A method includes compressing a non-dielectric, elastically-deformable component, a wire mesh component, and a dielectric, contoured object between first and second forming tools. Once the components are compressed, radio frequency energy is supplied to the first forming tool, thereby causing a radio frequency electromagnetic field to be generated between the first forming tool and the wire mesh component that results in a contoured weld of the contoured object. A tooling assembly is configured to carry out the method.

A method includes compressing a non-dielectric, elastically-deformable component, a wire mesh component, and a dielectric, contoured object between first and second forming tools. Once the components are compressed, radio frequency energy is supplied to the first forming tool, thereby causing a radio frequency electromagnetic field to be generated between the first forming tool and the wire mesh component that results in a contoured weld of the contoured object. A tooling assembly is configured to carry out the method.

Devices and methods for fusing materials using a heating element, where the overall mass to be sealed varies along the length of the seal. According to the invention, the heating element has a different profile in different areas. According to some aspects, the thickness and/or cross section of the heating element is different in different areas so that when a current is passed through the heating element, each area heats to a different degree. In some aspects, the heating element is shaped to conform to the shape of the parts to be fused together. The transition between areas of different thickness or cross-sectional area, or between areas of different shape may be sharply defined. This abrupt transition may be created by machining the heating element to a finished shape rather than bending flat stock to shape.

A machine and method for making bags is described and includes a web, traveling from an input section to a rotary drum, to an output section. The rotary drum includes at least one seal bar, having a first sealing zone, and an adjacent weakening zone. The weakening zone may be a heated perforator, includes a heating wire, or be disposed to create an auxiliary sealed area. The heating wire can have, connected thereto, a source of power that is at an adjustable voltage or magnitude, and/or pulsed, and/or a feedback loop. The heating wire may be an NiCr wire and make intermittent contact with the web and be disposed in an insert. The weakening zone may create a line of weakness that is uniform or varies in intensity, is a separating zone, or includes a heat film, a toothed blade, a row of pins, a source of air, or a source of vacuum. The sealing zones may include temperature zones, cartridge heaters, cooling air, or heated air, or a source of ultrasonic, microwave or radiative energy.

A method for forming thermoplastic composites includes: (a). cutting a thermoplastic film and a cloth material, with the thermoplastic film including a surface layer and an adhesive layer, and with a melting point of the surface layer higher than the adhesive layer; (b). placing the thermoplastic film on a platform of a molding machine, facing the adhesive layer upwardly, and covering the cloth material on the thermoplastic film, with the platform including a plurality of channels defined therein, a plurality of concave and convex patterns arranged on a top surface thereof, and plural pores evenly formed on the top surface thereof and communicating with the plurality of channels; and (c). heating the thermoplastic film by using a heating unit to melt the adhesive layer and to soften the surface layer.

Devices and methods for fusing materials using a heating element, where the overall mass to be sealed varies along the length of the seal. According to the invention, the heating element has a different profile in different areas. According to some aspects, the thickness and/or cross section of the heating element is different in different areas so that when a current is passed through the heating element, each area heats to a different degree. In some aspects, the heating element is shaped to conform to the shape of the parts to be fused together. The transition between areas of different thickness or cross-sectional area, or between areas of different shape may be sharply defined. This abrupt transition may be created by machining the heating element to a finished shape rather than bending flat stock to shape.

A method of joining a first element in composite material with a second element in composite material to define a structural component of an aircraft comprising arranging the first element in contact on the second element; applying a non-rigid heating layer on the first element; applying a layer of shape memory thermoplastic polymer, pre-loaded in a compressed non-equilibrium condition, onto the heating layer; applying a vacuum bag to the assembly thus obtained; sealing the vacuum bag to define a vacuum chamber housing the first element, at least part of the second element, the heating layer and the shape memory layer; applying vacuum inside the vacuum chamber; applying heat to the first element, to the second element and to the shape memory layer by activating the heating layer; expanding the shape memory layer from the compressed non-equilibrium condition to an expanded equilibrium condition by means of the step of applying heat.