An apparatus for bending a composite tube that includes an induction coil. Induction coil includes multiple turns and the turn-to-turn spacing changes at least once along the length of the induction coil. There is a heating element positioned near the induction coil and the induction coil is configured to cause the heating element to increase in temperature.

An apparatus for bending a composite tube that includes an induction coil. Induction coil includes multiple turns and the turn-to-turn spacing changes at least once along the length of the induction coil. There is a heating element positioned near the induction coil and the induction coil is configured to cause the heating element to increase in temperature.

A fenestration assembly includes a plurality of lineal segments joined at corners. Each of the lineal segments extend between first and second ends. One or more of the lineal segments of the plurality of lineal segments is a composite lineal segment and includes a first component lineal segment and a second component lineal segment. The first and second component lineal segments are coupled at an assembly joint in an assembled configuration.

A fenestration assembly includes a plurality of lineal segments joined at corners. Each of the lineal segments extend between first and second ends. One or more of the lineal segments of the plurality of lineal segments is a composite lineal segment and includes a first component lineal segment and a second component lineal segment. The first and second component lineal segments are coupled at an assembly joint in an assembled configuration.

The apparatus has a bending/cooling station mounted on a base. A tube clamping assembly is mounted on the base, movable towards and away from the bending/cooling station and including a tube clamping assembly and a tube rotation assembly. A tube heating assembly is mounted for movement between the bending/cooling station and the tube clamping assembly. Servomotors move the tube clamping assembly and the tube heating assembly, rotate the tube clamping assembly, and actuate bending at the bending/cooling station. The apparatus is controlled by PLC or PC-based programs, which effect movement via servomotors and control other parameters such as heating and cooling times and temperatures. Bending and cooling the tube at a first bend location, and heating the next desired bend location, take place in overlapping time windows, before advancing the tube to position the next desired bend location of the tube at the bending/cooling station.

A method of making a 3D tube and the 3D tube made thereby. The method comprises: inserting a deflated pre-formed bladder into the 3D tube; and inflating the pre-formed bladder to deform the 3D tube and make the 3D tube have a substantially similar shape as that of the pre-formed bladder inflated.

According to various embodiments, there is provided a marked conduit or tube including: a hollow body having an outer surface, a length dimension, and a plurality of markings along the length dimension, the plurality of markings including a first line marking, where the first line marking is positioned at a 0-degree point of a cross-sectional view of the hollow body, a second line marking where the second line marking is positioned at a 90-degree point relative to the 0-degree point of the cross-sectional view of the hollow body, a third line marking, where the third line marking is positioned at a 180-degree point relative to the 0-degree point of the cross-sectional view of the hollow body, and a fourth line marking, where the fourth line marking is positioned at a 270-degree point relative to the 0-degree point of the cross-sectional view of the hollow body.

According to various embodiments, there is provided a marked conduit or tube including: a hollow body having an outer surface, a length dimension, and a plurality of markings along the length dimension, the plurality of markings including a first line marking, where the first line marking is positioned at a 0-degree point of a cross-sectional view of the hollow body, a second line marking where the second line marking is positioned at a 90-degree point relative to the 0-degree point of the cross-sectional view of the hollow body, a third line marking, where the third line marking is positioned at a 180-degree point relative to the 0-degree point of the cross-sectional view of the hollow body, and a fourth line marking, where the fourth line marking is positioned at a 270-degree point relative to the 0-degree point of the cross-sectional view of the hollow body.

Methods and devices of shaping a part during a manufacturing process. The devices include a contouring unit that applies a force to one or more contact points of an index section of the part, and a measuring unit that measures a shape of a virtual index section of the part. The methods include applying a force to the index section of the part and shaping the separate the virtual index section of the part. The shaping can shape the virtual index section to a target shape.

A method of manufacturing a fluid impermeable rigid composite pipe (10) or hollow tube comprising the steps of:a. providing a supporting mandrel (15) that is shaped to define a bore of the pipe (10); b. laying onto the outer circumferential surface of the mandrel (10) one or more first tapes (11) made of a thermoplastic material thereby to create a first region (11) that is predominantly thermoplastic material adjacent the bore of the pipe (10); c. providing a plurality of tows (14) that comprise co-mingled reinforcing fibers and thermoplastic filaments; d. weaving a plurality of the tows (14) to form one or more circular braids (13) and laying down the one or more of the circular braids (13) on to the first layer (11): to form a second region (12); e. applying to the outer surface of the second region (12) a heat-shrinkable layer (13); f. heating the product of steps (b) to (e) on the mandrel (15) to a first temperature at which the thermoplastic materials of the one or more tapes 11 and the tows 14 melt and the heat-shrinkable layer 13 shrinks radially inwards to consolidate the melted thermoplastic material to form a thermoplastic matrix in which the reinforcing fibers are embedded and a fluid impermeable thermoplastic rich region (11) is formed at the bore of the pipe (10); and, g. allowing the pipe (10) to cool to form a self supporting pipe (10).