A thermal system (20) for rapidly heating and cooling a mold surface (24) of a tool (26) comprises a heater-subsystem (40) in fluid communication with the tool (26). The heater-subsystem (40) comprises a heater (42), a tank (44), and a three-way valve (46). The tank (44) contains a mass of heated thermal fluid. The system (20) further comprises an exchanger-subsystem (49) in fluid communication with the heater-subsystem (40) and the tool (26). The exchanger-subsystem (49) comprises an exchanger (51) and a three-way valve (53). The system (20) further comprises a chiller-subsystem (48) in fluid communication with the exchanger-subsystem (49). The chiller-subsystem (48) comprises a chiller (50), a tank (52), and a three-way valve (54). The tank (52) contains a mass of cooled thermal fluid. A controller (56) can be used to control and/or instruct the subsystems (40,48,49). The system (20) and tool (26) can be used for forming a composite article (22), such as a carbon fiber composite (CFC) article (22). A method utilizing the system (20) is also provided.

Systems and methods are provided for enhancement of vacuum bagging processes for a composite part. One system includes dispensers configured to dispense materials onto a forming tool for a composite part, and a controller. The controller is able to identify a selected location for placing the composite part on the tool, to direct the dispensers to apply a mold release agent onto the tool based on the selected location, to apply a sealant onto the tool proximate to the selected location, to lay up a ply of constituent material for the composite part atop the mold release agent at the selected location, to apply a pressure pad material atop the constituent material, to apply a breather material atop the pressure pad, and to apply vacuum bag material atop the ply proximate to the selected location to cover the ply as well as the sealant.

A method of temperature control of a shaping tool or components of a shaping working machine is performed by a temperature control medium disposed in at least one temperature control branch of a temperature control system. A previously ascertained relationship between geometrical data of the at least one temperature control branch and through-flow amounts of the temperature control medium is provided, and a reference through-flow amount is set by the previously ascertained relationship for the geometrical data of the at least one temperature control branch.

A method and the device are used to control valves. The valves are arranged in the region of lines for a fluid. At least one first valve is in the form of a control valve arranged in the region of a primary line. At least one second valve is in the form of a switching valve. At least one branch is arranged downstream of the control valve in the region of a direction of flow. At least two secondary lines extend downstream of the branch. Each secondary line has one of the switching valves. The valves are connected to a control unit which coordinates the function of the valves.

A prepreg consisting cf a fiber reinforcement material and a resin composition containing a bismaleimide resin is molded through a first heating step in which the prepreg is held at a temperature (T.sub.1) equal to or higher than a temperature at which the resin composition exhibits a viscosity of 100 (Pa.Math.s) and equal to or lower than a temperature at which the resin composition exhibits the minimum viscosity for 30 minutes or more, followed by being held at a temperature equal to or higher than a curing temperature of the bismaleimide resin.

A method of finding a target conveying capacity of a pumping includes a temperature-control flow through a temperature-control channel carried out according to a control variable by using a throttle as an actuating element such that a temperature-control volume flow remains substantially constant. A conveying flow of the pumping system is measured, and a pump starting from a starting conveying capacity independent of the control of the temperature-control volume flow is driven such that a conveying capacity of the pumping system is reduced to a reduced conveying capacity. Then, a check is made to find whether the conveying flow remains substantially constant and, if this is the case, the reduced conveying capacity is determined to be the target conveying capacity. If this is not the case despite the control of the temperature-control volume flow, the starting conveying capacity is determined to be the target conveying capacity.

Systems and methods are provided for enhancement of vacuum bagging processes for a composite part. One system includes dispensers configured to dispense materials onto a forming tool for a composite part, and a controller. The controller is able to identify a selected location for placing the composite part on the tool, to direct the dispensers to apply a mold release agent onto the tool based on the selected location, to apply a sealant onto the tool proximate to the selected location, to lay up a ply of constituent material for the composite part atop the mold release agent at the selected location, to apply a pressure pad material atop the constituent material, to apply a breather material atop the pressure pad, and to apply vacuum bag material atop the ply proximate to the selected location to cover the ply as well as the sealant.

A tool (100) comprises a plurality of layers (102, 104, 106) which are arranged to provide a thermally agile tool face (110) and to protect control circuitry and delicate components (150) from excessive temperatures.

A method and the device are used to control valves. The valves are arranged in the region of lines for a fluid. At least one first valve is in the form of a control valve arranged in the region of a primary line. At least one second valve is in the form of a switching valve. At least one branch is arranged downstream of the control valve in the region of a direction of flow. At least two secondary lines extend downstream of the branch. Each secondary line has one of the switching valves. The valves are connected to a control unit which coordinates the function of the valves.

A mould tool (100) defining a workpiece profile has a first fluid-based temperature control assembly configured to control the temperature of the mould tool (100) which exhausts to a peripheral chamber (160) proximate the periphery of the workpiece profile (100) to reduce a temperature difference between the mould tool (100) and the surrounding environment.