Systems for positioning and bonding a nutplate to a substrate having an aperture include a nutplate engagement fixture and a temperature sensor retention fixture. The nutplate engagement fixture includes a rigid tube and an elastomeric tube engaged with the rigid tube, the elastomeric tube having an elongated tube sized to provide a friction fit with the aperture and retain the elastomeric tube within the aperture. The rigid tube is operable to engage the nutplate at one end and the elastomeric tube is configured to anchor the nutplate engagement fixture at the aperture and secure the nutplate in contact with the substrate. The temperature sensor retention fixture includes a fixture body sized and configured to engage with the nutplate and at least one passageway within the fixture body sized and configured to allow a temperature sensor to be inserted or embedded therein with an end proximal a surface of the nutplate.

Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for attaching structures. One system includes: a device having a first structure attached to a second structure; a first polymer coupled to the first structure, wherein the first polymer has a first temperature profile and a first shape; and a second polymer coupled to the second structure. The second polymer has a second temperature profile and a second shape. The second shape interlocks the first shape. The first polymer and the second polymer secure the first structure to the second structure in response to the first polymer and the second polymer being in a first temperature range. The first polymer and the second polymer release the first structure from the second structure in response to the first polymer and the second polymer being in a second temperature range different from the first temperature range.

A first aspect of the invention provides a method of joining a part to a composite component, the composite component comprising fibres impregnated with a matrix material, and the part comprising a plurality of projections, the method comprising: inserting the projections into the composite component; and pre-heating the projections before they are inserted into the composite component, so that the projections are at a higher temperature than the composite component as they are inserted into the composite component. The projections locally heat the matrix material of the composite component as they are pushed into the composite component. Increased temperature during insertion is advantageous as the reduced matrix viscosity, due to the increased temperature of the matrix, results in better consolidation of the fibres around the projections and minimises the distortion of the fibres. The composite component is only heated locally where heating is required, which removes the need to heat the entire composite component.

Provided is a laminate that includes a thin-film structure having a fine concave-convex structure at its surface, can be distributed on the market so that the thin-film structure is usable by a customer without staining or fracturing, and can be prevented from degradation even after storage. A laminate comprises a thin-film structure and holding films, wherein a first holding film is laminated on one surface of the thin-film structure and a second holding film is laminated on the other surface of the thin-film structure, the thin-film structure has fine concave-convex structures at both surfaces, and 0<P1, 0<P2, and P1P2, where P1 is a peel force at an interface between the first holding film and the thin-film structure and P2 is a peel force at an interface between the second holding film and the thin-film structure.

A water-using household appliance, in particular a household dishwashing machine, includes a wall which is made from a metal material, and a device which is made from a plastic material and fixedly connected to the wall by a laser weld.

A multi-layer exercise mat including a first layer including an outer surface and an opposing inner surface, the opposing inner surface of the first layer including a first array of three-dimensional features integral with the first layer; and a second layer including an outer surface and an opposing inner surface, the opposing inner surface of the second layer including a second array of three-dimensional features integral with the second layer. The first and second arrays of three-dimensional features are configured to grip each other to removably secure the inner surface of the first layer to the inner surface of the second layer.

A joint between at least one element of metal material and at least one element of plastic material is obtained by pressing these elements in contact against each other, with a simultaneous application of heat. A cladding of metal material and/or of plastic material is applied above the joint by additive manufacturing technology.

There is provided with a cylindrical member that can be easily increased in size. The cylindrical member comprises a first cylindrical member that is constituted by a cylindrical fiber reinforced plastic member that has a first metal film on a surface thereof and a second cylindrical member that is constituted by a cylindrical fiber reinforced plastic member that has a second metal film on a surface thereof. The first metal film and the second metal film are joined to each other. The first metal film and the second metal film may be welded to each other. A joining member may pass through a first metal film and a second metal film.

Methods of producing polymer-metal hybrid components that are bonded by CO-M bonds at the interface using at least one of the hot pressing, rolling, and injection molding methods to create chemical bond formation conditions at the polymer and metal interface. When the thermal cycle and compressive pressure specified herein is combinationally created at the polymer and metal interfaced, strong CO-M bonds forms at the interface and strongly bonds the metal and polymer together through the reaction carbonyl groups (CO) in polymer and the metal surface. For polymers lacking enough carbonyl groups, new functional groups can be in-situ generation through introducing distributed air pockets at the polymer-metal interface for forming 3-dimensional distributed CO-M bonds at the interface.

A method of anchoring a connector element (10) in a receiving object (66) comprises inserting a distal end of the connector element (10) into a mounting hole in an insertion direction along an insertion axis; inserting a sleeve (36) comprising a thermoplastic material into the mounting hole, the sleeve (36) enclosing the connector element (10); and transferring energy to liquefy at least a portion of the thermoplastic material of the sleeve (36). A machine (500) configured for carrying out the method and a connector element anchoring kit comprising a connector element (10) and a sleeve (36) comprising thermoplastic material.