Methods and systems for consolidating an additively manufactured piece. In one embodiment, methods include the step of combining the additively manufactured piece with another piece, for example with another additively manufactured piece or with a piece that is not additively manufactured (e.g. an insert, foam, etc.), so that during a consolidation step, those pieces are assembled or connected together.

A method for making a molded composite article includes the steps of: providing a sleeve body on a pressing portion of a male mold body, the sleeve body being made of a heat-expansible material and having a primary engaging segment and an abutting segment; disposing a composite laminate material on a female mold body; moving the male mold body provided with the sleeve body toward the female mold body while the male mold body and the female mold body are heated; continuing to move the male mold body so that the pressing portion extends into the abutting segment and presses the composite laminate material to form the molded composite article; and separating the male mold body from the female mold body and removing the molded composite article.

A device for moulding at least one bladed part of a turbine engine, including a base; a mould formed from a plurality of parts nested inside one another, this mould being applied to the base. A first seal is mounted between the mould and the base; and a bell is mounted on the mould and around the mould, this bell being applied to the base. A second seal is mounted between the bell and the base, this bell being configured to be held tight against the base and having interior surfaces engaging by wedge effect with complementary exterior surfaces of the mould in order to apply a clamping force on the parts of this mould.