The invention comprises a concrete form. The form comprises a first concrete forming panel having a first primary surface adapted for forming and contacting plastic concrete and a second primary surface opposite the first primary surface; a layer of insulating material contacting and substantially covering the second primary surface of the first concrete forming panel; and an insulating blanket adjacent the first concrete forming panel. A method of using the concrete form is also disclosed.

Various embodiments of an adjustable mold and method for making precast concrete traffic barrier panels with different geometries are disclosed. The panels are used for creating a continuous traffic barrier by placing the panels in a contiguous side-by-side arrangement adjacent a roadway atop a modular earth retaining wall. Each traffic barrier panel has a body with at least front, back, top, bottom, left, and right sides. The mold body has a plurality of walls that define an interior chamber, a door opening to the interior chamber, and a concrete inlet to the interior chamber. The door is designed to be installed on and to be uninstalled from the mold body to respectively close and open the door opening. The door has left side and right side forming panels that are designed to define respectively a left side two-dimensional geometry and a right side two-dimensional geometry of the left and right sides respectively of a traffic barrier panel to be made. The left side and right side two-dimensional geometries are changeable by interchanging the door with differently oriented forming panels or by adjusting two-dimensional orientations of each of the left side and right side forming panels on the existing door. The interior chamber of the mold body in combination with an interior side of the door define an outer surface geometry of the front, back, top, bottom, left, and right sides of the traffic barrier panel to be made.

Various embodiments of an adjustable mold and method for making precast concrete traffic barrier panels with different geometries are disclosed. The panels are used for creating a continuous traffic barrier by placing the panels in a contiguous side-by-side arrangement adjacent a roadway atop a modular earth retaining wall. Each traffic barrier panel has a body with at least front, back, top, bottom, left, and right sides. The mold body has a plurality of walls that define an interior chamber, a door opening to the interior chamber, and a concrete inlet to the interior chamber. The door is designed to be installed on and to be uninstalled from the mold body to respectively close and open the door opening. The door has left side and right side forming panels that are designed to define respectively a left side two-dimensional geometry and a right side two-dimensional geometry of the left and right sides respectively of a traffic barrier panel to be made. The left side and right side two-dimensional geometries are changeable by interchanging the door with differently oriented forming panels or by adjusting two-dimensional orientations of each of the left side and right side forming panels on the existing door. The interior chamber of the mold body in combination with an interior side of the door define an outer surface geometry of the front, back, top, bottom, left, and right sides of the traffic barrier panel to be made.

Various embodiments of an adjustable mold are disclosed for forming a precast concrete top panel for a modular earth retaining wall, for example but not limited to, a modular mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall. The adjustable mold has a support base with a top surface, bottom surface, and surrounding periphery. A plurality of rails is mounted to the support base and upstand generally perpendicular from the support base. The rails are collectively attached together to form a closed lateral side boundary with an open top designed to receive liquified concrete. The support base and rails are designed to form sides of the precast concrete top panel. The rails can be adjusted to change a geometric shape associated with the closed lateral boundary in order to enable production of different top panels having different lateral boundaries, and therefore geometries.

Various embodiments of an adjustable mold are disclosed for forming a precast concrete top panel for a modular earth retaining wall, for example but not limited to, a modular mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall. The adjustable mold has a support base with a top surface, bottom surface, and surrounding periphery. A plurality of rails is mounted to the support base and upstand generally perpendicular from the support base. The rails are collectively attached together to form a closed lateral side boundary with an open top designed to receive liquified concrete. The support base and rails are designed to form sides of the precast concrete top panel. The rails can be adjusted to change a geometric shape associated with the closed lateral boundary in order to enable production of different top panels having different lateral boundaries, and therefore geometries.

Mould for casting of thin samples made of cement-based materials, for a maximum of 10 small samples (10×10×2 mm or ⅜×⅜× 1/16 inch), consists of a solid stainless steel base plate, stainless steel upper frame-plates and thin plastic foil. The stainless steel frame plates of various lengths are assembled on the base plate and fastened with screws to form a frame with 10 free spaces (‘cells’) into which the concrete/cementitious material is poured. The thickness (2 mm or 1/16 inch) of the thin frame plates determines the thickness of the cast samples. Plastic transparent foil is placed over the surface of the base plate for easier sample removal. The advantages of the mould are: possibility of assembling and disassembling of all mould parts and hence safe sample removal after 24 hours, multiple usage as well as easy maintenance and cleaning.

A system for supporting workpieces during machining. The system comprises one or more adjustable workpiece support assemblies and a robotic unit. Each workpiece support assembly comprises a pedestal and a rotatable fixture element. The robotic assembly comprises means of mobilizing and immobilizing each support assembly, so that the fixture element may be secured in a particular orientation. The robotic unit moves along a frame, and manipulates and fixes the position of the fixture elements to match the contour of a workpiece. Vacuum forces may be applied through the workpiece support assemblies to secure the workpiece against the fixture elements.

A system for supporting workpieces during machining. The system comprises one or more adjustable workpiece support assemblies and a robotic unit. Each workpiece support assembly comprises a pedestal and a rotatable fixture element. The robotic assembly comprises means of mobilizing and immobilizing each support assembly, so that the fixture element may be secured in a particular orientation. The robotic unit moves along a frame, and manipulates and fixes the position of the fixture elements to match the contour of a workpiece. Vacuum forces may be applied through the workpiece support assemblies to secure the workpiece against the fixture elements.

A 3D printer including a support structure, a lifting mechanism, an adjusting mechanism, a moving mechanism and a printing component. The 3D printer is specifically suitable for 3D printing of buildings or other structures in the field of construction. The adjusting mechanism and the lifting mechanism are arranged below the support structure. The lifting mechanism moves the support structure up and down in the vertical direction. The adjusting mechanism moves the support structure in the horizontal direction. The printing component is arranged on the moving mechanism. The moving mechanism is arranged on the support structure in such fashion that it is movable up and down in the vertical direction.

A 3D printer including a support structure, a lifting mechanism, an adjusting mechanism, a moving mechanism and a printing component. The 3D printer is specifically suitable for 3D printing of buildings or other structures in the field of construction. The adjusting mechanism and the lifting mechanism are arranged below the support structure. The lifting mechanism moves the support structure up and down in the vertical direction. The adjusting mechanism moves the support structure in the horizontal direction. The printing component is arranged on the moving mechanism. The moving mechanism is arranged on the support structure in such fashion that it is movable up and down in the vertical direction.