A system including two pre-fixed substrates, wherein a first substrate and a second substrate. Each of the substrates has an opening in an overlap region, and an adhesive is arranged between the overlap regions, wherein the adhesive connects the two substrates together and is arranged at least partly in the openings. The adhesive is locally cured in the region of the openings. A cured sub-region of the adhesive extends from the first opening into the second opening, and a second sub-region of the adhesive is not cured.

The method of bonding a first object (1) to a second object (2) uses a connector, the connector having a first sheet portion and a second sheet portion (32). The first sheet portion has at least one outwardly protruding first attachment portion (33), and the second sheet portion has at least one outwardly protruding second attachment portion (34). The connector (3) further has a spacer between the first and second sheet portions. For bonding, the first and second objects (1, 2) and the connector (3) are positioned relative to each other so that the connector is placed between the first and second objects. Then the first and second objects (1, 2) are pressed against each other while mechanical vibration energy impinges on the first and/or second object until a first flow portion of thermoplastic material of the first object in contact with the first attachment portion(s) and a second flow portion of thermoplastic material in contact with the second attachment portion(s) become flowable allowing the respective attachment portions (33, 34) to be pressed into material of the first and second object, respectively. After re-solidification of the flow portions, a positive-fit connection between the first and second objects via the connector results. The spacer defines a width (w) of a gap between the first and second objects (1, 2) after bonding.

A method of making an array of vapor cells for an array of magnetometers includes providing a plurality of separate vapor cell elements, each vapor cell element including at least one vapor cell; arranging the vapor cell elements in an alignment jig to produce a selected arrangement of the vapor cells; attaching at least one alignment-maintaining film onto the vapor cell elements in the alignment jig; transferring the vapor cells elements and the at least one alignment-maintaining film from the alignment jig to a mold; injecting a bonding material into the mold and between the vapor cell elements to bond the vapor cell elements in the selected arrangement; removing the at least one alignment maintaining film from the vapor cell elements; and removing the bonded vapor cells elements in the selected arrangement from the mold to provide the array of vapor.

A joining system includes a holding fixture assembly configured to hold a fuselage skin. The stringers are temporarily attached to the fuselage skin. The joining system includes an upper beam assembly including an upper beam and a lower beam assembly. The lower beam assembly includes a lower beam and at least one lower heating element. The holding fixture assembly is coupled to the upper beam assembly. The holding fixture assembly is coupled to the lower beam assembly. The upper beam is movable relative to the lower beam to clamp the at least one of the plurality of stringers and the fuselage skin together prior to and during welding.

Methods for ultrasonic welding of thermoplastic polymer workpieces and assemblies made therefrom are provided. The method may comprise disposing a first region of a first thermoplastic polymer workpiece and a second region of a second thermoplastic polymer workpiece between an ultrasonic horn and an anvil of an ultrasonic welding device. The first workpiece has a preformed deformation and at least one of the first and/or second workpieces has an adhesive precursor applied thereto. The ultrasonic horn or anvil seats within the preformed deformation. Ultrasonic energy is applied from the ultrasonic horn to create a weld nugget between the first and second workpieces. The assembly thus formed has a green strength sufficient to be further processed immediately. The methods provide a robust weld joint with controlled adhesive bondline thickness.

Methods for ultrasonic welding of thermoplastic polymer workpieces and assemblies made therefrom are provided. The method may comprise disposing a first region of a first thermoplastic polymer workpiece and a second region of a second thermoplastic polymer workpiece between an ultrasonic horn and an anvil of an ultrasonic welding device. The first workpiece has a preformed deformation and at least one of the first and/or second workpieces has an adhesive precursor applied thereto. The ultrasonic horn or anvil seats within the preformed deformation. Ultrasonic energy is applied from the ultrasonic horn to create a weld nugget between the first and second workpieces. The assembly thus formed has a green strength sufficient to be further processed immediately. The methods provide a robust weld joint with controlled adhesive bondline thickness.

Disclosed is a method for producing components from fiber-reinforced thermoplastic. The method involves manufacturing a multitude of semifinished products, each of which includes a plurality of impregnated fabric layers that are joined to one another only locally, as well as a frame structure having at least one cutout. The semifinished products are consolidated using a consolidation device, an inlay element being placed in each cutout before the semifinished products are consolidated.

A composite structure is fabricated using a preform comprising a stack of unidirectional prepreg plies that are stitched together. During curing of the prepreg, the stitches melt and dissolve.

Manufacturing capsules, comprising preparing a first and a second capsule element, at least the first element containing a cavity, each element, being provided with a peripheral ring, bringing the elements together, so that the rings are superimposed, placing the two elements between a sonotrode and an anvil, the anvil containing an anvil recess and a striking surface, surrounding the anvil recess, the sonotrode including a sonotrode recess, with the same cross-section as the anvil recess, and a working surface surrounding the sonotrode recess, wherein the striking and working surfaces are configures to come into contact with each other on a working area, extending around the recesses, clamping the rings between the working surface and the striking surface by the proximity of a sonotrode and the anvil, activating the sonotrode and directing the ultrasound towards the anvil, whilst maintaining the clamping action, wherein the rings are detached from the capsule.

An electrofusion fiting (20) comprises a fitting body (24) and an electrofusion collar (26). The fitting body (24) has an exterior surface (30), an interior surface (32), and a terminal portion (44) extending to a rim (34). The collar (26) has: an inner wall (42) having a heating element (60); a segmented outer wall (40) spaced radially apart from the inner wall; and a linking portion (46) linking the outer wall and inner wall. The fitting body terminal portion is between the inner wall and the outer wall. The collar and fitting body have interfitting features (150, 152) axially retaining the collar against extraction from the fitting body while permitting relative rotation of the collar and the fitting body.