Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for producing verified component designs and for assisting in tool design to near-production specification in the materials of choice, via production processes and in considerably shorter time scales than has previously been possible.

Abstract: A method of applying a graphic image to a candle includes the step of printing a graphic image onto a thick sheet of paper. The paper is folded or otherwise conformed to the shape of the mold and is inserted into the cavity of the mold such that the printed image is on an interior surface of the paper. Molten wax is then introduced into the cavity and allowed to cure. As the molten wax cures, the graphic image transfers from the paper to the wax. After the wax has cured, the resulting candle is removed from the mold and the paper is removed from the external surface of the candle. The graphic image, which may be any image, including a photograph, appears clearly and distinctly on the exterior surface of the candle.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a custom breast prosthesis or an intermediate casting form for a breast prosthesis, in which the task of creating the intermediate casting form is considerably simplified, and enables a shaping of the casting form, in situ.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a skin material-laminated foamed thermoplastic resin molding and to foamed thermoplastic resin moldings, said process comprising a skin material and a thermoplastic resin foam integrally laminated with the skin material, wherein the process uses a mold comprising a male and female mold members which are mutually slidable and whose cavity clearance (t) is adjustable, the process comprising the following steps (1)-(5): (1) skin material supply step, (2) resin injection step, (3) compression step, (4) foaming step and (5) cooling and releasing step, and said moldings that are a panel-shaped foamed thermoplastic resin molding comprising a substrate and a projection standing on the substrate wherein the projection has a mean expansion ratio of not greater than 1.1 times and the substrate has a mean expansion ratio of not less than 1.3 times.

Abstract: For the production of a particularly dimensionally stable cable set, the single conductors (22) of the cable set are initially inserted into a cavity (8) of a foam tool (2) and a foaming material is subsequently filled in. To dispense with involved and expensive hydraulic equipment, a vacuum is generated to press a top half (6) and a bottom half (4) of the foaming tool (2) against each other. For this, vacuum channels (6) are preferably provided, which extend along sides of the cavity (8).

Abstract: A door trim assembly and method for making same for attachment to an inner panel of an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of components and a single carrier formed from a plastic material for attachment to the inner panel of the automotive vehicle and incorporating the plurality of components into the plastic material and a door trim substrate attached to the carrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wiping material for a vacuum chamber having sufficient sludge wiping properties and water retention attained by easy control over cell diameter and use of a polyurethane foam which has been foamed free from a silicone-based surface active agent and a process for the production thereof. A wiping material made of a polyurethane foam for a vacuum chamber for use in the preparation of a silicon wafer is described, wherein the polyurethane foam is free of silicone and has an open-cell structure comprising cells the diameter of which are controlled to fall within the range of from 500 &mgr;m to 3,000 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing wire from a conductor and a supply of thermoplastic insulating material. The method involves heating the insulating material, adding pressurized gas to the material, and extruding a sheath of the insulating material about the conductor to generate bubbles of the gas in the sheath. The method may operate by limiting the temperature of the material prior to extrusion, to increase viscosity to limit bubble expansion, and may provide a significant pressure drop on extrusion by limiting the gap between a wire-supplying guide and the extrusion die.

Abstract: A mold apparatus and method for manufacturing panels having, as desired, one or more areas of reduced material comprising a facing sheet and integrally attached cell forming walls extending in roughly perpendicular fashion from the facing sheet. Additionally, a method for molding panels, including large scale panels, from thermoplastic resins and other moldable materials requiring significantly less energy than other known molding methods, and providing for panels having one or more areas exhibiting continuous outer surfaces on all dimensions. A lower negative mold member has a plurality of upwardly facing positive standoffs defining interstitial channels into which thermoplastic resin or other moldable material is filled. A generally planar upper mold member is placed on the lower mold, and the combined mold assembly is then subjected to elevated heat and pressure, allowing said thermoplastic resin or other moldable material to melt within the interstitial spaces of the lower mold member.

Abstract: The invention is a method of making a foam filled honeycomb core structure comprising the steps of: 1) providing a honeycomb core billet; 2) reinforcing the honeycomb core with foam; 3) placing the foam filled billet in mold having a curved mold surface; 4) creep forming the foam filled billet to the general shape of the structure by applying a load to the foam filled billet; and 5) machining the creep formed billet to the actual shape of the structure.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a porous resin stamp, which can repeatedly seal without supplying ink for a long period of time by beforehand soaking ink therein, and a producing method thereof. The present invention is characterized in the producing method of porous resin stamp, wherein an original that can selectively pass light through is put together with a porous resin body combined with at least phathalocyanine pigments as heating material which generate heat by light irradiated from a light source; the light is irradiated from the original side toward the surface of porous resin body; and an ink inexuding portion is formed by melting a surface layer of the porous resin body with heat of the heating material generated by the light passed through the original.

Abstract: A unitary membrane for use in a pressing apparatus includes a pair of longitudinal edge portions and a semipermeable portion having a plurality of intercommunicating pores. The semipermeable portion is positioned between the pair of longitudinal edge portions. Wherein the unitary membrane includes a formed fabric and has a thickness less than about 0.1 inches. The semipermeable portion has a permeability greater than zero and less than about five CFM per square foot as measured by TAPPI test method TIP 0404-20. A method of making the unitary membrane includes the steps of providing a carrier fabric which is very permeable and forming a plurality of intercommunicating pores in the carrier fabric.

Abstract: A method is described that includes making a first impression of the face of a surgical patient prior to the commencing of surgery and of making a second impression of the face after the first impression has been made. Typically, the first and second impressions are a negative first and second impression that are each used in turn to make a first and a second positive impression of the face which are then used for making a comparison therebetween and also for teaching purposes. The second impression may be taken during the actual surgical procedure or it may be taken after surgery has been completed and the patient has fully healed. If desired, a third impression may be made after the second impression has been taken. The third impression is typically a third negative impression that is used to create a third positive impression. The third positive impression is also used for comparison purposes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing molded bodies having a blown, foamy structure, wherein a mass (S) comprising a suspension of at least starch, starch derivatives or mixtures thereof in water, is pressurized in or through a mold (23) and the mass (S) heated in the mold (23) in a manner such as to give rise to at least cross-linking of the starch, the starch derivatives or the mixture thereof wherein the mass (S) in the mold (23) is brought at least to the baking temperature, wherein the suspension is at least partially prepared from vegetable material which has not been subjected to an artificial drying step and which, calculated on the dry substance, contains at least 50 wt. % of starch, said vegetable material at least being ground to particles of a suspendable size. The invention further relates to the use of ground vegetable material, which vegetable material has not been subjected to an artificial drying step and, calculated on the dry substance, contains at least 50 wt.

Abstract: A method of replicating a structured surface that includes providing a tool having a structured surface having a surface morphology of a crystallized vapor deposited material; and replicating the structured surface of the tool to form a replicated article. A replicated article includes at least one replicated surface, wherein the replicated surface includes a replica of a crystallized vapor deposited material. A replication tool includes: a tool body that includes a tooling surface; and a structured surface on the tooling surface, wherein the structured surface includes crystallized vapor deposited material or a replica of crystallized vapor deposited material.

Abstract: A horizontal joint between upper and lower building panels, as well as a building wall including such a horizontal joint, in which a liquid diverting arrangement includes a gutter with first and second ends and at least one aperture disposed between these ends. Also contemplated are a method and apparatus for forming at least two building panels, in which the panels have different reveal dimensions, and a method and apparatus for forming a building panel in which a first reveal portion is registered while a second reveal portion has been formed at a preselected distance therefrom. Further contemplated are a method and kit for customizably assembling a building wall, in which panels having different thickness dimensions can be interchangeably connected with one another, as well as a method and kit for customizably assembling a building wall, in which on or more decorative profile panels and one or more structural building wall panels can be interchangeably connected with one another.

Abstract: A method for producing a human body part prosthesis, in the case where one pattern of human body part is lost or removed from a generally symmetrical human body part consisting of the left pattern and the right pattern, for restoring the lost or removed human body part, the method comprising: a reverse molding step in which a form of the remaining human body part BL of the other pattern is impression modeled directly from the remaining human body part of the other pattern, and an impression model of one pattern which is lost or removed is reverse-molded from the impression model 10 of the other pattern thus impression modeled, and a prosthesis molding step for molding a human body part prosthesis 1 of the lost or removed side from the reversed impression model 18 molded in the reverse molding step.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a cushion member which has a two-layer structure constituted by an obverse layer portion and a reverse layer portion and has no dispersion of thickness between the obverse layer portion and the reverse layer portion. Side cavities, a first cavity and a second cavity are formed in a lower die and side partitions and a front and rear partition are provided therein. A first raw material foams and flows within the first cavity, and a second raw material flows within the first cavity while being limited by a front and rear flow port with respect to a flow amount and a flow direction and covers over the first raw material so as to flow forward in such a manner as to follow the flow of a flow front end portion of the first raw material. Then, an obverse layer portion and a front edge portion made of the first raw material, and a reverse layer portion made of the second raw material are formed in the first cavity.

Abstract: A continuous process for reusing scrap polyurethane involves the following stages: Chips of thermoset polyurethane foam are supported as a bed; the bed of chips while moving is heated; the bed of chips while moving is subjected to pressure or compression; and a web is formed. The resulting material is useful in many industrial applications, including padding, gaskets, and insulation.

Abstract: The invention discloses reduced density foams and methods of making the foams by applying or creating a nonfoaming barrier layer on a foamable layer, which barrier layer inhibits the escape of fugitive gases during the foaming process.