Abstract: A vacuum bag (18) is placed around the inner forming surface (IML) of an inner mandrel with radially retractable sectors (11a, 11b) having parallel longitudinal slots (17) with composite stringers (30) in the slots (17). An inner support (31) in each stringer is covered by an impermeable tubular bag (32). A composite skin (37) is laminated around the stringers (30), the coated supports (31, 32) and the inner forming surface (IML). An outer curing tool (50, 51) closes around the skin (37) defining an fuselage barrel outer forming surface (OML), leaving an annular gap (G) between the skin outer surface (37) and the outer forming surface (OML). Vacuum is applied between the vacuum bag (18) and the outer tool (50, 51), enlarges the uncured barrel diameter, releasing the barrel from the inner mandrel (10) and bringing the skin outer surface (37) into contact with the outer tool inner surface (IML).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor includes providing a mold defining a planar capillary space; placing a measure of precursor in fluid communication with the capillary space; creating a vacuum around the mold and within the planar capillary space; melting the precursor; allowing the melted precursor to flow into the capillary space; and cooling the melted precursor within the mold such that the precursor forms a semiconductor, the operations of melting the precursor, allowing the precursor to flow into the capillary space, and cooling the melted precursor occurring in the vacuum.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a display panel substrate assembly and an apparatus and method for forming a display panel substrate assembly, wherein the substrate assembly includes a first substrate and a second substrate. At least one of the first substrate and the second substrate is optically clear. The method includes the steps of screen printing a non-sag adhesive composition onto a surface of the first substrate, bringing the non-sag adhesive composition into contact with a surface of the second substrate in an environment having a pressure of less than or equal to about 5000 pascals, and curing the non-sag adhesive composition to yield an adhesive layer. The non-sag adhesive composition is of a type which is optically clear after curing.

Abstract: The present teachings provide a system and method for producing a cylindrical foam article. The method can include coupling a first end of an outlet adaptor to a die, and coupling the die to a die housing of an extruder. The method can also include coupling a substantially cylindrical die outlet to a second end of the outlet adaptor, and substantially continuously extruding a polymer through the outlet adaptor into the die outlet to create the cylindrical foam article with a natural skin formed about a perimeter of the cylindrical foam article.

Abstract: A method of producing a stretch laminate exhibiting reduced defects from a mechanical activation process can include providing a nipping member. The nipping member can have a first nip region and a non-nip region adjacent to the first nip region. A first substrate and an elastic element are provided to the nipping member. The first substrate and the elastic element are joined in a face to face relationship with adhesive therebetween, thereby creating an intermediate laminate. The intermediate laminate has a first tack down region and an activation region adjacent the first tack down region. A portion of the first tack down region passes through the first nip region, and a portion of the activation region passes through the non-nip region of the nipping member. The activation region of the intermediate laminate is mechanically activated, thereby creating the stretch laminate.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of the present disclosure relate to efficient sealing of vacuum bag seams for vacuum bag processing of composite parts. Vacuum bags may enclose a composite part and form a first sealed region around the composite part. The first sealed region may be sealed by vacuum bag seams to a base supporting the composite part and/or to other vacuum bags. The vacuum bag seams may be sealed with an edge sealing frame that forms a compression seal and that defines a second sealed region including the sealed seam. Vacuum applied to the second sealed region forms a vacuum moat adjacent to the seam and/or at least partially surrounding the first sealed region. Hence, minor leaks in the compressively sealed seam are mitigated by the vacuum moat and the vacuum integrity of the first sealed region is maintained despite some potential leaks in the sealed seam.

Abstract: A vacuum bag sealing system may include a composite bagging sheet, and at least one interlocking strip connected to a surface of the composite bagging sheet, wherein the interlocking strip is configured to join a first section of the composite bagging sheet to a second section of the composite bagging sheet to form a sealed vacuum bag.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of joining substrates. It is the object of the invention in this respect to join substrates of substrate materials together without having to exert an increased effort for a coating with additional coating processes to be carried out and to be able to achieve a good quality of the join connection in so doing. In the method in accordance with the invention a pretreatment of at least one join surface of a substrate to be joined is carried out in low pressure oxygen plasma prior to the actual joining. On the joining, a contact force acts on the substrates to be joined in the range 2 kPa to 5 MPa and in this process a heat treatment is carried out at an elevated temperature of at least 100° C. and at under pressure conditions of a maximum of 10 mbar, preferably <10?3 mbar.

Abstract: A heat transfer sheet affixing method where a focus ring is pressed by a pressing part to a heat transfer sheet placed on a heat transfer sheet mounting part of a plasma processing apparatus to affix the heat transfer sheet to the focus ring. The method includes reducing a pressure to place the heat transfer sheet in a reduced-pressure atmosphere, heating the heat transfer sheet, and pressing the focus ring by the pressing part to the heat transfer sheet. The reducing, the heating, and the pressing are performed concurrently at least for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a gas-filled triple glazing, including: a pre-assembly during which three sheets of glass are positioned beside one another, at least one of the sheets of glass including a spacer, each sheet of glass being positioned inclined by an angle between 0° and 10° with respect to an adjacent sheet of glass, to form two cavities, each of the cavities being between two adjacent sheets of glass; filling the two cavities by injecting gas into the two cavities at a same time using nozzles; pressing the sheets of glass against one another to seal the triple glazing. The method allows triple glazing to be manufactured quickly.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate generally to relief sculptures, and more particularly to methods of creating relief sculptures, kits for creating relief sculptures, and the relief sculptures themselves. A method may include, for example, contacting a transparent plate and a first surface of a pliable sheet, the first surface of the pliable sheet comprising an image, wherein at least a portion of the image is visible through the transparent plate, applying a sculpting medium to a portion of the transparent plate that corresponds to an image feature visible through the transparent plate, and adhering a second surface of the pliable sheet to the transparent plate, the sculpting medium, or both, such that the image feature corresponds to the sculpting medium.

Abstract: A tool for forming a panel including a core area, at which plies sandwich a core, and a trim area surrounding the core, at which the plies are bonded together, is provided and includes a body having a surface on which the panel is formable, an assembly to apply bonding pressure to the plies at least at the core and trim areas and a clamping device external to the assembly to apply a clamping force to the vacuum bag and the plies.

Abstract: Provided is an imprint apparatus that imprints a pattern formed on a mold onto a substrate. The imprint apparatus includes a substrate holder that holds the substrate and can move in a direction along the surface of the substrate; a gas supply unit for supplying a gas into a space between a pattern part of the mold and the substrate; and a wall part that is disposed so as to enclose the space that is supplied with gas, wherein at a position opposed to the substrate and the mold, the wall part faces the substrate holder or the substrate with a gap therebetween.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a panel, the panel comprising a composite skin and at least one composite stiffener, the method comprising: positioning first and second mandrels on opposite sides of the stiffener; positioning first and second compaction tools on opposite sides of the skin; and compacting the skin between the first and second compaction tools by moving one or both of the compaction tools, wherein the movement of the compaction tool(s) causes the first and second mandrels to move towards the stiffener along inclined paths so as to compact the stiffener between the mandrels.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a solid state non-proportional, adjustable, tapered drawing die and an oriented polymer article formed therefrom. More specifically, embodiments relate to a non-proportional draw die used to produce oriented, dimensionally accurate, symmetric or asymmetric polymer composite profiles having simple profiles or complicated profiles with multiple edges. Moreover, the draw die of the disclosure prevents natural flattening of the edges of the final profile during the solid state die drawing process of the oriented polymer composite.

Abstract: A structural shell for a wind turbine blade is formed from one or more elongate reinforcing members, each in the form of a stack (3) of pultruded fibrous composite strips positioned between two layers of structural foam (4). The foam layers (4) have a thickness which is greater than that of the stack (3). The edges of the foam layers (4) are formed with a void (11). With the stack (3) and foam layers (4) positioned in a mould, a strip of pre-cured glass fibre (5) is placed on the stack (3) and the edges of the foam layers (4). A vacuum is applied to the stack (3) and the foam layers (4), causing the glass fibre strip (5) to press on the stack (3) and foam layers (4) and to conform to the underlying surfaces.

Abstract: A fuel cell (1) has a plate (2) produced by powder metallurgy which comprises in one piece a porous substrate area (4) to which the electrochemically active cell layers (6) are applied, and a gastight edge area (5) which is provided with gas passages (17, 18).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for assembling insulating glass panes filled with a gas other than air. According to said method, two glass sheets provided with a spacer are arranged in a vertical or inclined position and facing each other, gas that is different from air is introduced into a chamber from below and the insulating glass pane is formed by moving the glass sheets closer to each other after reaching a desired gas filling level. According to the invention, the gas is homogenized before said gas is introduced through said gap.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a splittable/peelable tubular body of a catheter or sheath wherein the tubular body has a splittable/peelable atraumatic tip is disclosed. The atraumatic tip is generally softer than the tubular body. The tubular body and atraumatic tip each comprise a peel mechanism longitudinally extending along their respective lengths. The peel mechanisms are formed by longitudinally extending regions of interfacial bonding between first and second longitudinally extending strips of polymer material. Each strip forms at least a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the tubular body and atraumatic tip. A region of stress concentration extends along the region of interfacial bonding. The stress concentration facilitates the splitting of the tubular body and atraumatic tip along their respective peel mechanisms.

Abstract: An apparatus for laminating substrates includes a laminating fixture having an open-topped recessed space formed by a pair of corresponding sidewalls for holding a target substrate therein. The recessed space is communicable with an air evacuation passage. A supporting structure is formed in the recessed space for supporting two opposite ends of a flexible substrate thereon, such that a bottom of the flexible substrate is spaced from a laminating surface of the target substrate by a predetermined distance. A soft plate is disposed over the open-topped laminating fixture to form an airtight chamber in the laminating fixture. When the airtight chamber is vacuumed using a vacuum pump via the evacuation passage, the soft plate is subjected to a suction pressure and downward deformed to press the flexible substrate downward, causing the flexible substrate to deflect to attach its bottom on the laminating surface of the target substrate.