A mold for use in the production of a ballistic article from a composite laminate stacked material wherein the mold has a sliding sealing section that nests with a outer perimeter section and base portion so as to shield the sides of the composite laminate stacked material from applied isostatic pressure applied when in an autoclave. By shielding the sides of the composite laminate stacked material excess resin matrix material can be forced from the composite laminate stacked material to provide a uniform composite article with reduced weight and reduced thickness.

This molding apparatus is intended for the manufacturing of a molded article from a raw material intended to be arranged in a first region of an embossing chamber of the molding apparatus. The embossing chamber includes a mold and a counter-mold, the molds being arranged on two opposite sides of the first region. The molding apparatus further includes a second chamber having a common wall with the embossing chamber and a pressurization system configured to generate a predefined pressure differential between the embossing chamber and the second chamber, the common wall including at least one embossing actuator, the embossing actuator being configured to generate a movement of at least one of the molds so as to mold the raw material when a predefined pressure differential is applied.

A process is capable of producing a high-quality fiber-reinforced plastic with good yield in a short molding cycle time despite being atmospheric pressure molding. The process characterized uses local contact heating to give different temperature conditions to produce a fiber-reinforced plastic by atmospheric pressure molding from a fiber-reinforced material which contains a reinforcing fiber impregnated with a thermosetting resin composition.

An isostatic press apparatus includes a pressure vessel for pressing a workpiece using the pressure of a pressurized liquid, a heat exchanger for exchanging heat with the pressurized liquid, a heating/cooling supply unit for heating or cooling a heat exchange medium that is to be supplied to the heat exchanger, a pressurized liquid circulation fan for circulating the pressurized liquid, a circulation fan motor for rotating the pressurized liquid circulation fan, a motor accommodation unit for accommodating the circulation fan motor therein, and a pressure equalization adjustment unit for increasing or decreasing the internal pressure in the motor accommodation unit to match the internal pressure in the pressure vessel.

The present disclosure pertains to a trim part for a motor vehicle that comprises: a carrier; and a decorative material applied onto an upper surface of the carrier, wherein the decorative material comprises a printed thermoplastic film; and wherein the trim part is shaped by a deep-drawing process and a grain or impression is produced on the visible side of the film, which faces away from the carrier, by the deep-drawing process. A method and a device for manufacturing the trim part is also proposed.

Methods and systems for consolidating an additively manufactured piece. In one embodiment, methods include the step of combining the additively manufactured piece with another piece, for example with another additively manufactured piece or with a piece that is not additively manufactured (e.g. an insert, foam, etc.), so that during a consolidation step, those pieces are assembled or connected together.

An isostatic press apparatus includes a pressure vessel for pressing a workpiece using the pressure of a pressurized liquid, a heat exchanger for exchanging heat with the pressurized liquid, a heating/cooling supply unit for heating or cooling a heat exchange medium that is to be supplied to the heat exchanger, a pressurized liquid circulation fan for circulating the pressurized liquid, a circulation fan motor for rotating the pressurized liquid circulation fan, a motor accommodation unit for accommodating the circulation fan motor therein, and a pressure equalization adjustment unit for increasing or decreasing the internal pressure in the motor accommodation unit to match the internal pressure in the pressure vessel.

A method for molding a composite material includes arranging a prepreg on a jig molding surface of a jig for molding. The method includes sealing a first endless seal region that surrounds the prepreg is formed by bonding a resin bag and the jig molding surface by a first sealing material and a second endless seal region that surrounds the prepreg and is positioned outside the first seal region is formed by bonding a resin bag and the jig molding surface by a second sealing material. The method includes depressurizing a first space inside the first seal region and a second space between the first seal region and the second seal region are depressurized. The method includes thermally curing the prepreg by supplying a water vapor into the internal space of a pressure vessel, while holding the pressure vessel in a sealed state.

Disclosed herein are components, systems, and methods to improve characteristics of a manufactured article. Specifically, embodiments of a high pressure system includes an apparatus that subjects the article to specific pressures and temperatures for an amount of time to improve characteristics of the article. Methods of manufacturing include use of the high pressure system to subject the article to specific pressures and temperatures for an amount of time to improve characteristics of the article.

Methods and systems for consolidating an additively manufactured piece. In one embodiment, methods include the step of combining the additively manufactured piece with another piece, for example with another additively manufactured piece or with a piece that is not additively manufactured (e.g. an insert, foam, etc.), so that during a consolidation step, those pieces are assembled or connected together.