Provided herein is a method of manufacturing a product having a complex shape by using at least one jig and at least one mandrel. The method of manufacturing a product having a complex shape by using at least one jig and at least one mandrel is configured to include: a preparation step of preparing a prepreg sheet and a cylindrical first mandrel around which the prepreg sheet is wound; a first rolling step of forming a first stacking surface by winding the prepreg sheet around the first mandrel; a second mandrel preparation step of locating a second mandrel on the outer circumferential surface of the first stacking surface; a second rolling step of forming a second stacking surface by winding the first stacking surface and the second mandrel with the prepreg sheet; and a core removal step of removing the first mandrel and the second mandrel.

Provided herein is a method of manufacturing a product having a complex shape by using at least one jig and at least one mandrel. The method of manufacturing a product having a complex shape by using at least one jig and at least one mandrel is configured to include: a preparation step of preparing a prepreg sheet and a cylindrical first mandrel around which the prepreg sheet is wound; a first rolling step of forming a first stacking surface by winding the prepreg sheet around the first mandrel; a second mandrel preparation step of locating a second mandrel on the outer circumferential surface of the first stacking surface; a second rolling step of forming a second stacking surface by winding the first stacking surface and the second mandrel with the prepreg sheet; and a core removal step of removing the first mandrel and the second mandrel.

A method for forming a vehicle reinforcing member (26, 28, 30). The method includes conforming a planar body of fibre reinforced material (CFRM) (504), such as a sheet or unidirectional tape, to a shape of a shape defining member (506, 900). In effect, the shape defining member (506, 900) is a core that defines an internal volume of a closed cross-section portion of the vehicle reinforcing member (26, 28, 30). The CFRM material (504) comprises continuous fibres in a synthetic matrix. The method further includes bonding a first edge portion (510) of the CFRM body (504) to a second edge portion (512) of the CFRM body (504) thereby to form the closed cross-section portion of the vehicle reinforcing member (26, 28, 30). An apparatus (800) for implementing the method, and components (e.g. vehicle reinforcing members (26, 28, 30), vehicle seats (10) and so forth) formed using the method are also described.

A method for forming a vehicle reinforcing member (26, 28, 30). The method includes conforming a planar body of fibre reinforced material (CFRM) (504), such as a sheet or unidirectional tape, to a shape of a shape defining member (506, 900). In effect, the shape defining member (506, 900) is a core that defines an internal volume of a closed cross-section portion of the vehicle reinforcing member (26, 28, 30). The CFRM material (504) comprises continuous fibres in a synthetic matrix. The method further includes bonding a first edge portion (510) of the CFRM body (504) to a second edge portion (512) of the CFRM body (504) thereby to form the closed cross-section portion of the vehicle reinforcing member (26, 28, 30). An apparatus (800) for implementing the method, and components (e.g. vehicle reinforcing members (26, 28, 30), vehicle seats (10) and so forth) formed using the method are also described.

The present invention describes a method for producing a leak-tight vessel for holding a gas and/or liquid, comprising the steps of winding a heat-sealable thermoplastic barrier strip around a removable mandrel in such a way that each strip fragment overlaps with a substantially parallel strip fragment over at least a lateral overlapping distance, consolidating the overlapping strip fragments so as to form a gas and/or liquid tight layer, winding a fibrous material around the gas and/or liquid tight layer, thereby leaving an opening large enough for removing the mandrel. The invention also describes a leak-tight vessel produced in this way.

A method for creating tubular inserts is useful for creating custom fitted inserts that correspond to the anatomy of a patient and solve the problem of pressure points, wear of the implant, damage to surrounding tissue, and denting. Surface measurements of the affected portion of a patient's internal cavity are obtained. Those measurements are used to design a core. The core is 3D printed with a soluble material. The core is wrapped with a thin filament or film such that the contours from the core develop on the outer surface of the covering. The covering is hardened and the core is dissolved away, leaving a custom-made implant device that can be deposited in the patient's cavity.

A method of manufacturing a wrapped object, having a first segment and a second segment connected to each other by a curved transition segment having a common tangent with the first segment and a common tangent with the second segment, respectively. The method includes providing a mandrel with a surface structure to define at least part of the shape of the first segment, of the shape of the second segment and of the shape of the transition segment in between, and wrapping, one or more elongate elements over the mandrel and bonding the elongate element(s) to itself and/or each other so as to provide the first segment, the second segment and the transition segment as a continuous structure. The mandrel is provided with a fortification to support the element(s) forming the transition segment against inward-directed forces while wrapping and/or bonding the element(s) to form the transition segment.

In the manufacture of composite product, raw composite is layered on a shape or form and cured at a higher temperature. With some shapes, it is difficult or impossible to apply sufficient pressure to force and consolidate the composite material to adequately conform to the desired final shape during the curing process. The expandable tacky tape of this invention is comprised of a viscous medium incorporating thermally expandable material. Applied over the raw composite, the expandable tacky tape effectively forces the composite to conform to the desired shape during curing.

A tank production system and method that can suppress peeling of normally wound fibers when fibers not wound at predetermined position are peeled off. The system includes a rotation unit that rotates a liner, a storage unit that has recorded thereon the number of revolutions of the liner, and a detection unit that detects abnormality in the position of the fibers wound on the outer periphery of the liner. The rotation unit, when abnormality in the position of the fibers is detected by the detection unit, refers to the number of revolutions of the liner recorded on the storage unit and rotates the liner in an opposite direction to the direction in which the fibers are wound, back to the number of revolutions of the liner at a point when the winding of fibers to form a fiber layer, which includes the fibers detected at the abnormal position, has started.

A drape forming apparatus for that includes a forming tool including an upper forming surface and a side forming surface extending from the upper forming surface. The forming tool receives a layer of composite material over the upper forming surface. The apparatus includes a flange forming device including an upper plate, a lower plate, and a receiving slot defined therebetween. The receiving slot receives a flange portion of the layer of composite material, and the flange forming device is translatable relative to the forming tool such that the flange portion of the layer of composite material is withdrawn from the receiving slot and draped over the side forming surface. The apparatus includes a pressurized bladder that extends over the forming tool and the upper plate. The pressurized bladder forces the flange portion against the side forming surface as the flange forming device translates relative to the forming tool.