A light-guide optical element (LOE) and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The LOE includes a transparent substrate having a first refractive index, the substrate having a pair of parallel external surfaces along a length thereof, and a plurality of mutually parallel at least partially reflective internal surfaces, the mutually parallel internal surfaces being angled obliquely relative to the pair of external surfaces; and a transparent polymer resin encapsulating at least a part of the substrate to form an encapsulated structure, the polymer resin having a second refractive index that is matched to the first refractive index; wherein the encapsulated structure comprises a pair of parallel external surfaces of optical quality formed from the resin.

The present invention relates to a method and a mould system (66) for manufacturing at least two preforms for moulding a wind turbine blade. The preforms include at least one preform of a first shape and at least one preform of a second shape. The preform mould structure (68) has a moulding surface (70) of variable shape such that the shape of the moulding surface (70) can be varied at least between a first and a second configuration by using actuators.

A plant for the continuous vulcanisation of mixtures of natural or synthetic latex inside a plurality of vulcanisation moulds aligned close to each other, each including: a base and a lid able to be removably coupled; an advancing mechanism for advancing the moulds along guides inside a vulcanising oven; and a sprayer for spraying the mixture inside the bases before entry into the vulcanising oven. The plant includes: an assembly set and a disassembly set of the moulds, belonging respectively to the input station and to the output station of the vulcanising oven; a first transport mechanism for transferring each base from the disassembly set to the assembly set; a second transport mechanism for transferring each lid from the disassembly set to the assembly set. The vulcanising oven includes a tunnel with a radiofrequency set for vulcanising the mixture.

Described is a kit for moulding containers made of polymeric material, including a fixing base, having a plate-like shape, and a plurality of modules, which can be fixed to the fixing base and configured for defining, together with each other, a mould of a container to be moulded, where the mould has a containment space. The fixing base and the plurality of modules have reciprocal fixing elements for determining a stable and reversible coupling between the fixing base and the plurality of modules. Moreover, the base and/or the modules are designed to be connected to each other according to a plurality of different configurations and combinations in such a way that the mould can adopt a plurality of different shapes and dimensions.

A method for producing a fiber reinforced plastic can suppress with which wrinkling or bridging in a convex surface or a concave surface having a large curvature at the same time even if the fiber reinforced plastic has a complicated three-dimensional shape. Such methods for producing a fiber reinforced plastic may involve shaping a prepreg sheet in which continuous fibers are impregnated with a resin material into a three-dimensional shape to produce a fiber reinforced plastic (a); wherein at least a portion of the continuous fibers in an area (X) of the prepreg sheet corresponding to an area (X′) in which the fiber reinforced plastic (a) is shear-deformed is bent in an in-plane direction in advance.

Aircraft that incorporates a rounded-hat composite stringer connected to an inner side of the skin of the aircraft to form an elongate conduit that defines a conduit axis, where the conduit axis includes at least one curving portion. The rounded-hat composite stringer can be manufactured by constructing a lower forming die and an upper forming die, each forming die having a length and defining a curve along at least a portion of the length of the die, cutting a pre-cured flat composite charge dimensioned to form the rounded-hat composite stringer, pressing the flat composite charge between the lower and upper forming dies to shape the composite charge into a pre-formed stringer having an inner side between curved fillet portions, contacting a forming member against the inner side of the pre-formed stringer, applying radius fillers to the curved fillet portions of the pre-formed stringer, curing the pre-formed stringer, and removing the forming member from the cured stringer.

A leveler table includes a plate with a flat top work surface that is level in all planes, by locating a circular level recessed within the center of the plate, so that the level indicator of the circular level is in horizontal alignment with the top work surface. By locating the circular level in the middle of the plate, at the same horizontal level as the work surface, this leveler table provides accuracy and repeatability for use of the flat top work surface in manufacturing steps, particularly the forming of parts where repeatability is necessary, such as the in situ forming of an automotive windshield sensor pad in an open ended package supported on the flat top surface.

A system for manufacturing a part that includes a mold, a first fixation component, fixed to the mold, second fixation components, each configured to be fixed to a consolidated laminate sheet, third fixation components, each fixed to the mold. The system also includes tension straps. The first fixation component is configured to attach the consolidated laminate sheet to the mold so that the consolidated laminate sheet does not translationally move relative to the forming surface of the mold. Each one of the second fixation components is configured to attach the tension straps to the consolidated laminate sheet. Each one of the third fixation components is configured to attach the tension straps to the mold so that the tension straps are movable relative to the mold. The system also includes a heating assembly and a strap retraction mechanism, configured to retract the tension strap.

An injection molding device for fabricating a part, the device including an injection mold, the mold being formed of a support and a countermold that are distinct and that define between them a mold cavity presenting a first shape; and at least one injection device for injecting a fluid material into the mold cavity; the device including deformation elements configured to modify the shape of the mold cavity into a second shape distinct from the first shape.

A modular tooling arrangement includes a base member comprising a planar working surface, a frame circumscribing a first cavity at least partially defined by the planar working surface, and a plurality of plates configured to be received in the first cavity for forming a second cavity of a desired shape and size. The plurality of plates at least partially define the second cavity configured to receive a work piece. The plurality of plates may be replaced with plates of various sizes to vary at least one of the size and shape of the second cavity.