Aspects of the disclosure relate to a method for creating a solidified material using a machine tool. In some aspects, the machine tool supplies a current to an induction coil such that the induction coil generates a magnetic field. The machine tool changes the magnetic field to induce eddy currents in a first conductor surrounding a feedstock and a second conductor surrounded by the feedstock. The machine tool uses the eddy currents to cause the feedstock to transition from a solid state to a uniform malleable state regardless of the feedstock's electrical conductivity.

A first tooling die and a second tooling die are movable with respect to each other. The first tooling die and the second tooling die form a die cavity. The first tooling die and the second tooling die comprise a plurality of stacked metal sheets. A plurality of air gaps is defined between adjacent stacked metal sheets. A first smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and connected to the first tooling die. The first smart susceptor material has a first Curie temperature. A second smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and associated with the second tooling die. The second smart susceptor material has a second Curie temperature lower than the first Curie temperature. A flexible membrane is between the second tooling die and the first smart susceptor material. The flexible membrane is configured to receive pressure.

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.

An induction heated tool system for receiving and heating polymer-fiber components from a starting temperature to a target temperature includes a tool part having a receiving cutout, the tool part formed from a thermally dimensionally stable material so it has a coefficient of thermal longitudinal expansion less than 10×10.sup.−6 K.sup.−1, or less than 5×10.sup.−6 K.sup.−1, or less than 4×10.sup.−6 K.sup.−1 in the plane of the largest dimension of the receiving cutout, at temperatures between the starting and target temperatures. A receiving cutout for receiving a polymer-fiber component is in the tool part, the receiving cutout delimited by a receiving surface portion so a polymer-fiber component received in the receiving cutout can lie against the receiving surface portion. A susceptor element includes a ferromagnetic material with a first Curie temperature. The susceptor element is on a surface portion of the tool part outside the receiving cutout and the receiving surface portion.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a method for creating a solidified material using a machine tool. In some aspects, the machine tool supplies a current to an induction coil such that the induction coil generates a magnetic field. The machine tool changes the magnetic field to induce eddy currents in a first conductor surrounding a feedstock and a second conductor surrounded by the feedstock. The machine tool uses the eddy currents to cause the feedstock to transition from a solid state to a uniform malleable state regardless of the feedstock’s electrical conductivity.

A deposition print head including a non-susceptive or low susceptive sleeve, a susceptive element having a filament channel, the susceptive element arranged inside the sleeve, wherein the susceptive element is susceptive for at least one of a magnetic field and an electrical field, wherein the filament channel is for feeding a thermoplastic filament in a feed direction. The deposition print head further includes an exciter arranged around the susceptive element, wherein the exciter is arranged for generating a field compatible with the susceptivity of the susceptive element, and a nozzle attached to one end of the susceptive element.

A mold heating device for heating a tire mold (M) for a green tire (T) includes an upper ring member (11) and a lower ring member (12) arranged so as to face one other in a specific direction with the space in which the tire mold (M) is disposed therebetween. A plurality of nonmagnetic members (13) are disposed at a plurality of positions aligned in the circumferential direction of the ring members (11, 12) with spaces therebetween so as to connect the upper ring member (11) and the lower ring member (12). Ferromagnetic non-conductive members (14) are provided on the inner surfaces of the nonmagnetic members (13), and a coil (15) is supported by the nonmagnetic members (13) with the ferromagnetic non-conductive members (14) therebetween so as to surround the space where the tire mold (M) is disposed from the outside in the direction perpendicular to the specific direction.

A processing apparatus such as a heating and/or debulking apparatus that may be used to debulk a plurality of uncured composite layers to form an article such as an aircraft component may include a plurality of interconnected smart susceptor heater blankets. The plurality of smart susceptor heater blankets may be connected in series or in parallel, and may be controlled to uniformly heat the component during formation. The plurality of smart susceptor heater blankets may be supported by a deployment system that lowers the plurality of smart susceptor heater blankets toward, and raises the plurality of smart susceptor heater blankets away from, a working surface.

A processing apparatus such as a heating and/or debulking apparatus that may be used to debulk a plurality of uncured composite layers to form an article such as an aircraft component may include a plurality of interconnected smart susceptor heater blankets. The plurality of smart susceptor heater blankets may be connected in series or in parallel, and may be controlled to uniformly heat the component during formation.

A processing apparatus such as a heating and/or debulking apparatus that may be used to debulk a plurality of uncured composite layers to form an article such as an aircraft component may include a plurality of interconnected smart susceptor heater blankets. The plurality of smart susceptor heater blankets may be connected in series or in parallel, and may be controlled to uniformly heat the component during formation.