Provided is a method of molding, by using a mold, a component including a metal plate and a thermoplastic resin containing a thermoplastic resin arranged on a surface on one side of the metal plate, the mold including at least a movable mold and a fixed mold including a support portion. Specifically, the molding method includes: an arranging step of arranging a premolded metal plate within the mold; a fixing step of fixing the metal plate by pressing the metal plate against the movable mold with use of the support portion; and a molding step including forming a cavity between the fixed mold and the metal plate by closing the mold, bringing the thermoplastic resin into close contact with the metal plate, and forming an exposed portion by exposing the metal plate out of the softened thermoplastic resin with use of the support portion. With this, without leakage of the thermoplastic resin, a joint region to a metal surface of another component can be reliably secured.

A process for producing a plate-like body with a resin frame having a decorative molding, wherein the decorative molding includes a main part and a film formed on a surface and has a design part exposed on a surface of the resin frame and an embedded part in the resin frame. The film continuously covers the design part and the embedded part. The process includes a step of mounting the decorative molding on a mold for forming the resin frame and further mounting a plate-like body, and a step of injecting a molten resin into a cavity of the mold and forming a resin frame with the decorative molding thereon into a window glass while a film at a portion located at a boundary between the design part and the embedded part is pressed against the mold by an injection pressure of the molten resin and thermally deformed.

A method for producing a metal-plastic-hybrid component comprises: providing a metal shaped piece, and providing a stiff plastics shaped piece made of a rigid thermoplastic. The geometry of the shape of the plastics shaped piece is at least partially adapted to that of the metal shaped piece. The method further comprises mechanically connecting the plastics shaped piece to the metal shaped piece in a manner such that the plastics shaped piece and the metal shaped piece are held against one another by intrinsic stress, and such that there is a substantial area of surface-contact between the plastics shaped piece and the metal shaped piece at at least one interface. The method further comprises inductively welding the plastics shaped piece to the metal shaped piece at the at least one interface.

A fiber-reinforced resin composite includes a honeycomb core, a fiber-reinforced resin layer, and a protection layer. The honeycomb core includes a plurality of cells that are defined by partition walls and extend in an axial direction. The fiber-reinforced resin layer is disposed around the honeycomb core. The fiber-reinforced resin layer includes continuous fibers wound around the honeycomb core. The protection layer is interposed between the honeycomb core and the fiber-reinforced resin layer. The protection layer is configured to prevent rupture of the continuous fibers.

Self-supporting 3-D printed chassis structures are disclosed. Self-supporting ribs are selectively printed to walls of the structure to meet desired dynamic stiffness targets while maintaining a reduced mass. The self-supporting ribs can be used as both support structures (e.g., for outer walls) during 3-D printing and as stiffening structures when the chassis structure is in operation. In an embodiment, the chassis structure is printed such that no support structures are needed. Topology optimization can enable remaining unneeded internal ribs or supports to be removed, and a high inner spatial volume between ribs can be maintained to make maximum use of the part. In various embodiments, wall thicknesses can be maintained at or below 1-2 millimeters, which further reduces mass.

A component part for a motor vehicle having a hollow profile portion of a fiber-reinforced plastic and a load introduction element of a metal material. The hollow profile portion and the load introduction element are connected in a common connection portion via a nondetachable, glued plug-in connection in which an end portion of the load introduction element and an end portion of the hollow profile portion engage in one another by positive engagement. The end portion of the load introduction element has a spline with teeth extending in longitudinal direction of the common connection portion so that the stiffness of the end portion of the load introduction element reduced in longitudinal direction of the common connection portion.

Disclosed herein is a reinforced panel. The reinforced panel is produced by a process that comprises applying a reinforcing fiber material, comprising a first polymeric material, to only a portion of a panel sheet, comprising a second polymeric material. The process also comprises, after applying the reinforcing fiber material to the panel sheet, thermoforming both the second polymeric material of the panel sheet and the first polymeric material of the reinforcing fiber material. The thermoforming integrally couples the panel sheet with the reinforcing fiber material to produce the reinforced panel by fusion bonding the first polymeric material with the second polymeric material. The reinforced panel includes one or more reinforced portions, defined by the reinforcing fiber material, and one or more non-reinforced portions, defined between the reinforcing fiber material.

Example mechanical supports or mandrels are described for composite part curing. In one example, a mandrel includes a housing, and components within the housing and positioned to create a central opening. An expander is also positioned in the central opening, and the expander has a width that increases along a length of the expander. A narrow end of the expander is positioned in the central opening. An actuator is provided to move the expander into the central opening causing the components to expand the housing, and to retract the expander from the central opening causing the components to collapse the housing.

An apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a body-in-white member having an inboard side and an outboard side, a reinforcing structure molded on the inboard side, and an energy absorbing structure molded on the outboard side. A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, providing a body-in-white member having an inboard side and an outboard side, molding a reinforcing structure on the inboard side, and molding an energy absorbing structure on the outboard side.

To manufacture a motor vehicle composite component, plastic particles are introduced into a mold cavity of a mold and are connected there to one another to form a particle foam. The mold is then adjusted while the mold cavity changes, and a thermoplastic plastic is then injected into the mold cavity while a carrying element and/or at least one fastening element are formed, wherein the thermoplastic plastic is bonded to the particle foam at least by connection in substance. The aforementioned materials may also be introduced in the reverse order. The mold is then adjusted once again while the mold cavity changes, and a metal melt is then injected into the mold cavity, as a result of which an electrical strip conductor and/or at least one metallic fastening element are formed.