing pin. The present embodiments further provide a pressure vessel comprising at least one connection element, a pressure vessel blank, and a supporting shell connected to and supporting the pressure vessel blank. An aspect of the present embodiments provides a process for producing a pressure vessel blank using an apparatus comprising at least one connection element that enables a shortened time for producing a pressure vessel blank with increased stability under pressure.

A method for manufacturing a lower housing of a battery pack having an embedded cooling pipe comprises the steps of: preparing a cooling pipe, which protrudes to the outside of the lower housing so as to be insert-connected to an external quick connector, includes a locking protrusion having a first outer diameter at a quick connector insertion part to be connected to the quick connector, and a second outer diameter for enabling the protrusion to be fixed to the quick connector in the inward direction in a first length at the end of the quick connector insertion part, and has a joint part which has a predetermined length and a third outer diameter corresponding to the second outer diameter in the inward direction in a second length longer than the first length at the end of the quick connector insertion part, and which is to be disposed over a cooling pipe inlet of the lower housing; preparing a slider including one or more pipe insertion parts having inner diameters corresponding to the third outer diameter of the joint part; inserting the quick connector insertion parts of the cooling pipes into the pipe insertion parts of the slider; coupling a lower housing mold to the cooling pipe; forming the lower housing by using the lower housing mold; and removing the slider and the lower housing mold.

A method and apparatus for manufacturing a formed article of a composite material. The formed article is manufactured by heating and pressurizing a thermoplastic resin material and fabric material. The method includes a preforming process in which the material to be formed is put in a preforming mold with a release sheet arranged between the material and a part of the preforming mold. The material is heated and pressurized to impregnate the thermoplastic resin material into the fabric material, thus forming an impregnated intermediate material. Then, in a transport process the impregnated intermediate material in a heated state is taken out from the preforming mold with the release sheet left attached thereto, and transported. Finally there is a forming process in which the impregnated intermediate material is accommodated in the forming mold and the impregnated intermediate material is formed into the formed article of the composite material by pressurizing.

A core mould element can be mounted between first and second mould parts. The first and second mould parts and the core mould element can be mounted between first and second thermal platens. The thermal platens can have generally planar faces for mounting in a press, for maintaining a desired pressure within the mould assembly. The thermal platens can provide for heating and cooling the mould assembly, and each can include a central portion and end portions, with thermal breaks between the central portion and the end portions. Bores can extend through the central and end portions, for receiving heating elements and pipes for cooling fluid. The end portions can include bores for a cooling fluid for cooling the end portions.

Methods and systems are provided for ultra-violet curing, and in particular, for ultra-violet curing of optical fiber surface coatings. In one example, a curing device includes a first elliptic cylindrical reflector, with a second elliptic cylindrical reflector housed within the first elliptic cylindrical reflector. The first elliptic cylindrical reflector and second elliptic cylindrical reflector have a co-located focus, and a workpiece to be cured by the curing device may be arranged at the co-located focus.

Systems and methods are provided for fabricating composite parts. One embodiment is a method that includes heating a female die having a receptacle and a complementary male die, heating an extruder above a melting point of a thermoplastic within chopped prepreg fiber, in order to melt chopped prepreg fiber disposed within the extruder, extruding the chopped prepreg fiber from the extruder into the receptacle of the female die while the chopped prepreg fiber remains molten, pressing the male die into the female die, causing the molten chopped prepreg fiber to fully enter receptacle, and cooling the chopped prepreg fiber in the receptacle of the female die to form a composite part.