Described herein are methods and systems for manufacturing composite stringers using independently movable pallets with independent vacuum controls. Specifically, a stringer forming system comprises a base plate and a plurality of sets of pallets (e.g., two or more sets of pallets), slidably coupled to the base plate and forming an adjustable cavity. Each pallet comprises a primary vacuum zone, fluidly connected to a separate vacuum port. The system allows for independent application of a reduced pressure to the primary vacuum zone of each pallet. For example, a reduced pressure is applied only to pallets that are already covered with a composite layup and to pallets that are being covered. Any pallets that are exposed are kept at an ambient pressure and decoupled from a vacuum source, thereby reducing the vacuum leakage through the overall system. As the composite layup is being formed over new pallets, these new pallets are subjected to the reduced pressure.

A method of producing a core for a composite panel along a continuous production line is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a thermoplastic sheet of material onto the production line and vacuum forming the thermoplastic sheet of material into alternating pairs of matching shapes, providing the thermoplastic sheet of material with alternating pairs of matching shapes onto upper and lower conveyor belts that are operating at lower speeds than the production line causing the pairs of matching shapes to bunch up and form a honeycomb structure, and cutting the honeycomb structure into discrete sections with spaces therebetween. A plurality of reinforced plastic bands with gaps therebetween are provided and the honeycomb structure is aligned with the gaps. The plurality of reinforced plastic bands and the honeycomb structure are secured together.

A customizable polyamide polymer, in particular Nylon 66, Nylon 6, and copolyamides, having a high molecular weight, excellent color, and low gel content is disclosed. In particular, disclosed is a polymer having a relative viscosity greater than 50 as measured in a 90% strength formic acid solution; consistent viscosity with a standard deviation of less than 1; a gel content no greater than 50 ppm as measured by insolubles larger than 10 micron; an optical defect content of less than 2,000 parts per million (ppm) as measured by optical control system (OCS). The polymer can be made into monofilaments or a multifilament yarn.

Systems and processes for thermoforming an article and for preparing an article for thermoforming are disclosed. The system for thermoforming can include one or more heating stations and a cooling station. The system for thermoforming can further include an article movement mechanism that can couple to an article and rotate the article inside a heating chamber, inside a cooling chamber, or both. The system for preparing an article for thermoforming can include a vessel that comprises a port, and a negative pressure generation system coupled to the port. The system for preparing an article for thermoforming can further include a compression material that forms an interior portion for receiving an article. The negative pressure generation system can cause the compression material to expand to allow for insertion of the article into the interior portion of the compression material.

A production method for blowing a container starting from a parison comprising the steps of:

i) positioning a parison inside a forming mould (2) for forming the container;
ii) deforming the parison (10) placed in the mould (2); the step of deforming the parison (10) comprising the sub-steps of: introducing a pressurised fluid into the parison (10) placed in the mould (2); sucking gas which is located inside the mould (2) and outside the parison (10) present in the mould (2).

Respiratory masks made of thermoformed EVA foam are provided. A mask can include a seal that contacts a user's face in use and a housing permanently joined to the seal. Both the seal and housing can be made of EVA foam. The seal and housing can be made of EVA foam having different densities. The mask can further include a frame removably or permanently coupled the housing. Headgear can be coupled to the frame and can couple the mask to the user's face in use.

Disclosed herein is a method of forming a mold comprising disposing a film having a textured surface on a support; where the support has a shape of an article to be manufactured; pressing the film onto the support to cover a surface of the support; disposing a backing on the film; separating the support from the backing; and molding a material in the backing. Disclosed herein too is a method comprising contacting a first mandrel with a first mold; where the first mold has a textured surface; texturing a surface of the first mandrel with the first mold; disposing the first mandrel in a die; disposing a first material in the die to contact the first mandrel; imparting a texture from the surface of the first mandrel onto the material to form a second mold; and disposing a texture from the second mold onto a second material; where the second material is different from the first material.

A thermoforming device includes: a base configured to hold a substrate; a hot plate including a heating surface facing vertically downward; a sheet transport portion that supplies a sheet onto the heating surface of the hot plate; and a substrate supply portion configured to attach the substrate to the base and detach the substrate from the base, and to dispose the substrate at a substrate supply position positioned in a lower area of the sheet which is opposite to a side of the sheet in which the heating surface is provided. In the thermoforming device, heating of the sheet using the hot plate and attachment and detachment of the substrate with respect to the base are performable at the same time, and the sheet heated and softened by the hot plate is attached to the substrate at the substrate supply position.

A tool for thermoforming a container having a base and an upstanding sidewall walls or walls. The tool includes a mould having a profile shaped to form the exterior shape of the container and a plug adapted to be inserted in the mould to define the interior of the container. The plug has a lower face adapted to define the profile of the base of the container. The profile of the lower face of the plug has at least one groove therein defining, in use, a rib upstanding in the interior of the base of the container.

The disclosure relates to a film transportation plate and a film transportation system for transporting a film web through processing stations of a film packaging machine. The film transportation plate has two opposite lateral edges and, therebetween, at least one mold impression for thermoforming the film web. Retainers for the film web are arranged on the two lateral edges. The retainers are each formed by a fixed clamping surface and at least one clamping jaw, which is movable relative to the clamping surface, for pressing the film web so as to clamp it against the clamping surface. The retainers also each have at least one retaining magnet for attracting the clamping jaw against the clamping surface, and an actuating extension for lifting the clamping jaw off the clamping surface. The film transportation system also includes actuating means which act on the actuating extensions of the clamping jaws.