A first object is anchored in a second object. The first object has a material with thermoplastic properties, and the second material has a material that is solid and is penetrable by the first material when in a liquefied state. The second object has an insertion face with an opening having a mouth in the insertion face, and the first object has an insert portion that for anchoring is placed in the opening or about the mouth thereof. For anchoring, energy suitable for liquefaction of the first material impinges in an amount and for a time sufficient for at least partial liquefaction of the first material and interpenetration of the first and second materials. The second object, around the opening, has an anisotropic strength with respect to forces perpendicular to the opening axis.

A joining element has an anchoring portion for in-depth anchoring in the object and a head portion arranged proximally of the anchoring portion with respect to an insertion axis. The head portion has a lateral outer surface that has a structure that is well-defined, especially within tight tolerances. The joining element is positioned relative to an object of a non-liquefiable material such that the anchoring portion reaches into an opening of the object or is placed adjacent a mouth thereof. Then, the joining element is pressed towards a distal direction, to press the anchoring portion into the opening, while mechanical vibration energy is coupled into the joining element by a tool, in an amount and for a time sufficient for liquefaction of a portion of the thermoplastic material to cause interpenetration of the thermoplastic material into structures of the object.

Methods and apparatus for positioning a structure on a polymer layer are described. A method may involve forming a first polymer layer. The method may further involve positioning, by an apparatus, a structure on the first polymer layer, where the apparatus comprises a rod having a first end that supports the structure as the structure is being positioned and a plunger located around the first end of the rod that presses the structure onto the first polymer layer as the structure is being positioned. And the method may involve forming a second polymer layer over the first polymer layer and the structure, where the first polymer layer defines a first side of a body-mountable device and the second polymer layer defines a second side of the body-mountable device opposite the first side.

A sealing strip holder for manipulating and transporting a sealing strip preform in an at least partially automated production process, the sealing strip preform preferably having limp properties. To make the manufacturing process faster and less expensive the sealing strip holder comprises at least one clamping jaw which interlockingly and/or frictionally engages at least one surface portion of the sealing strip preform.

A method of fastening a second object to a fiber composite part including a structure of fibers embedded in a matrix material includes: providing the fiber composite part including an attachment surface, with a portion of the structure of fibers being exposed at the attachment surface; providing the second object; placing the second object relative to the fiber composite part, with a resin in a flowable state between the attachment surface and the connector; pressing the second object and the fiber composite part against each other and causing mechanical vibration to act on the second object or the fiber composite part or both, thereby causing the resin to infiltrate the exposed structure of fibers and activating the resin to cross-link; whereby the resin, after cross-linking, secures the second object to the fiber composite part.

An electrofusion fiting (20) comprises a fitting body (24) and an electrofusion collar (26). The fitting body (24) has an exterior surface (30), an interior surface (32), and a terminal portion (44) extending to a rim (34). The collar (26) has: an inner wall (42) having a heating element (60); a segmented outer wall (40) spaced radially apart from the inner wall; and a linking portion (46) linking the outer wall and inner wall. The fitting body terminal portion is between the inner wall and the outer wall. The collar and fitting body have interfitting features (150, 152) axially retaining the collar against extraction from the fitting body while permitting relative rotation of the collar and the fitting body.

A vibration welding device includes a base plate, a vibrating body, and a plurality of position adjusting jigs. The vibrating body is capable of vibrating while holding an interior part which is an object to be welded. The base plate is disposed below the vibrating body. The base plate holds an instrument panel which is an object to be welded. The position adjusting jigs are connected to the vibrating body so as to be adjustable in position. The plurality of position adjusting jigs are disposed independently of each other.

Improvements relating to wind turbine blade manufacture A method of making wind turbine blades of variable length is described. The method involves forming first and second half shells of a main blade section in a main blade mould assembly. A pre-manufactured tip section is selected from a plurality of tip sections of different lengths according to a total length requirement for the wind turbine blade. The tip section is supported adjacent to the main blade mould assembly such that an inboard end of the tip section overlaps with an outboard end of one of the half shells of the main blade section. The main mould assembly is then closed to bond the two main half shells together and to bond the tip section to the main blade half shells. The invention allows blades of different overall length to be produced using a common main blade mould assembly.

A connection element for adhering to a component surface of a first component, such that a second component can be secured to the first component by the connection element, including a base element having an adhesive side with an adhesive surface, and a mounting structure. The base element consists of a thermoplastic with a temperature of continued use of at least 130° C., which can be poorly irradiated or cannot be irradiated with light, and has at least one irradiation region. The base element can be irradiated with light in this region in such a way that light energy penetrates the base element. The irradiation region, in cross-section, has a smaller thickness and a transmittance at least 20% with a light wavelength between 320 and 500 nm. Alternatively, the irradiation region is formed by a through-opening.

A method of fastening a second object to a fiber composite part including a structure of fibers embedded in a matrix material includes: providing the fiber composite part including an attachment surface, with a portion of the structure of fibers being exposed at the attachment surface; providing the second object; placing the second object relative to the fiber composite part, with a resin in a flowable state between the attachment surface and the connector; pressing the second object and the fiber composite part against each other and causing mechanical vibration to act on the second object or the fiber composite part or both, thereby causing the resin to infiltrate the exposed structure of fibers and activating the resin to cross-link; whereby the resin, after cross-linking, secures the second object to the fiber composite part.