Techniques for providing universal interfaces between parts of a transport structure are disclosed. In one aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus for joining first and second parts of a transport structure includes an additively manufactured body having first and second surfaces. The first surface may connect to a first part such as, for example, a panel. The second surface may include a fitting for mating with a complementary fitting on a second part.

The present invention provides an apparatus for recycling composite material and a method for recycling composite material by using same, the apparatus including: a mixing tank in which pulverized products of fiber-reinforced waste plastic are dispersed and mixed in water together with a filler, thereby forming a composite material mixture; a fixing agent addition part for forming a recyclable material by supplying, to the composite material mixture, a fixing agent that aggregates the pulverized products of the fiber-reinforced waste plastic and the filler; and a filtering tank in which the recyclable material is supplied such that a recyclable composite sheet is formed.

An intensifier mechanism for forming stacked material includes a support, a first body coupled to the support, and a second body having a main portion, a pivoting portion, and a joint. The main portion is coupled to the support and the joint movably couples the main portion to the pivoting portion. The joint allows the pivoting portion to pivot in relation to the main portion when the membrane moves towards the bottom wall.

A fiber-reinforced resin composite material has a longitudinal direction, and includes a first stack, a second stack, a ridge, a flat surface, and a connection. The ridge extends in the longitudinal direction. The flat surface is continuous to the ridge. The connection is where the first and second stacks are coupled. The first and second stacks are joined to each other in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction. Fibers of at least one of first fiber-reinforced resin sheets included in the first stack, fibers of at least one of second fiber-reinforced resin sheets included in the second stack, or both intersect the ridge. The connection includes the first and second fiber-reinforced resin sheets that are overlapped alternately, and includes ends of the first fiber-reinforced resin sheets, ends of the second fiber-reinforced resin sheets, or both that are shifted from each other to allow the connection to have a gradually-varied thickness.

Disclosed is a vacuum apparatus for applying a vacuum to a reinforcement lay-up during in composite manufacture, and a method of use. The vacuum apparatus comprises a vacuum port component (100) having body portion (102) defining a contact surface (104) and an internal cavity. A vacuum port (108) for connection to a vacuum pump is oriented away from the contact surface communicates with the internal cavity. The vacuum port component can be connected to vacuum component (200) body portion also defining a contact surface and an internal cavity (207), and further comprising a plurality of inlet apertures or slots (206) extending therethrough and in communication with the vacuum component internal cavity.

A method and a device for producing a component from a fiber composite material. The method includes introducing multiple layers of fibers impregnated with a matrix onto an inner mold, placing a membrane sealed against an outer mold onto the fibers impregnated with the matrix, such that a cavity extending along the shell surface of the outer mold forms between the outer mold and the membrane, and applying a temperature-controllable pressure fluid to the cavity at a temperature greater than the melting point of the matrix and at a pressure greater than the ambient pressure. To produce a component having at least one reinforcing layer, at least one reinforcing layer having fibers oriented in a predominantly parallel manner is placed locally onto a portion of a side of a the base layer facing the outer mold with the aid of an insertion device and a membrane with an average surface roughness of below 1.0 μm, preferably below 0.1 μm, subsequently exerts a set pressure in the cavity on the component.

Provided is a shaping method for shaping a laminated body of multi-layered sheet materials containing reinforcing fibers by using a shaping die. The shaping die has a curved portion formed in a convex shape over a predetermined direction. The shaping method includes: fixing, to the shaping die, a holding member configured to cover the laminated body over the predetermined direction to maintain a state where the laminated body is pressed against the curved portion; sealing the laminated body and the holding member to the shaping die by a sealing member to form a closed space; and depressurizing the closed space to thin the laminated body by sucking air of the closed space, and the fixing fixes the holding member to the shaping die such that the holding member does not come into contact with an end face on one side in the predetermined direction of the laminated body.

A mold for an ultra-thick walled U-shaped composite product with a deep cavity includes an upper mold cavity, a lower mold cavity, a slidable side-drawing insert, and an auxiliary mold clamping structure. The auxiliary mold clamping structure includes a first auxiliary mold clamping insert and a second auxiliary mold clamping insert. The first auxiliary mold clamping insert is fixed on the lower mold cavity, and the second auxiliary mold clamping insert is fixed on the slidable side-drawing insert. The slidable side-drawing insert is located on a side of an integral structure formed after the upper mold cavity is engaged with the lower mold cavity, and the slidable side-drawing insert longitudinally slides along the lower mold cavity. The ultra-thick walled U-shaped composite product is formed and located between the upper mold cavity, the lower mold cavity, and the slidable side-drawing insert.

A method of heating a tool assembly includes the step of joining a first piece of the tool assembly with a second piece of the tool assembly via a first joint portion and a second joint portion. The method further includes the step of inserting a fastener through the first joint portion and the second joint portion of the tool assembly. The method further includes the step of applying heat to the tool assembly, wherein upon heating, interlock surfaces of the first joint portion and the second joint portion tighten against each other.

An induction curing system comprises a slip sheet and a power supply. The slip sheet comprises a layup surface configured to receive a composite material, a tool interface surface configured to interface with an upper surface of a tool, a rigid body extending between the layup surface and the tool interface surface, and an induction coil circuit within the rigid body of the slip sheet. The induction coil circuit is configured to heat the layup surface to a temperature sufficient to cure the composite material. The induction coil circuit has a diameter selected to generate heat using a power supply having a frequency below 150 kHz. The rigid body is configured to support the composite material during transport of the composite material. The power supply is coupled with the induction coil circuit, the power supply is selected based on the diameter of the induction coil circuit.