The present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a composite plastic component having a first section surrounded by a second section. The method includes positioning a first section on a mold, the mold having a curved top surface. The method includes heating a second section in the form of a frame, and positioning the second section about the first section on the mold. The method includes pressing the first and second sections on the curved mold to curve the first and second sections in conformance with the curve of the mold, and to attach the frame to the first section. The method includes removing the curved first section and frame from the mold, cooling the curved first section and frame, and allowing the first section to return from a curved shape to a planar shape.

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for composites, including carbon fiber-metal composites. In some cases, the composites may be formed from one, two, or more layers of metals or other substrates, sandwiching a plurality of aligned fibers. The fibers may be substantially aligned, and may be present at relatively high densities within the composite. The composites may be prepared, in some aspects, by dispersing fibers by neutralizing the electrostatic interactions between the fibers, for example using aqueous liquids containing the fibers that are able to neutralize the electrostatic interactions that typically occur between the fibers. In some cases, the fibers may be aligned using techniques such as shear flow and/or magnetism. Other aspects are generally directed to methods of using such composites, kits including such composites, or the like.

A method for fusing thermoplastic composite structures includes placing a substructure on an inner surface of a skin that is laid up on a shaping surface of a tool configured to maintain the shape of an outer mold line. The method further includes applying at least one insulation layer over a flange of the substructure and over exposed portions of the inner surface of the skin not in contact with the substructure, and applying a vacuum bag to at least partly enclose the skin and the substructure. The method yet still further includes applying heat to the shaping surface to fuse the substructure to the skin such that the skin exceeds its melting point and at least a portion of a raised segment of the substructure does not exceed its melting point.

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for composites, including short-fiber films and other composites. In certain aspects, composites comprising a plurality of aligned fibers are provided. The fibers may be substantially aligned, and may be present at relatively high densities within the composite. For example, the composite may include substantially aligned carbon fibers embedded within a thermoplastic substrate. The composites may be prepared, in some aspects, by dispersing fibers by neutralizing the electrostatic interactions between the fibers, for example using aqueous liquids containing the fibers that are able to neutralize the electrostatic interactions that typically occur between the fibers. The liquids may be applied to a substrate, and the fibers may be aligned using techniques such as shear flow and/or magnetism. Other aspects are generally directed to methods of using such composites, kits including such composites, or the like.

An example method for curing a composite part includes placing the composite part onto a topside of a cure tool, and a bottom surface of the composite part contacts the topside of the cure tool and a top surface of the composite part is opposite the bottom surface of the composite part. The method also includes placing the cure tool and the composite part into an autoclave, using the autoclave to apply external heat to the cure tool and the composite part so that air flows over the top surface of the composite part to heat the top surface, and applying additional heat to a backside of the cure tool via radiation provided by at least one heating source of the cure tool, so as to reduce a temperature difference between the backside of the cure tool and the top surface of the composite part being cured.

A three-dimensional modeling apparatus for fabricating a three-dimensional object includes a plasticizing section that plasticizes a thermoplastic material to transform into a molten material; an ejection section for ejecting the molten material; a first air blowing section that blows air from a circumference of the nozzle toward the molten material ejected from the nozzle; a platform on which the molten material ejected from the nozzle is deposited; and a control unit that changes a relative positional relationship between the ejection section and the platform.

A method for fusing thermoplastic composite structures includes placing a substructure on an inner surface of a skin that is laid up on a shaping surface of a tool configured to maintain the shape of an outer mold line. The method further includes applying at least one insulation layer over a flange of the substructure and over exposed portions of the inner surface of the skin not in contact with the substructure, and applying a vacuum bag to at least partly enclose the skin and the substructure. The method yet still further includes applying heat to the shaping surface to fuse the substructure to the skin such that the skin exceeds its melting point and at least a portion of a raised segment of the substructure does not exceed its melting point.

A microprotrusion device (1A) according to the present invention includes a needle-like and hollow first protrusion portion (3) that is formed so as to protrude from one surface (2a) of a substrate sheet (2) and a hollow second protrusion portion (4) that is formed so as to protrude from a vicinity of the first protrusion portion (3) on the one surface (2a) of the substrate sheet (2) and has a protrusion height lower than that of the first protrusion portion (3). The first protrusion portion (3) has an opening at its tip end portion, and a hollow portion (30) of the first protrusion portion (3) is in communication with the outside via the opening portion (31). The opening portion (31) is formed at the tip end of the first protrusion portion (3).

A method for fusing thermoplastic composite structures includes placing a substructure on an inner surface of a skin that is laid up on a shaping surface of a tool configured to maintain the shape of an outer mold line. The method further includes applying at least one insulation layer over a flange of the substructure and over exposed portions of the inner surface of the skin not in contact with the substructure, and applying a vacuum bag to at least partly enclose the skin and the substructure. The method yet still further includes applying heat to the shaping surface to fuse the substructure to the skin such that the skin exceeds its melting point and at least a portion of a raised segment of the substructure does not exceed its melting point.

Examples of the present disclosure relate to a method of cooling objects produced by an additive manufacturing process. The method comprises obtaining a volume of build material output from the additive manufacturing process. The volume of build material comprises unsolidified build material. The volume of build material comprises a plurality of objects and a separating element between the plurality of objects, the objects and the separating element having been produced by sequentially depositing layers of build material and the separating element having been produced based on at least one of the plurality of objects. The method comprises applying gas to the volume of build material to cool the plurality of objects, wherein the separating element provides a barrier between the plurality of objects during the applying of the gas to the volume of build material.