A method for forming a composite tube includes the steps of: braiding a plurality of strips to form a workpiece tube; bending the workpiece tube to form a bend; and extending the length of the workpiece tube by continuing the braiding step.

A method, system and apparatus for flexible component routing design, wherein a flexible component includes a first end and a second end, includes moving the second end relative to the first end to simulate an operational motion state of the flexible component, scanning the flexible component to obtain a first set of routing data for the flexible component, changing position of the second end from a first position to a second position, moving the second end relative to the first end to simulate an operational motion state of the flexible component, scanning the flexible component to obtain a second set of routing data for the flexible component, and comparing the first set of routing data with the second set of routing data to determine a routing design for the flexible component.

Apparatus (10) for bending tubular products (100) wherein each tubular product (100) is provided with a flexible portion (111) configured to allow a bending of the tubular product (100). The tubular products (100) are disposed, at least temporarily, on positioning means (19), while bending means (18) each allow the bending of a respective tubular product (100) in correspondence with the flexible portion (111).

A method of manufacturing a curved profile from a rectilinear preform of pre-impregnated fiber plies. The method includes stacking plies on a deformable mandrel and winding the deformable mandrel and the stacked plies on a bending tool along a rotation axis, the profile comprising a stack of N plies. At least one first section of the profile is arranged along a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and at least one second section is arranged in a plane parallel to the axis. The method includes the steps of stacking the N plies of fibers on the deformable mandrel, bending in a single step the N plies sandwiched between the deformable mandrel and the bending tool and polymerizing the bent N plies. The curved profile comprises M plies with fibers oriented at A relative to a longitudinal direction and M+/5% plies with fibers oriented at A.

A method of manufacturing a coated low-friction medical device, such as low-friction medical tubing, including applying a coating to one or more selected portions of a surface of low-friction medical tubing to indicate at least one marking formed along the surface of the low-friction medical tubing, and simultaneously or substantially simultaneously: (a) curing the applied coating to a designated temperature (which is above the temperature at which the low-friction medical tubing begins to decompose and shrink) to adhere the applied coating to the surface of the low-friction medical tubing, (b) utilizing one or more anti-shrinking devices to counteract or otherwise inhibit the shrinking of the low-friction medical tubing, and (c) exhausting any harmful byproducts resulting from curing the low-friction medical tubing to a temperate above the temperature at which the low-friction medical tubing begins to decompose.

A support mandrel for producing curved composite components includes a prismatoid mandrel body formed from a flexible material, the mandrel body having two polygonal bases and an upper support surface extending between the two polygonal bases of the mandrel body, and a reinforcement bar enclosed within the mandrel body and extending between the two polygonal bases of the mandrel body substantially parallel and near to the upper support surface of the mandrel body.

The apparatus has a bending/cooling station mounted on a base. A tube clamping assembly is mounted on the base, movable towards and away from the bending/cooling station and including a tube clamping assembly and a tube rotation assembly. A tube heating assembly is mounted for movement between the bending/cooling station and the tube clamping assembly. Servomotors move the tube clamping assembly and the tube heating assembly, rotate the tube clamping assembly, and actuate bending at the bending/cooling station. The apparatus is controlled by PLC or PC-based programs, which effect movement via servomotors and control other parameters such as heating and cooling times and temperatures. Bending and cooling the tube at a first bend location, and heating the next desired bend location, take place in overlapping time windows, before advancing the tube to position the next desired bend location of the tube at the bending/cooling station.

A light guide bender (also referred to as an optical tube bender) is provided including an integrated bending mechanism that allows the surgical tube to be bent to the appropriate length (e.g., matching the retractor height). By bending the tube at an angle, potential obstruction caused by the optical fiber is reduced and the need to create various lengths of optical tubing is also eliminated. In one embodiment, the surgical tube may also include markings designating length of the surgical tube. For example, if 200 mm of surgical tubing is needed, then the marking for 200 mm can be located on the surgical tubing and the tubing can be bent at this location.

Method (10) for shaping tubes of polymeric material comprising a supply step (20) in which a substantially straight tube (T) is provided and a bending step (40) in which the tube (T) is bent to give it a predetermined final shape using a computer numerical control bending machine.

Method for forming a sealing element from extruded thermoplastic rods includes the steps of machining one or more extruded thermoplastic rods, each having a first and a second end, in a desired shape; bending the one or more machined thermoplastic rods into a circular structure at ambient temperature while keeping the stress in the one or more thermoplastic rods below the yield point; joining the first and second end faces of the thermoplastic rods to form the sealing element. A method for replacing and repairing a sealing element of a swivel is also described.