The pressing of an article is achieved with a closed-loop feedback press. The closed-loop feedback press is effective to measure an amount of pressure applied and adjust the pressure to achieve a prescribed amount of compression on the article. Further, the press may leverage a closed-loop feedback system to maintain a consistent temperature of one or more platens. The press is able to adjust a pressure applied one or more times during a pressing operation to accelerate a temperature change in the pressed article while reducing the pressure applied as the temperature approaches a target temperature to limit unintentional deformation and bleeding of the pressed material of the article.

A device for producing microstructures, particularly microneedles and more particularly microneedle arrays, including a female mold that has, on a top side, at least one in particular conical depressed portion for producing a microstructure. The female mold is, for example, in the form of a silicone cap and is connected to a hollow cylinder in particular via a holding element. A plunger is disposed movably inside the hollow cylinder.

A method for forming cellulose products from an air-formed cellulose blank having a base and one or more forming moulds attached to the base which is arranged to rotate around a rotational axis, wherein each forming mould comprises a first mould part Wand a corresponding second mould part wherein during rotational movement of the base around the rotational axis each first mould part is arranged to engage with its corresponding second mould part in a pressing direction. The method comprises arranging the cellulose blank in a position between a first mould and the second mould forming the cellulose products in the rotary forming mould system, by applying a forming pressure between the first mould and its corresponding second mould through an engaging movement of the first mould in relation to its corresponding second mould in the pressing direction, wherein the forming moulds are rotating with the base around the rotational axis.

The improved mold assembly for cultured marble molding is provided. The mold assembly can comprise a male mold portion and a female mold portion. The assembly can further comprise a molding tool. The molding tool can have a side wall having an upper curved s and a lower curved portion. The molding tool can be constructed from a flexible and/or soft material. The lower curved portion of the molding tool can be coated with a gel coat having a first color. The molding tool can facilitate molding of a countertop having a recessed bowl portion having a color different from a counter portion of the countertop.

Systems and methods are provided for consolidating a preform of braided fiber. One embodiment is a method that includes acquiring a braided preform comprising fibers of unidirectional material that have been woven into a shape having a closed cross-section, disposing the braided preform within a mandrel, disposing an inflatable bladder within the closed cross-section of the braided preform, and iteratively applying pressure to the braided preform via the bladder to consolidate the braided preform against the mandrel.

The present invention relates to a male component or punch for a mould unit for producing a vehicle saddle.

The improved mold assembly for cultured marble molding is provided. The mold assembly can comprise a male mold portion and a female mold portion. The assembly can further comprise a molding tool. The molding tool can have a side wall having an upper curved s and a lower curved portion. The molding tool can be constructed from a flexible and/or soft material. The lower curved portion of the molding tool can be coated with a gel coat having a first color. The molding tool can facilitate molding of a countertop having a recessed bowl portion having a color different from a counter portion of the countertop.

A graded-index polymer waveguide (30) and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The method includes providing a waveguide substrate (1); manufacturing a waveguide lower cladding layer (2) on a surface of the waveguide substrate (1); coating a material of a waveguide core layer (3) having UV photosensitivity on a surface of the waveguide lower cladding layer (2) away from the waveguide substrate (1); performing a hot imprinting process for the material of the waveguide core layer by means of a flexible transfer film mold and forming a waveguide core layer (3) having an imprinted waveguide link structure; performing a heat treatment process for the waveguide core layer (3); performing a pre-exposure process for the waveguide core layer; coating a waveguide upper cladding layer on a surface of a waveguide core layer (3); and curing the waveguide core layer (3) and the waveguide upper cladding layer (4).

An example mandrel for processing a part is described including an inner core having a material with first thermal properties, and an outer layer surrounding the inner core. The outer layer includes a material with second thermal properties different than the first thermal properties to enable uniform pressure distribution within the mandrel. An example method for fabricating a composite part is described including placing a base composite layer into a cavity of a tooling surface, inserting a mandrel into the cavity, applying a skin to the mandrel and the base composite layer forming a package, enclosing the package in a vacuum bag and curing the base composite layer and the skin such that during curing a pressure due to thermal expansion of one of the inner core and the outer layer is distributed by the other, and removing the mandrel from the cavity of the tooling surface following the curing.

Silicone compositions are described for the production of negative molds that include a silicone elastomer. The molds can be used in the production of molded articles.