Systems and methods are provided for a caul plate having a feature for removal. One embodiment is a caul plate for forming a composite part. The caul plate includes a body that includes a lower surface which faces the composite part, and an upper surface that is opposite to the lower surface. The caul plate also includes a groove in the upper surface to accept a tool to slide the caul plate laterally from the composite part.

A system includes a mandrel contoured to define a tapering tubular shape of a workpiece cured on the mandrel and a demolding tool. The demolding tool is configured to remove the workpiece from the mandrel after the workpiece is cured on the mandrel and cut longitudinally. The demolding tool is configured to remove the workpiece from the mandrel by deforming a first end of the workpiece to at least partially disengage the first end of the workpiece from a first end of the mandrel, and subsequently, deforming a second end of the workpiece to at least partially disengage the second end of the workpiece from a second end of the mandrel. The first end of the workpiece may have a first cross-sectional area that is smaller than a second cross-sectional area of the second end of the workpiece.

A mold extractor for separating a molded part from a mold portion following a molding process, and a method of using the same. The mold extractor includes a mold holder that removably couples to the mold portion, a retainer that abuts a portion of the molded part and that surrounds the mold holder such that a cavity is provided between the mold holder and the retainer, and an extraction rod engaged with the mold holder and the retainer and spanning the cavity between the mold holder and the retainer. The mold extractor is set up to reduce a distance between the mold holder and the retainer along the extraction rod such that the mold holder translates into the cavity and imparts a force on the mold portion sufficient to extract the mold portion from the molded part.

A system for taking out a molded product that does not require an operator to determine the sucking operation start time for a vacuum sucker by himself/herself by trial and error is provided. A controller includes a time interval measuring section configured to measure a time interval judging from an output from a pressure detector. The time interval measuring section measures a stable time interval since the pressure in a pipe reaches a predetermined pressure until a sucking operation start pressure is detected judging from an output from the pressure detector. The sucking operation start pressure indicates that a suction nozzle starts operation to suck up a molded product hereby the predetermined pressure is maintained. A sucking operation start time determining section of the controller determines a sucking operation start time such that a stable time interval is longer than a bias time interval, concurrently with movement control for a moving mechanism.

A molding device and an injection molding method thereof are provided. The molding device includes a first mold, a second mold and a sealing ring. The first mold includes a first body and at least one slide. The at least one slide is movably and detachably disposed on the first body, and has an undercut. The injection molding method includes operations of: engaging the first mold with the second mold of the molding device; filling a mold cavity defined by the first mold and the second mold with a gas, wherein the gas is blocked by the sealing ring disposed between the first mold and the second mold; injecting a molding material into the mold cavity; and opening the first mold and the second mold of the molding device.

A method and system for fabricating a composite structure is provided. A first vacuum bag is laid down on a surface of a tool. A composite material is positioned on top of the first vacuum bag on the tool. A second vacuum bag covers the composite material. Vacuum pressure is applied to the first vacuum bag and the second vacuum bag. The composite material is cured to form the composite structure. The first vacuum bag is inflated with compressed air to lift the composite structure from the tool.

A method of manufacturing a latex rubber article comprises providing a former wherein at least a part of the former comprises a mould surface that forms the shape of the latex rubber article, and applying liquid latex to the mould surface using an applicator that is configured to apply the liquid latex to an applicator area that is smaller than the mould surface. The method further comprises providing relative movement between the applicator and the former to produce a latex coating that covers the mould surface, curing the latex coating on the former to form the latex rubber article, and removing the latex rubber article from the former.

A mold extractor for separating a molded part from a mold portion following a molding process, and a method of using the same. The mold extractor includes a mold holder that removably couples to the mold portion, a retainer that abuts a portion of the molded part and that surrounds the mold holder such that a cavity is provided between the mold holder and the retainer, and an extraction rod engaged with the mold holder and the retainer and spanning the cavity between the mold holder and the retainer. The mold extractor is set up to reduce a distance between the mold holder and the retainer along the extraction rod such that the mold holder translates into the cavity and imparts a force on the mold portion sufficient to extract the mold portion from the molded part.

Molding optical components with fine (e.g., micron-scale) features from optical adhesive or polymer can be difficult because the optical components often stick to the mold. If the component sticks to the mold, then either the component or the mold may be damaged or destroyed as the component is removed from the mold. This damage can be reduced or avoided altogether by illuminating the interface between the component and the mold with ultraviolet (UV) light before releasing the component from the mold. The UV light reduces the adhesive forces that cause the component and the mold to stick together, making it easier to remove the component from mold without damaging either the mold or the component.

Releasable tubing pinch clamps of a generally U-shaped configuration are described. The embodiments include ones that prevent cross-clamping of the tube by various interlocking features on riser portions of the clamp. Methods and molds for making the pinch clamps are also described. For example, a pinch clamp can have a strip that curves so that its ends can be brought together by manually squeezing the strip at its end, which oppose each other as a result of the strip curve. The strip ends have locking edges or surfaces that cause the strip ends to interferingly engage with each other and lock together. The strip also has opposing pinch projections that can pinch a tube.