A continuous molding machine for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced composite material by molding a sheet-like reinforcing fiber base material formed by impregnating thermoplastic resin into a reinforcing fiber material, in which the continuous molding machine includes a molding device that performs a molding operation of pressurizing and molding a plurality of the overlapped reinforcing fiber base materials supplied from a supply device. The continuous molding machine includes a heating device including a non-contact heater provided between the supply device and the molding device, and the heater is configured to be able to make a temperature of at least a direct heating target a melting point of the thermoplastic resin within a predetermined heating time according to a time of the molding operation.

A process for the manufacture of an elongate composite element comprising a bundle (20) of multifilament fibers embedded in a composition based on a polymerizable substance comprising the following comprises: arranging multifilament fibers in the form of several individual strands, so that a first strand (20a) is located at the center of the bundle and that the other strands are positioned around the first strand; and carrying along the arrangement of multifilament fibers in order to subject it, in the direction of forward progression, to degassing of said arrangement of fibres by the action of vacuum, impregnation of the arrangement of fibres with the composition, passage of the first impregnated strand through a first die (10a) which carries out its partial polymerization, passage of all the strands through a last die (10f) which brings them together in a single strand (20f), and exposure of the single strand (20f) to a source of radiation in order to carry out an additional polymerization to obtain the elongate composite element.

Equipment for forming a tubular rod of fibrous material comprises: a gathering station constructed to receive a continuous supply of fibres and to gather the fibres into a bundle as the fibres advance through the equipment; a divider arranged in the path of the fibres through the equipment and constructed to from a cleft along the length of the bundle as it advances through the equipment; a mandrel positioned in the path of the bundle of fibres in alignment with the divider and constructed to form the cleft into a passage through the bundle of fibres as the bundle of fibres advances over the mandrel; and a die constructed and arranged to cooperate with the mandrel to form the fibres in a tubular configuration around the mandrel.

A method and apparatus for resistive heating usable in composite-based additive manufacturing is disclosed. The method includes providing a prepared stack of substrate sheets, placing the stack between electrode assemblies of a compression device, applying a current to thereby heat the stack to a final temperature to liquefy applied powder, compressing the stack to a final height, cooling the stack, and removing the cooled, compressed stack from the compression device. The apparatus comprises at least two plates, a power supply for providing current, a first electrode assembly and a second electrode assembly.

A 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system and method based upon a 3D variable die system and including one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines to continuously produce thermoplastic composite pultrusions with at least one of varying cross-section geometry and constant surface contours, varying cross-section geometry and varying surface contours, and constant cross-section geometry and varying surface contours. The 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system and method including at least one of multiple pairs of shapeable and flexible bands and a rotating assembly that rotates the one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines to impart a twist to the thermoplastic composite.

The composite pultruded products either in I profile or Plate profile of higher cross sectional area where said products consisting essentially synthetic polyester felts as core impregnated with a resin system comprises of at least one resin, curing system comprising a curing agent and an accelerator, a filler, a thinner, pigment or any other additives; encapsulated between bi-directionally and/or uni-directionally oriented synthetic fabric selected from polyester, carbon, aramid, glass, basalt and mixtures thereof impregnated with said resin system are provided. In another composite pultruded products either in I profile or Plate profile of higher cross sectional area where said products consisting of plank of short fibers bagasse premixed with the said resin system as core is enclosed between the synthetic polyester felts impregnated with the resin system which is further enclosed between bi-directionally and/or uni-directionally oriented synthetic fabric selected from polyester, carbon, aramid, glass, basalt and mixtures thereof impregnated with the resin system. The system and method for the preparation of said composite pultruded products are also illustrated herein. These products lead to a significant reduction in weight and reduction in density with higher stiffness and bending strength. The present composite products are encapsulated by fabrics in the peripheral area bringing more integrity uniformity of synthetic polyester felt materials. This leads to a significant cost reduction without sacrificing much tensile strength.

A method and a device for fault-free production of individually curved plastic profiles. This is achieved in that the mold and the holding means are moved in opposite directions on the plastic profile, wherein the plastic profile is moved alternately by the mold and the holding means in a production direction with different movement patterns.

A system for pultruding a beam, such as a pultruded beam of natural fibers, comprises a pulling mechanism continuously pulling on a preform of yarns including a thermoplastic matrix and fibers, the pulling mechanism being downstream of the system. A sequence is provided in the system and has a pre-heating module to pre-heat the preform. A first die has a tapering channel portion heated such that the preform reaches a desired low viscosity temperature for resin in the thermoplastic matrix to impregnate the fibers. A vacuum module has a vacuum cavity to remove air from the preform exiting the first die. A second die has a tapering channel portion heated such that the preform is at the desired low viscosity temperature for resin in the thermoplastic matrix to further impregnate the fibers. A cooling module to cool the beam before the beam reaches the pulling mechanism. A system for pultruding beams is also provided.

A method for manufacturing impregnated fiber bundle includes: a step of feeding material including feeding at least one fiber bundle to a feeding wheel assembly; a step of resin molding including feeding resin to the fiber bundle in a high pressure manner to make the resin infiltrate the fiber bundle and to form an outer resin layer on the outer surface of the fiber bundle, so as to make the fiber bundle become a resin impregnated fiber bundle; a step of semi-cured molding including semi curing the resin inside and outside the resin impregnated fiber bundle by controlling temperature and pressure; and a step of reeling including reeling up the resin impregnated fiber bundle which is to be woven into a fabric.

A method of processing a thermoplastic composite tubular lineal comprising providing a pre-pregged thermoplastic composite around an elongated stationary mandrel; wrapping the pre-pregged thermoplastic composite with a release material; heating the stationary mandrel so that the pre-pregged thermoplastic composite melts and the release material contracts, exerting pressure on the pre-pregged material; cooling the pre-pregged material and release material so as to form a thermoplastic composite tubular lineal in its final configuration; pulling the thermoplastic composite tubular lineal downstream; and removing the release material from the thermoplastic composite tubular lineal.