Provided is a heating device including: a heating unit that heats a laminate which includes a plurality of sheet-like composite materials including reinforced fiber and thermoplastic resin, and heats, via a first contact surface disposed in contact with the laminate, the thermoplastic resin included in the laminate being in contact with the first contact surface to a softening temperature or higher; a cooling unit that cools, via a second contact surface disposed in contact with the laminate, the thermoplastic resin included in the laminate located outside of the second contact surface to a temperature lower than the softening temperature; and a pressing unit that applies a predetermined pressure to the laminate via the first contact surface and the second contact surface, the second contact surface being disposed so as to surround the first contact surface.

A method of repairing a defect of a thermoplastic component is provided. The thermoplastic component has a thermoplastic material at the defect having a first melting temperature, and the defect has a contact surface (TC contact surface). The method includes a) providing a patch comprising a second thermoplastic material having a second melting temperature that is below the first melting temperature. The patch includes a contact surface (TP contact surface); b) disposing a portion of a heating element between the TC contact surface and the TP contact surface. The heating element is operable to heat up as a result of electrical resistance; c) forcing the TP surface toward the TC surface; and d) inputting energy into the heating element to cause the heating element to heat and maintain the TP surface at or above the second melting temperature to produce bonding between the thermoplastic component and the patch.

A forming apparatus is equipped with (i) a conveyance unit configured to convey a formation sheet, that expands due to irradiation with electromagnetic waves, along a conveyance path in a state in which tension for causing bending in accordance with a conveyance path that is convexly bent is applied, and (ii) an irradiation unit configured to irradiate with the electromagnetic waves the formation sheet during conveyance by the conveyance unit in the state in which the tension is applied.

In manufacturing an electrothermal heater mat, there is provided a preform which comprises a laminated stack of dielectric layers which are made of thermoplastic material and include a central layer or group of layers which include(s) reinforcement and first and second outer groups of layers which do not include reinforcement. The preform includes a heater element and the preform has a first configuration. The preform is then heated to a temperature (e.g. 180° C.) between the glass-transition temperature of the thermoplastic material and the melting point of the thermoplastic material, and the heated preform is formed into a second configuration which is different to the first configuration so as to produce the heater mat.

An expansion apparatus includes: a first expander for irradiating with electromagnetic waves emitted from a lamp a thermal conversion layer for conversion of the electromagnetic waves to heat, to cause at least a portion of a thermal expansion layer to expand, the thermal conversion layer being laminated to a molding sheet including a base and the thermal expansion layer laminated to a first main surface of the base; and a second expander for causing expansion of a region (C) of the thermal expansion layer that is smaller in size than a region (B) of the thermal expansion layer expanded by the first expander.

A method for manufacturing of a pre-form part for a wind turbine blade including one or more components and an adhesive, wherein the component or at least one of the components is a mat-like component including fibres, includes the steps: arranging the adhesive at one or more positions on the component or arranging the components in a stack, wherein the adhesive is arranged at one or more positions between the components, and heating the adhesive by providing an electric current to at least one actively heated layer, wherein the mat-like component is used as actively heated layer and/or wherein at least one additional mat-like heating means provided and arranged on top of or below the component or the stack of components is used as actively heated layer.

Methods of embedding an elongate susceptor within a thermoplastic body and systems that perform the methods are disclosed herein. The methods include extending the elongate susceptor such that an extended portion of the elongate susceptor extends between a guide structure and a body-contacting structure. The methods also include heating a segment of the elongate susceptor to produce a heated portion of the elongate susceptor. The methods further include pressing a leading region of the heated portion of the elongate susceptor through a body surface of the thermoplastic body and into the thermoplastic body. The methods also include operatively translating at least one of the guide structure, the body-contacting structure, and an application tool that includes the guide structure and the body-contacting structure along an embedment pathway for the elongate susceptor.

A three-dimensional image forming system according to the present invention includes a conveying unit which conveys a heat-expandable sheet along a conveyance path, a heating unit which heats the heat-expandable sheet by irradiating the heat-expandable sheet with light, and a control unit which preheats the surroundings of the heating unit to a previously determined preheat temperature and then causes the conveying unit to convey the heat-expandable sheet.

A mold for forming a flange of a wind turbine blade comprising a first flange portion including a plurality of lamina and having a generally planar shape and a second perpendicular flange including a plurality of lamina. A plurality of copper wires are disposed within the lamina for conducting heat delivered from a base portion through the first and second flange portions. The mold is free of fluid conduits with the flange portions moveable relative to the base portion.

The invention relates to a semi-finished fiber product lay-up head (1) for laying flat semi-finished fiber products (2), the semi-finished fiber product lay-up head having an electrically conductive electrode (6) which is contacted with the semi-finished fiber products to be layed, so that a current flow from a corresponding counter-electrode (7) in the fiber semi-finished product is effected in order to heat the same.