A membrane device for manufacturing a crash pad for a vehicle including a real wood sheet includes a vacuum device main body having a plurality of vacuum holes such that a real wood sheet to be temporarily attached to a core is mounted in the vacuum device main body, a cover having a silicone film to define a vacuum space together with the vacuum device main body, a vacuum module to suck air in the vacuum device main body through the vacuum holes, and a control unit to compress the real wood sheet and the core, which are temporarily attached and mounted on the vacuum device main body, for a preset time by sucking air in the vacuum space through the vacuum holes in a state in which the vacuum device main body is covered by the cover.

A method and an apparatus for the pressure-sintering connection of a first and a second connection provide a frame element lowerable onto a frame surface surrounding the supporting surface, having a sintering ram lowerable lowered from the normal direction onto the second connection partner and exerts pressure thereon, and converting a sintering paste between the connection partners into a sintered metal, and having an auxiliary apparatus for the arrangement of a separating film for the peripheral covering of the frame surface and the connection partners. This arrangement of the separating film produces an inner region bounded by the frame element and bounded by a separating film portion within the frame element and by the supporting surface, and injection opening and an outlet opening allow a second gas to flush through said inner region from the injection opening to the outlet opening and displace a first gas.

A first tooling die and a second tooling die are movable with respect to each other. The first tooling die and the second tooling die form a die cavity. The first tooling die and the second tooling die comprise a plurality of stacked metal sheets. A plurality of air gaps is defined between adjacent stacked metal sheets. A first smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and connected to the first tooling die. The first smart susceptor material has a first Curie temperature. A second smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and associated with the second tooling die. The second smart susceptor material has a second Curie temperature lower than the first Curie temperature. A flexible membrane is between the second tooling die and the first smart susceptor material. The flexible membrane is configured to receive pressure.

A first tooling die and a second tooling die are movable with respect to each other. The first tooling die and the second tooling die form a die cavity. The first tooling die and the second tooling die comprise a plurality of stacked metal sheets. A plurality of air gaps is defined between adjacent stacked metal sheets. A first smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and connected to the first tooling die. The first smart susceptor material has a first Curie temperature. A second smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and associated with the second tooling die. The second smart susceptor material has a second Curie temperature lower than the first Curie temperature. A flexible membrane is between the second tooling die and the first smart susceptor material. The flexible membrane is configured to receive pressure.

A method and a device for producing a component from a fiber composite material. The method includes introducing multiple layers of fibers impregnated with a matrix onto an inner mold, placing a membrane sealed against an outer mold onto the fibers impregnated with the matrix, such that a cavity extending along the shell surface of the outer mold forms between the outer mold and the membrane, and applying a temperature-controllable pressure fluid to the cavity at a temperature greater than the melting point of the matrix and at a pressure greater than the ambient pressure. To produce a component having at least one reinforcing layer, at least one reinforcing layer having fibers oriented in a predominantly parallel manner is placed locally onto a portion of a side of a the base layer facing the outer mold with the aid of an insertion device and a membrane with an average surface roughness of below 1.0 μm, preferably below 0.1 μm, subsequently exerts a set pressure in the cavity on the component.

Provided is a method for pretensioning the membrane of a press, including the following steps: a) providing a press having a first pressing tool, a second pressing tool and a membrane. The first pressing tool and the second pressing tool are movable relative to one another, wherein the membrane is connected to one of the pressing tools. A cavity for a working medium is formed between the membrane and the pressing tool connected thereto. The cavity is sealed by at least one seal which presses onto the membrane with a sealing force; b) providing at least one workpiece, wherein the workpiece includes a matrix and fibres embedded therein; c) inserting the workpiece into the press; d) closing the press; e) subjecting the workpiece to pressure and/or to heat by means of the membrane. A cured shaped part is formed from the workpiece; and f) opening the press and removing the shaped part. In order to ensure as smooth as possible a surface of the membrane, it is proposed that the membrane is already pretensioned before step e). Also presented and described is a press for carrying out this method.

Provided is a method for pretensioning the membrane of a press, including the following steps: a) providing a press having a first pressing tool, a second pressing tool and a membrane. The first pressing tool and the second pressing tool are movable relative to one another, wherein the membrane is connected to one of the pressing tools. A cavity for a working medium is formed between the membrane and the pressing tool connected thereto. The cavity is sealed by at least one seal which presses onto the membrane with a sealing force; b) providing at least one workpiece, wherein the workpiece includes a matrix and fibres embedded therein; c) inserting the workpiece into the press; d) closing the press; e) subjecting the workpiece to pressure and/or to heat by means of the membrane. A cured shaped part is formed from the workpiece; and f) opening the press and removing the shaped part. In order to ensure as smooth as possible a surface of the membrane, it is proposed that the membrane is already pretensioned before step e). Also presented and described is a press for carrying out this method.

The invention relates to a method for producing molded parts from fiber composite material, including the following steps: a) providing a press having a first press tool, a second press tool and a membrane. The first press tool and the second press tool are movable relative to each other. The membrane is connected to one of the press tools, a cavity for a working medium being formed between the membrane and the press tool connected thereto, a working chamber for a workpiece being formed in the other press tool, and the volume of the working chamber being modifiable by a movement of the membrane when the press is closed, b) providing at least one workpiece having a workpiece volume. The workpiece has a matrix and fibers inserted therein, c) inserting the workpiece into the working chamber of the press, d) closing the press. The working chamber takes up a first volume, e) applying pressure and/or temperature to the workpiece by means of the membrane. The working chamber takes up a second volume, a hardened molded part being created from the workpiece, and f) opening the press and removing the molded part. In order to ensure continuous and uniform pressure distribution, according to the invention the first volume of the working chamber is smaller than the workpiece volume, and therefore the workpiece is already compressed at step d) and before step e).

A composite manufacturing system and method are provided. The composite manufacturing system comprises a press and a bladder. The press has an upper portion having a desired shape for a composite structure and a lower portion configured to receive layers of composite material. The bladder is associated with the upper portion of the press and is configured to reach a superplastic state when heated such that the bladder forms to the composite structure by applying heat and pressure to the layers of composite material. The bladder cools without appreciable shrinkage, applying a desired amount of pressure to the composite structure during the entire cooling cycle. Once one composite structure is formed using the bladder, the bladder may be reused to form similar structures.

An apparatus for hot drape forming a part includes a plurality of pyrometers, a bladder covering a formable material, and a pyrometer control medium positioned between the plurality of pyrometers and the formable material. The plurality of pyrometers are configured to measure a temperature of the pyrometer control medium.