A mould tool comprising: a first tool part defining a first mould cavity portion; a second tool part defining a second mould cavity portion; and, a cavity alignment system comprising: a temperature control system configured to control the temperature of a first zone of the first tool part to thereby effect thermal expansion and/or contraction in the first zone of the first tool part; a sensor configured to measure movement of a part of the first tool part in response to the said thermal expansion and/or contraction; and, a controller configured to control the temperature control system in response to feedback from the sensor to thereby control the position of the first mould cavity portion relative to the second mould cavity portion.

An object is to suitably press a composite material. A processing apparatus 10 includes: a mold 11 having a pressing surface 11a configured to press a composite material 1 in which a resin and fibers are compounded; a cooling water pipe 12 configured to adjust the temperature of the composite material 1; and a graphite sheet 13 provided between the pressing surface 11a and the composite material 1 and deformed by pressing force from the mold 11, the graphite sheet 13 having higher thermal conductivity in a direction along the pressing surface than in a direction intersecting the pressing surface. The graphite sheet 13 is provided between the entire surface of the pressing surface 11a and the composite material 1.

A mold die includes: a mold die body that is configured to hold an object to be molded, the object including a substrate and a chip mounted in a central area of the substrate, and that has a cavity which is rectangular in a plan view and which is configured to receive a resin material, the mold die body including: a pot for containing the resin material; a gate disposed at one side of the cavity and configured to allow the resin material to flow into the cavity; and a flow-path restricting mechanism that is disposed on both lateral sides of the cavity that are perpendicular to the one side and that is configured to narrow lateral flow paths, the lateral flow paths being flow paths for the resin material flowing through the cavity in which the chip is not disposed.

A system for manufacturing a panel includes a forming assembly having opposing press plates and at least one platen assembly arranged between the opposing press plates. The platen assembly includes first and second platens connected together via at least one elastic deformable member. Further, the forming assembly is operable in a heating mode and a cooling mode. Moreover, the first platen is maintained at a predetermined temperature range during each of the heating and cooling modes. During the heating mode, the elastic deformable member(s) is compressed such that the first and second platens contact each other. As such, one or more layers of material to be consolidated are held by the forming assembly as the forming assembly applies heat and pressure to the layer(s), thereby consolidating the panel.

A system for manufacturing a thermoplastic part from a blank part having a first moulding member and a second moulding member which are configured to cooperate together. A first heating body configured to heat the first moulding member and conductively heat the blank part. Two thermal insulation members are configured to cooperatively define a closed cavity in which at least the moulding members and the first heating body are arranged. A casing defining an internal volume in which at least the moulding members, the first heating body and the thermal insulation members are arranged, and a suction member is configured to lower the internal pressure in the internal volume to compress the preform part between the moulding members.

A mold assembly for manufacturing molded articles includes a plurality of mold portions that are comprised of a polymer and form a mold cavity. In embodiments, the polymer has a thermal conductivity (k) of less than about 0.5. Although, some embodiments may have higher conductivity values. In embodiments, the polymer comprises polycarbonate. Methods for making and using polymer mold portions and assemblies are also disclosed.

A molding die and a molding method are provided, which allow high-cycle manufacturing of molded bodies of a thermoplastic resin or thermoplastic resin-fiber composite material, thereby improving productivity. Molding is performed using a molding die including a plurality of die portions that form a cavity in which a molded body is molded, the molding die including: a first temperature adjusting unit disposed in the vicinity of the cavity surface and capable of at least cooling the cavity surface; and a second temperature adjusting unit disposed on a side of the first temperature adjusting unit opposite from the cavity surface and capable of at least heating the cavity surface, wherein a distance L0 from the cavity surface to the first temperature adjusting unit and a distance L1 from the cavity surface to a surface of the corresponding die portion opposite from the cavity surface satisfy the relationship: (L1/L0)>3.

A molding device which can heat molding portions of dies by a simple structure while guaranteeing the durability of the molding portions of the dies, and a method of molding a product using the molding device are provided. A molding device 100 includes a first die 110 and a second die 120 for molding a product PR to be molded. The first die 110 and the second die 120 have a first molding portion 111 and a second molding portion 121 formed at central portions of the surfaces which face each other. Each of the first molding portion 111 and the second molding portion 121 has a three-dimensional shape corresponding to the surface shape of the product PR. Thermal/electrical insulators 113 and 124 are provided around the first molding portion 111 and the second molding portion 121 of the first die 110 and the second die 120. An electrical power supply apparatus 136 is connected to the first die 110 and the second die 120 through input/output electrodes 132 and 133, and the first die 110 and the second die 120 can be electrically connected together through connection electrodes 134 and 135 and electrically disconnected from each other.

The present invention provides a heat insulated mold having a zirconia insulated layer, the deterioration of which is effectively limited or prevented. The present invention relates to a heat insulated mold having a heat insulating layer between a metal mold base material and a metal film forming a molding surface, wherein: (1) the insulating layer contains zirconia; and (2) a water-blocking layer for blocking entrance of water from the metal film to the heat insulating layer is provided between the heat insulating layer and the metal film.

A core mould element can be mounted between first and second mould parts. The first and second mould parts and the core mould element can be mounted between first and second thermal platens. The thermal platens can have generally planar faces for mounting in a press, for maintaining a desired pressure within the mould assembly. The thermal platens can provide for heating and cooling the mould assembly, and each can include a central portion and end portions, with thermal breaks between the central portion and the end portions. Bores can extend through the central and end portions, for receiving heating elements and pipes for cooling fluid. The end portions can include bores for a cooling fluid for cooling the end portions.