An apparatus for spin casting lenses includes a rotatable tube, the rotatable tube defining a longitudinal cavity, wherein the longitudinal cavity is configured to receive molds. According to one exemplary embodiment, the rotatable tube is made of metal and includes a plurality of apertures configured to permit the transmission of actinic radiation.

A production line for manufacturing molded columns comprises a plurality of molding machines, a carousel to convey the molding machines along a closed path, a pouring station disposed adjacent the closed path, and an unloading station disposed adjacent the closed path generally opposite the pouring station. A molding material is poured into molds in the molding machines as the molding machines are conveyed past the pouring station. The molding machines are actuated as the molding machines are being conveyed from the pouring station to the unloading station. At the unloading station, the molding machines are stopped and the molds are unloaded from the molding machines. The unloading station may include extraction equipment to extract the molded columns from the molds.

A column or other elongate molded part is molded using an elongate tubular mold having a closed end, an open end and a flexible sidewall. After the column or other molded part is formed, it is extracted from the mold by pulling the column or other molded part axially through the open end of the mold. The column may be extracted using an expandable plug or gripper that is inserted into the interior of the column or other molded part through the open end of the mold. The expandable plug or gripper is expanded to engage an inner surface of the elongate molded part.

A reinforced thermoplastic product may include a main body and a fabric reinforcing sheet that is disposed within a wall of the main body. The wall of the main body may be formed of or from a cast thermoplastic material and the fabric reinforcing sheet may extend circumferentially around the main body in order to reinforce the wall. The fabric reinforcing sheet may include a plurality of fiber bundles and a thermoplastic material that impregnates each fiber bundle.

Polyolefin hollow articles prepared via a rotomolding process are provided flame retardancy by incorporating therein a phosphonate ester, an N-alkoxy hindered amine and melamine cyanurate.

Methods of fabricating ultra-miniature, ultra-compliant probe arrays through spin coating, wherein a dissolvable material in hydrogel form is dispensed onto an assembled mold with wires. Once the dissolvable material is dispensed onto the mold, centrifuging spin casts the material by evaporating the solvent, forming a dried dissolvable polymer. Finally, a device is used with water to remove excess dissolvable material to obtain a dissolvable needle with wires.

A reinforced thermoplastic product may include a main body and a fabric reinforcing sheet that is disposed within a wall of the main body. The wall of the main body may be formed of or from a cast thermoplastic material and the fabric reinforcing sheet may extend circumferentially around the main body in order to reinforce the wall. The fabric reinforcing sheet may include a plurality of fiber bundles and a thermoplastic material that impregnates each fiber bundle.

A column or other elongate molded part is molded using an elongate tubular mold having a closed end, an open end, and a flexible sidewall. After the column or other molded part is formed, it is extracted from the mold by pulling the column or other molded part axially through the open end of the mold. The column may be extracted using an expandable plug that is inserted into the interior of the column or other molded part through the open end of the mold. The expandable plug, if used, may be expanded to engage and seal against an inner surface of the elongate molded part. A pressurized gas is introduced into the interior of the elongate molded part through the plug to expand the mold before pulling the column through the open end of the mold.

A column or other elongate molded part is molded using an elongate tubular mold having a closed end, an open end and a flexible sidewall. After the column or other molded part is formed, it is extracted from the mold by pulling the column or other molded part axially through the open end of the mold. The inner surface of the mold may comprise a recessed or protruding form to mold a protruding or sunken relief on or in an exterior surface of the molded part. The column may be extracted using an expandable plug that is inserted into the interior of the column or other molded part through the open end of the mold. The expandable plug is expanded to engage and seal against an inner surface of the elongate molded part. A pressurized gas is introduced into the interior of the elongate molded part through the plug to expand the mold before pulling the column through the open end of the mold.

Rotational moulding machine (1) comprising a fixed frame (2), a support arm (3) comprising a first (4) and a second portion (5) rigidly joined together, the support arm (3) being rotationally fixed to the fixed frame (2) only at the first portion (4) to rotate about a first axis of rotation (101) substantially horizontal, a movable frame (6) rotationally fixed to the support arm (3) to rotate about a second axis of rotation (102) substantially perpendicular to the first axis of rotation (101), the movable frame (6) comprising a supporting portion (7) lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the second axis of rotation (102), and an actuation system (8) rigidly fixed to the movable frame (6) at the supporting portion (7) and structured to secure a mould (20) and rotate the mould (20) about a third axis of rotation (103) substantially perpendicular to the second axis of rotation (102).