A biocompatible and/or food-safe tube assembly (1) is used to connect at least three tube connectors (A, B, C). A first tube section (2) serves to connect two (A, B) of the at least three tube connectors (A, B, C). A sec-ond tube section (3) opens into the first tube section (2) via an orifice (4) in a casing wall (5) of the first tube section (2). An orifice sealing body (8) delimits the orifice (4) to the inner lumen of the first tube section (2) and to the inner lumen of the second tube section (3). The first tube sec-tion 2 and the second tube section 3 are molded onto the orifice sealing body 8. A core (10) is used for this purpose. The result is a biocompatible and/or food-safe tube assembly that avoids manufacturing problems.

A method of manufacturing a medical component includes molding a first member of the medical component from an elastomeric material. The first member includes a first end defined by a closed base wall, an opposing second end which is an open end, a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, and an internal recess to receive at least one electronic device. The method further includes positioning the electronic device within the recess of the first member to form an assembly, such that the electronic device is received in an inverted open cavity defined by the sidewall. The method further includes applying a protective film on the second end of the first member, such that the protective film covers an exposed surface of the electronic device. In addition, the method includes overmolding the assembly with the elastomeric material to form the medical component having the electronic device embedded therein.

A molding tool includes a top die, a bottom die, and several middle dies. Each middle die has a molding hole. The top die or the bottom die has a core, and the other one has a partial cavity. The partial cavity and each molding hole jointly form a cavity matching the core. The top die is opposite to the bottom die. The top die and/or the bottom die are/is driven to move towards or away from each other. Each middle die is moved to a position between the top die and the bottom die, allowing each middle die to be clamped with the top die and the bottom die. Upon using, a raw material is disposed on each middle die before the middle dies being sequentially moved to the position, making the top die, the bottom die, and the middle die clamp to process the raw material into a product.

A vehicle trim component is disclosed. The vehicle trim component may be prepared by a process comprising heating and placing a fiber panel into a mold cavity, compressing the fiber panel in the mold cavity to form a compression formed component providing a structural substrate having a thickness along an edge and injecting resin into the mold cavity with the structural substrate. A border may be formed along the thickness of the structural substrate by the injected resin; the border may provide dimensional accuracy at the edge of the structural substrate notwithstanding variations in the fiber panel. A resin feature (such as a part, component, connector, reinforcing element, weakened zone, shape, etc.) may be formed in or on the structural substrate by the injected resin (e.g. in a gap or void). The resin feature may comprise a rib to extend across an interface between the structural substrate and the border.

A matched compression die apparatus comprising an additively manufactured core member and an additively manufactured cavity member may be used to manufacture compression-molded parts, such as thermoset and/or thermoplastic panels for aircraft interiors. The apparatus may include generic frame structures configured to support different additively manufactured core and cavity members configured for molding different panels. The additively manufactured core and cavity members may be made of metal and/or a polymer material. The apparatus may include a heating mechanism (e.g., heat blankets) configured to heat the core and cavity members sufficiently to mold a workpiece into a desired shape.

A component for a vehicle interior is disclosed. The component may comprise a structural substrate comprising a fiber panel with at least one hole and a resin-formed structure; and a cover coupled to the fiber panel or the resin-formed structure. The fiber panel may be formed into a compression-formed component; the resin-formed structure may comprise a molded feature formed in the hole of the fiber panel. The resin-formed structure may reinforce the structural substrate. The fiber panel and the resin-formed structure may provide a substantially continuous structure. The resin-formed structure may extend along a surface of the fiber panel to form the resin-formed structure to the fiber panel. The cover may be applied to the fiber panel during compression molding. The component may comprise a trim panel, instrument panel, door panel, or other interior trim part. A method of manufacturing a vehicle trim component is also disclosed.

A trim component for a vehicle interior is disclosed. The trim component comprises a fiber panel, a structure and a cover coupled to the fiber panel and/or the structure. The fiber panel may comprise fibers and a resin binder. The structure may comprise resin such as a molded plastic. The structure may provide a border formed on a periphery and/or an edge of the fiber panel. The structure may be on the cover or the fiber panel. The structure may reinforce a gap and/or tear in the fiber panel. The structure may comprise a molded feature. The feature may comprise the border, a rib, or a connector. The cover may be coupled to an outer surface of the fiber panel and/or the structure. The trim component may be a trim panel, an instrument panel, a door panel, or other interior trim part.

A method for molding fiber-reinforced plastic. A core is formed in a desired shape by accommodating, in a flexible bag, a grain group containing plurality of grains. The core is placed inside a prepreg containing resin and fibers, and the prepreg, in which the core is housed is placed in a molding die and compression molded. When doing so, the grain group contains first and second grains (a,b) that satisfy the equation (1). (1) 1.1(Da/Db)2.0 In the equation Da is the grain diameter of the grains (a), and Db is the grain diameter of the grain (b). When using a molding die to mold a molded article having a cavity, the above mentioned molding method enables an increase in the internal pressure of the core in order to change the peripheral surface area of the core, without using a pressurized gas and/or pressurized liquid.

A compression molding assembly for molding a honeycomb core, including a plurality of cells defined by a plurality of walls, of a blocker door is provided. The compression molding assembly includes a ram plate comprising a plurality of openings defined therethrough and a plurality of core inserts coupled to the ram plate such that the plurality of core inserts are configured to form the honeycomb core of the blocker door. Each core insert is removably coupled with a respective opening of the plurality of openings such that each core insert is configured to form a respective cell of the plurality of cells.

A process for the manufacture of a heart valve of polymer material which provides for the deposition of a polymer solution comprising a copolymer which is preferably a copolymer of poly(carbonato-urethane) fluoridate (F-PCU) and intracatenary polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a PDMS with a functional group outside the chain and a solvent onto a mould using a spray technique associated with phase inversion.