A method of forming a bladder cast ceramic matrix composite (CMC) article including infiltrating a CMC substrate positioned in a cavity of a mold body with a slurry. The CMC substrate includes reinforcement material defining inner spaces. The slurry includes solid particles and a carrier material. During infiltration, the slurry at least partially fills at least a portion of the inner spaces of the CMC substrate. The method also includes inflating at least one bladder that is coupled to the mold body and disposed within the cavity such that a surface of the at least one bladder in an inflated configuration contacts at least one surface of the CMC substrate. The method also includes drying the slurry to remove at least a portion of the carrier material form an infiltrated CMC and deflating the at least one bladder.

This disclosure relates to a tool guide for a tool that shapes a workpiece. The tool guide may include a body having a contact surface configured to contact a surface of a workpiece, a tool holder positioned within the body and configured to hold a machining tool having a tool bit, the tool holder holding the machining tool in a predetermined orientation relative to the workpiece, a guide element attached to the body configured to engage a surface feature of the workpiece, and an upper opening and a lower opening in the body configured to allow the tool bit to extend beyond the contact surface and operate to remove a portion of the workpiece.

A mold for making dry cast concrete blocks includes a pair of vertical shoulder forming sections, one along each of the opposite sides of the mold to form vertical front shoulders of a block. Each shoulder forming section has a shoulder roughening arrangement to result in molded, roughened shoulders of the block. Methods of making such blocks and the resulting block are included.

An apparatus comprising a substantially smooth internal mold surface forming a cavity and one or more roughened sections of the substantially smooth internal mold surface having a plurality of irregular grooves, wherein each roughened section is inclined with a wider base and a narrower top.

This disclosure relates to a tool guide for a tool that shapes a workpiece. The tool guide may include a body having a contact surface configured to contact a surface of a workpiece, a tool holder positioned within the body and configured to hold a machining tool having a tool bit, the tool holder holding the machining tool in a predetermined orientation relative to the workpiece, a guide element attached to the body configured to engage a surface feature of the workpiece, and an upper opening and a lower opening in the body configured to allow the tool bit to extend beyond the contact surface and operate to remove a portion of the workpiece.

A block reinforcement cage made from reinforcing material and adapted for loading within a machine during a block manufacturing process for molding a concrete U-wall construction block structure. The block cage includes an open aperture formed in each of its stem reinforcing portions. During the block manufacturing process, the first and second support members of a support mechanism are inserted within the open apertures formed in the stem reinforcing sections of the block cage, and cooperate with the open apertures of the block cage so as to (i) support the block cage when being loaded into a block manufacturing machine, (ii) define central apertures molded in each stem portion of the concrete U-wall construction block structure, and (iii) lift the molded concrete U-wall construction block when being unloaded from the machine.

A block reinforcement cage made from reinforcing material and adapted for loading within a machine during a block manufacturing process for molding a concrete U-wall construction block structure. The block cage includes an open aperture formed in each of its stem reinforcing portions. During the block manufacturing process, the first and second support members of a support mechanism are inserted within the open apertures formed in the stem reinforcing sections of the block cage, and cooperate with the open apertures of the block cage so as to (i) support the block cage when being loaded into a block manufacturing machine, (ii) define central apertures molded in each stem portion of the concrete U-wall construction block structure, and (iii) lift the molded concrete U-wall construction block when being unloaded from the machine.

A molded concrete U-wall construction block including a molded concrete U-wall construction block structure formed from cured concrete poured about a block cage made from reinforcing material during a block manufacturing process. The block cage includes an open aperture formed in each of its stem reinforcing portions. During the block manufacturing process, the first and second support members of a support mechanism are inserted within the open apertures formed in the stem reinforcing sections of the block cage, and cooperate with the open apertures of the block cage so as to (i) support the block cage when being loaded into a block manufacturing machine, (ii) define central apertures molded in each stem portion of the concrete U-wall construction block structure, and (iii) lift the molded concrete U-wall construction block when being unloaded from the machine.

A concrete cap molding device for molding concrete caps for posts includes a clamshell mold, which is selectively hingable between open and closed configurations. In the closed configuration, the clamshell mold has a top, in which an orifice is centrally positioned, a bottom, which is open, a sidewall extending between the top and the bottom, and a circular cross-sectional profile when viewed from the bottom or the top. Handles are attached to the clamshell mold and can be grasped in hands of a user, enabling the user to position the clamshell mold around a post that protrudes from a mound of concrete, to close the clamshell mold, and to rotate or oscillate the clamshell mold, concurrently with motivating the clamshell mold into the mound of concrete to mold the mound of concrete into a concrete cap around the post.

A mold for making dry cast concrete blocks includes a pair of vertical shoulder forming sections, one along each of the opposite sides of the mold to form vertical front shoulders of a block. Each shoulder forming section has a shoulder roughening arrangement to result in molded, roughened shoulders of the block. Methods of making such blocks and the resulting block are included.