A molded product processing system is configured to apply a post process to a molded product molded by a compression-molding machine. The system includes modules each including a conveying mechanism configured to convey a plurality of molded products P kept aligned, and a processing mechanism confronting a travel route of the molded products conveyed by the conveying mechanism and configured to apply a predetermined post process to each of the conveyed molded products, in which upstream one of the modules and downstream one of the modules are connected to allow the molded products having gone through certain processing at the upstream one of the modules to be delivered to the downstream one of the modules and be subjected to a different predetermined processing at one of the modules.

The invention relates to a method for producing a metal or ceramic component, wherein powder or a pre-sintered component is used, and the component is produced via a pressure-supported compacting and sintering step by means of at least one ram. According to the invention, a ram is used, the contact surface of which has an outer flat region and at least one inner region with a concave recess, whereby a component with regions of different porosities is produced during the compacting and sintering step at a maximum temperature (T.sub.1) and a predetermined force. With said method, it is possible to produce a metal or ceramic component in two method steps or preferably in only one method step, in such a way that the component has an outer flat region and at least one inner region with a convex elevation, and wherein the porosity of the outer flat region is significantly lower than the porosity of the inner region. A component of this type can be used preferably as a substrate/carrier for a membrane in a gas separation device or in a fuel or electrolytic cell.

A forming die for pressure-forming workpieces comprises a die core and a core reinforcement in the form of a reinforcement member made of fibre-reinforced plastics material. The reinforcement member is radially pretensioned against the die core and comprises a plastics matrix and a reinforcing fibre structure which is embedded in the plastics matrix and which extends in the peripheral direction of the die core. A method for producing the forming die includes applying the the fibre-reinforced plastics material to the die core so as to produce a radial pretensioning of the reinforcement member against the die core.

A cutting insert is provided, comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of side surfaces spanning therebetween, and a cutting edge formed at an intersection of the side surface and a forwardly-disposed portion of the top the surface. It further comprises a cooling cavity projecting into the insert, a top end thereof being disposed further forwardly than an open bottom end thereof. The cooling cavity defines at least one molding axis such that a solid element having the shape of the cooling cavity and completely inserted therein may be retracted intact therefrom along a linear path parallel to the molding axis. A circumscribing portion is formed on the side surfaces encircling the cutting insert. The circumscribing portion is formed parallel to the molding axis and has a non-zero height along its entire extent. The cutting insert does not extend beyond the circumscribing portion.

A method for the manufacture of a hard-metal pressed article comprises providing a multi-part die, involving: feeding at least one frontal mold part that is movable in a first plane; feeding at least one transverse mold part that is movable in a second plane; and locking the at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part to define a cavity for a pressed article. Feed directions of the at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part are inclined to one another. The at least one frontal mold part and the at least one transverse mold part define surfaces of the pressed article. The resulting cavity comprises at least one opening through which a punch is insertable. The method further comprises feeding a filling shoe above an opening of the cavity and filling the cavity with a hard-metal powder; and compressing the powder with at least one punch that is movable parallel to a main pressing direction. The feeding of the at least one transverse mold part takes place along a feed direction that is parallel to the main pressing direction.

An apparatus for manufacturing an article from powder material including a first table, a second table rotatably mounted on the first table about a first axis and a third table rotatably mounted on the second table about a second axis. A hollow canister is supported by the third table. A vibrator is arranged to vibrate the canister. A first device is arranged to rotate the second table about the first axis and a second device is arranged to rotate the third table about the second axis. A hopper is arranged to supply powder material into the canister and a valve controls the flow of powder material from the hopper into the canister. A processor is arranged to control the valve, the vibrator, the first device and the second device to control the filling and packing density of the canister.

A mold of a brake pad friction material, including a mold member fitted into a mold frame into which a powder material of the brake pad friction material is put, in which the mold member is configured such that a pressing surface in a surface of the mold member, which forms a region abutting the powder material put into a mold frame, has a concave shape that is formed by being gradually recessed from both end portion sides to a center portion side of the pressing surface.

The invention relates to improvements in tablet manufacturing, particularly in the small scale/bespoke manufacture of tablets. The application describes the mechanism of a motor driven tablet press (10) with biasing means (222) and wherein the angular position of the motor (28) is controllable, the inclusion of load cells (26,234), an improved die mounting (100,300) and die assembly (36), and improved compaction methods including controlled pauses (75,90) during tablet forming.

The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an electronically actuated press designed to compress materials in association with processes for manufacturing compressed soaps and bath products. An embodiment of the invention utilizes a DC electric linear actuator. The electronically actuated press produces less noise than pneumatic actuators and air compressors, require no operator adjustment to the pneumatic pressure settings and thereby provide an easier to use tool for the creation of bath bomb related products.

A powder compaction mold includes a die and upper and lower punches configured to fit into the die and is configured to compress a powder between the upper and lower punches to manufacture a powder compact. Of the members forming the powder compaction mold, at least one of two members in sliding contact with each other has therein a vent passage through which gas is vented from a filling space for the powder surrounded by the die and the lower punch to an outside of the powder compaction mold. The vent passage has a gas intake port that is open to a clearance section formed between the two members and connecting to the filling space.