An assembly is provided for induction welding. This assembly utilizes a heat shield (e.g., a mica heat shield) with a recess. An induction welding coil may be disposed within this heat shield recess during induction welding operations. The wall thickness of the heat shield within the recess may be reduced to enhance heat transfer to a workpiece during induction welding operations. Members may engage the heat shield on opposite sides of the recess (and that have an increased wall thickness) to support both the heat shield and the workpiece during induction welding operations, during which a biasing force may be exerted on both the heat shield and workpiece.

Methods and apparatus' for induction welding a first workpiece to a second workpiece at a welding region may include a metallic strip. The metallic strip may be a mesh. The properties of the metallic strip, such as, for example, pore size, thickness, and density, may be configured to conduct heat uniformly across the welding region and prevent eddy current formation across a workpiece. The metallic strip may be embedded in a workpiece or may be fixed to an induction welding tool that acts on the welding region during induction welding. A removable polymer tape may be disposed between a workpiece and a metallic strip fixed to an induction welding tool. The workpieces may be thermoplastic composite structures and thermoplastic composite stiffeners in aircraft structures.

Systems and methods for induction welding a stiffener to a thermoplastic composite structure using a removeable metal mask to reduce excess heat along the edges of the stiffener generated from an electromagnetic field of an induction welding tool.

A method for treating a surface of a fibre composite component, wherein an abrasive removal of the surface of the fibre composite component takes place by blasting a removing agent transported by a gaseous transporting fluid onto the surface of the fibre composite component by a feed nozzle and a suction extraction of the removing agent and material removed by the removing agent takes place by an extraction nozzle arranged in the region of the feed nozzle.

An assembly is provided for induction welding. This induction welding assembly includes a fixture. The fixture includes a first support structure and a second support structure. The second support structure includes a frame and a plurality of trunks. Each of the trunks is connected to and repositionable on the frame. The fixture is configured to secure a workpiece vertically between the first support structure and the second support structure using the trunks during induction welding of the workpiece.

The invention relates to the use of a low Tg compatible resin as an adhesive layer for the welding of a thermoplastic composite structure to a thermoplastic or thermoset structure. The invention is especially good for the welding of large parts, such as wind turbine halves and spar caps. A useful thermoplastic composite is one formed by the infusion and curing of long fibers by a reactive acrylic liquid resin system, such as ELIUM® resin systems from Arkema.

Improvements relating to wind turbine blade manufacture 5 A method of making a wind turbine blade is described. The method involves providing a blade shell having an inner surface defining a mounting region and positioning a web in the mounting region. One or more web restraining devices are used to secure the position of the web in the mounting region. Each restraining device has a first portion attached to the web and a second portion attached to the inner surface of the blade shell. The 10 restraining devices are configured to prevent movement of the web in a first plane substantially parallel to the mounting region and to permit movement of the web in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the mounting region. The method further comprises moving the web in the second plane away from the mounting region and performing one or more preparatory operations on the mounting region with the web 15 moved away from the mounting region. The web is then repositioned in the mounting region by moving the web in the second plane back towards the mounting region.

Aircraft stringers having carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) material reinforced flanges are disclosed. An example stringer to be coupled to a skin of an aircraft comprises a flange. The flange includes a first portion of a first stiffening segment. The flange further includes a first portion of a second stiffening segment coupled to the first portion of the first stiffening segment. The flange further includes a CFRP reinforcement segment coupled to the first portion of the first stiffening segment and to the first portion of the second stiffening segment. The CFRP reinforcement segment strengthens the first portion of the first stiffening segment and the first portion of the second stiffening segment.

A thermoplastic welding assembly and method for joining a plurality of thermoplastic support components to a thermoplastic component is provided. The thermoplastic welding assembly includes a frame, a plurality of heat sinks, and a plurality of individually actuatable pressurizers. The frame includes a plurality of welding slots. Each heat sink of the plurality of heat sinks is positioned within one of the welding slots. Each pressurizer of the plurality of individually actuatable pressurizers includes an alignment actuator configured to move one thermoplastic support component into alignment with one welding slot, and a clamping actuator configured to move the one thermoplastic support component into contact with the thermoplastic component. In some implementations, the thermoplastic welding assembly further includes a plurality of actuators configured to move the alignment actuator and the clamping actuator.

A method of acupuncture needle packaging includes inserting an acupuncture needle body of an acupuncture needle including an acupuncture needle handle at an upper portion thereof into an acupuncture needle tube starting from the acupuncture needle handle; disposing the acupuncture needle in the acupuncture needle tube in a state in which the upper portion of the acupuncture needle handle is exposed to an exterior of the acupuncture needle tube; ascending the upper portion of the acupuncture needle handle exposed to the exterior using a pressing jig; irradiating a laser to an area where the acupuncture needle tube and the acupuncture needle handle abut each other; and coupling the acupuncture needle handle and the acupuncture needle tube by thermally deforming the area where the acupuncture needle tube and the acupuncture needle handle abut each other with a heat generated by the laser.