The method includes producing an initial preform on a mandrel by filament winding without generating shrinking, cutting the initial preform to the correct length, placing the assembly provided beforehand with internal drainage device and pressurization device into a female mold, and bringing the preform assembly to a softening temperature and pressurizing the assembly at both ends until it is deformed by a diametrical increase in its dimensions. The method further includes bringing the impregnation resin to polymerization temperature and pressure in order to allow the workpiece to consolidate, its external shape becoming consistent with the internal shape of the mold, opening the mold and removing the workpiece from the mold, and machining the final shapes of the composite workpiece.

A macromolecule forming mold, which is integrally formed by a polymer body. Multiple communicated runners are formed inside the polymer body; a material injection port is penetrated in the surface of the polymer body, and the material injection port is communicated with the runners, so that a thermosetting castable fills the runners by means of the material injection port and is cured and molded, and the polymer body is damaged to take out a thermosetting elastomer. A thermosetting elastomer and a manufacturing method therefor. The thermosetting elastomer has the characteristics such as excellent physical properties and lightweight properties.

A mould (1) and accessories thereof for the forming of an orthopaedic spacer made of medical cement, defining a moulding cavity (2) delimited by a moulding surface (3) configured to impart a pre-established shape to the medical cement and to create the orthopaedic spacer, wherein at least one sector (6) of the forming mould (1) defining at least one portion of the moulding surface (3) is made with a thermoplastic copolymer based material.

A method and apparatus for shaping, compacting, and supporting a composite material (C) contained between two flexible membranes (G, F) and capable of being stretched over a porous mold (A) are described. The apparatus enables the use of inexpensive mold despite the high pressures used. A counter-mold (M) having the same characteristics as the mold can be used in certain instances. The equipment enables the use of a plurality of molds and counter-molds during one manufacturing cycle.

Disclosed is an elastomeric bladder tool and related systems and methods. In one embodiment, the elastomeric bladder tool comprises an elastomeric inner layer substantially defining an inner cavity of the elastomeric bladder tool, an elastomeric outer layer substantially defining an outer surface of the elastomeric bladder tool, and a permeable middle layer positioned between the elastomeric inner layer and the elastomeric outer layer. The permeable middle layer has greater permeability than both the elastomeric outer layer and the elastomeric inner layer to allow for evacuating of gases that have entered the permeable middle layer.

Systems and methods are provided for compacting laminates. One embodiment is a method for compacting a laminate onto a surface of a forming tool. The method includes placing the laminate onto the forming tool, disposing a compaction device over the laminate, gripping the compaction device to the forming tool, compacting the laminate with a pressure foot of the compaction device, and removing the compaction device from the forming tool.

The manufacturing method of the sheet having the needle-like protruding portions includes: preparing a mold including needle-like recessed portions, and a solution supply device including a slit-like opening formed at a nozzle distal end portion; supplying a solution from the solution supply device to the mold in a state that the nozzle distal end portion is pressed to a front surface of the mold, and filling the solution in the needle-like recessed portions; and moving the solution supply device relatively to the mold in a state that the nozzle distal end portion is brought into contact with the front surface of the mold, and, as a hardness distribution in a thickness direction of the mold, an average value of a Young's modulus at a part within 40 μm from the front surface of the mold is 1.9 MPa or higher and 100 MPa or lower.

Systems and methods for creating microneedle arrays capable of delivering a suitable drug dosages to subjects are provided. In one aspect, a method comprises creating at least one forming mold using laser ablation in a cross-over line pattern. The method further comprises casting a first material onto the at least one forming mold to create at least one microneedle mold. The method further comprises casting a second material onto the at least one microneedle mold to create at least one hollow microneedle.

Methods for mass production of new microfluidic devices are described. The microfluidic devices may include an array of micro-needles with open channels in fluid communication with multiple reservoirs located within a substrate that supports the micro-needles. The micro-needles are configured so as to sufficiently penetrate the skin in order to collect or sample bodily fluids and transfer the fluids to the reservoirs. The micro-needles may also deliver medicaments into or below the skin.

A tool including a tool body, the tool body including a substrate having a tool-side surface, an intermediate layer positioned over the tool-side surface, and an outer layer positioned over the intermediate layer, the outer layer including a metallic material.