The invention relates to a method for producing drive belts from different materials by means of casting processes. To this end, a mould core and an outer mould of a casting tool are provided. The circumferential surface of the mould core or the inner circumferential surface of the outer mould is provided with a geometry to be represented on the drive belt. A textile layer is laid on the geometry. The mould core is set into the outer mould so that the mould core and the outer mould define a cavity between them. Optionally, a tension member can be arranged in the cavity and the cavity can be sealed with respect to the environment at least in the region of the geometry to be represented on the drive belt. The textile layer is applied to the surfaces defining the geometry and an elastomer base material is introduced into the cavity.

In certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, three-dimensional micro-mechanical devices and/or micro-structures can be made using a production casting process. As part of this process, an intermediate mold can be made from or derived from a precision stack lamination and used to fabricate the devices and/or structures. Further, the micro-devices and/or micro-structures can be fabricated on planar or nonplanar surfaces through use of a series of production casting processes and intermediate molds. The use of precision stack lamination can allow the fabrication of high aspect ratio structures. Moreover, via certain molding and/or casting materials, molds having cavities with protruding undercuts also can be fabricated.

A process for manufacturing a composite structure includes: providing first mandrels, each first mandrel including a base and a plurality of projections arranged longitudinally along and projecting vertically out from the base; providing second mandrels; providing first ribbon plies, each first ribbon ply including a sheet of fibrous material; arranging each first ribbon ply with a respective first mandrel, the arranging of each first ribbon ply including substantially covering each surface of each of the projections of one of the first mandrels with a respective first ribbon ply; mating each second mandrel with a respective first mandrel such that each first ribbon ply is sandwiched between a respective first mandrel and a respective second mandrel; and curing resin disposed with the first ribbon plies to consolidate the first ribbon plies together and form a fiber-reinforced composite core structure of an acoustic panel.

A tool insert for the production of an object by an injection molding method, wherein the injection molding tool includes an insert frame and at least one lamination assembly having a plurality of individual laminations, wherein the at least one lamination assembly is inserted in the insert frame. In further aspects, the invention relates to a method and a system for producing an object having curved surfaces using the tool insert, and to an object which can be produced with the method. The system for producing an object comprises a tool insert and a sliding element. A basic idea of the invention is that curved surfaces can be introduced into the object in that the insert frame has curved surfaces and/or at least one distortion cushion is arranged between the insert frame and the at least one lamination assembly.

A customizable gating system for metal casting that includes a duct assembly formed from refractory conduit components is disclosed. The gating system is configured to deliver molten metal to a gateway for a mold. The duct assembly is formed from refractory conduit components that can withstand the high temperatures of molten metal and include advantageous features for forming the components, for adjusting the length of conduit components as needed to provide a customized duct assembly, and for interconnecting components to form a duct assembly.

A negative mold for casting a component such as a blade of a wind turbine is described. The negative mold includes a support structure and a plurality of foam blocks, which are mounted to the support structure in such a manner, that a common surface contour of the plurality of foam blocks defines an outer surface of the component, which is to be casted. Each foam block of the plurality of foam blocks is taken from a predetermined number of different types of foam blocks, each type of foam block is defined by a predetermined foam block size and foam block shape. A method for producing such a negative mold is also described.

A fiber reinforced composite member molding apparatus includes a pair of molds for clamping layered prepreg, or stacked sheets of prepreg formed of long carbon fibers impregnated with resin, induction heating coils for heating thermoplastic resin contained in the prepreg via the molds, and cooling passages for cooling the resin via the molds after the resin is melted, wherein the molds each have a design surface brought into contact with the layered prereg, the design surface being divided into a plurality of regions, and a plurality of cells provided along the design surface to be open at the back of the design surface and individually correspond to the regions of the design surface, the induction heating coils are arranged in the cells, and the cooling passages are formed in each of the molds to run along the design surface. This configuration allows the molds to have sufficient rigidity and produces a uniform temperature distribution in heating and cooling.

An interlocking construction block system comprising a family of blocks that interlock along three axes, including a left/right axis, a front/back axis, and an up/down axis. The family of blocks are self-aligning and do not require skilled labor or mortar to create a structure of any length, width, height, or shape. Each block comprises a specific geometry that allows all blocks in the family to interlock in a woven pattern that not only locks the blocks in place but also allows even distribution of structural weights and stresses. The disclosed blocks can be manufactured in different sizes to conform to any building code requirement and to create wall lengths to a one-inch measurement. The blocks may comprise channel openings to allow for plumbing, electrical, and structural reinforcements in the structure and may each be reinforced with an internal mesh cage.

An instrumented mold formed by an assembly of strata includes, within the assembly of strata, a measurement structure provided with at least one pressure sensor and/or at least one temperature sensor or any other sensor capable of measuring a physical quantity, the structure typically being in the form of a flexible support housed between two strata.

A mold for coating a pipeline section with molten coating material from an injection molding machine, wherein the mold Includes a shell of impervious material reinforced by an exoskeleton of non-distensible material. An assembly for supporting a mold including a plurality of mutually separable shell bodies for coating a pipeline section, wherein the assembly includes motorized opening and closing of the shell bodies in a straight line. An assembly for supporting a bent pipeline section wherein the assembly includes a base and a pair of arms extending from the base, wherein each arm includes a respective clamping collar for clamping a bent pipe section between the arms. A vehicle for induction heating a bent pipeline section, wherein the vehicle includes a helical induction coil; and wheels arranged to guide movement of both ends of the induction coil through a tubular inside face of a bent pipeline section.