The disclosure includes a laminate tool and a process for producing laminate tooling with functional features between adjacent or non-adjacent laminate segments to provide mechanical leverage to demold a part, space for moving tool segments that allow features to be molded against the line of draw (eliminate die-locked conditions), and passage way for gas to travel.

An apparatus for manufacturing of 3D objects is provided. The apparatus includes a number of material deposition heads terminated by nozzles, of which one or two nozzles are configured to deposit a first material to form a first and second pattern layers. The pattern layers are laterally shifted from each other such that when the first and second pattern layers are deposited, a space (empty volume) with a varying cross section is formed. In some examples, two or more nozzles could be used to deposit the corresponding first and second pattern layers. The nozzles could move independent of each other.

This disclosure concerns a master model for the production of a mold, comprising: (a) a first part, a second part comprising a textured surface; wherein the first part and the second part are connected.

A method including: obtaining a part design file of a part; deriving, from the art design file, a central mold design; determining one or more fill points for the central mold design; and attaching one or more mating connectors to the determined one or more fill points to create a modular part mold file.

Methods for forming optical articles with antireflective nanostructured (ARN) surfaces. An aluminum layer is deposited or otherwise applied to the cavity of an injection mold tool. Sequential chemical treatments such as anodization and etching steps form an ARN mold texture on the interior surface of the cavity. The ARN mold texture is a negative of a desired surface texture of the article. During injection molding, the desired ARN surface is thereby produced in the optical article.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a mold used in an injection molding device. The manufacturing method includes: a first step of shaping a stacked body as a part of the mold by discharging a shaping material to stack layers on a base plate; and a second step of manufacturing the mold including a mold base, the base plate, and the stacked body by incorporating the base plate on which the stacked body is shaped inside an opening provided in the mold base.

A caul body for forming a composite structure comprises a laminate having at least one carbon layer and at least one silicone layer. The at least one silicone layer defines an outer surface of the laminate. The laminate has a first region and a second region. A thickness of the at least one carbon layer in the first region is greater than a thickness of the at least one carbon layer in the second region. The first region has a hardness value greater than a hardness value of the second region.

A mold for forming a flange of a wind turbine blade comprising a first flange portion including a plurality of lamina and having a generally planar shape and a second perpendicular flange including a plurality of lamina. A plurality of copper wires are disposed within the lamina for conducting heat delivered from a base portion through the first and second flange portions. The mold is free of fluid conduits with the flange portions moveable relative to the base portion.

A method employs a first polymeric material to deposit first and second pattern layers laterally shifted from each other such that laterally shifted pattern layers form between them an empty volume with a variable cross-section that varies along with the first and second pattern layers. A second polymeric material is cast in the empty volume between the first and second pattern layers to cast a complex-shaped 3D object identical in shape to the empty volume between the first and second pattern layers. Radiation is applied to cure the first and second polymeric materials. The first polymeric material is a water breakable material composition including acrylamide, methacrylamide, acrylate, acrylic acids, and acrylic acid salts, hydroxy(meth)acrylate, carboxy(meth)acrylate, acrylonitrile, carbohydrate monomers, methacrylate and polyfunctional acrylics.

According to some aspects, a method is provided of casting an object from a mold, the method comprising obtaining a mold comprising a hollow shell of rigid material, the material comprising a thermoset polymer having a plurality of pores formed therein, providing a metal and/or ceramic slurry into an interior of the mold, exposing at least part of the mold to a low pressure environment so that a net flow of gas is produced from the interior of the mold into the low pressure environment. According to some aspects, a method of forming a porous mold is provided. According to some aspects, a photocurable liquid composition is provided, comprising a liquid photopolymer resin, particles of a solid material, in an amount between 30% and 60% by volume of the composition, and a water-soluble liquid.