Abstract: A preform for thermoset resin composition molding is provided that upon cure forms a variety of molded and fiber reinforced articles used in a variety of applications such as vehicle components including bed lines, body components, trim, interior components, and undercar components; architectural components such as trim and doors, marine components including hulls, trim, and cockpit pieces; and similar structures in aerospace settings. A novel slurry composition, a novel centrifugal process, or a combination thereof provide superior quality preforms that are created with greater throughput relative to conventional techniques. The inhibition of fiber movement between the time such a fiber contacts the mold, or fibers already in place on the mold, and the time the fibers are set in position provides a superior fiber homogeneity and randomized orientation relative to existing slurry techniques with attributes of low scrap generation, and process flexibility with respect to part shape and fiber material.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire of the present technology includes a tread portion, sidewall portions, bead portions, and a belt-shaped sound-absorbing member bonded to a region on a tire inner surface corresponding to the tread portion along the tire circumferential direction with an adhesive layer disposed between the tire inner surface and the sound-absorbing member. In such a pneumatic tire, an air agitation portion formed by an interruption in the sound-absorbing member is disposed in at least one location on the tire circumference.

Abstract: A method of making a laminated trim component at a molding station is provided. A heated plastic composite sheet is pressed against a heated laminated sheet to bond a plastic cushioning layer of the laminated sheet to the plastic composite sheet at the molding station. The step of pressing compresses a portion of the laminated sheet spaced inwardly from an outer periphery of the laminated sheet to locally compact and thin the cushioning layer at the portion to form a compressed portion of the cushioning layer. A plastic compatible with the plastic of the composite sheet is molded around the composite sheet to form at least one component at the inner surface of the composite sheet at the molding station.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming at least one curved polymeric microneedle, wherein the microneedle includes a base portion and an elongated body portion terminating in a sharp tip, said elongated body portion comprising a lower portion that is 15% to 25% of the height of the microneedle, said elongated body portion being connected to said base layer. The method comprises: heating an array comprising said base layer and at least a segment of said elongated body portion; passing the heated array against a fixed member to bend the microneedles; and allowing the bent, heated array to be cooled. The heat applied to the base layer and elongated body portion is sufficient to cause the heated microneedle to be at or above the glass transition temperature of the polymer of the microneedle, but below a temperature that would cause the lower portion to bend during the passing step.

Abstract: A head is disclosed for use with a manufacturing system. The head may have a housing that discharges a tubular structure, and a cure enhancer connected to the housing and selectively activated to cure the tubular structure during discharge from the housing. The head may also have a nozzle that discharges a fill material into the cured tubular structure.

Abstract: Performance on snowy roads is improved. Provided is a pneumatic tire, of which the mounting orientation on a vehicle is indicated. An outer middle land part is formed between a first major groove and a second major groove. The first major groove has first portions and second portions alternately formed in the tire circumferential direction, the second portions being wider than the first portions. The outer middle land part is provided with a plurality of middle inclined grooves not directly interconnected with either the first major groove or the second major groove, a plurality of outer middle lug grooves connecting the second portions of the first major groove and the middle inclined grooves, and inner middle lug grooves connecting the middle inclined grooves and the second major groove. The outer middle lug grooves are provided to different positions in the tire circumferential direction than the inner middle lug grooves.

Abstract: A composite truss structure may have a first facesheet, a second facesheet, and a plurality of truss elements joined with the first facesheet and the second facesheet at nodes to form a one-piece structure. The composite truss structure may be formed by a method comprising preparing a dry fabric mold by: 1) placing a first dry fabric layer on a tool, 2) placing a first layer of fabric-loaded mandrels on the first dry fabric layer, 3) placing a second layer of the fabric-loaded mandrels on the first layer of fabric-loaded mandrels, and 4) placing a second dry fabric layer over the fabric-loaded mandrels. The method may further comprise infusing the dry fabric mold with a resin, and curing the resin to provide the nonflexible composite truss structure.

Abstract: Provided herein is a molding material that attains little fluctuation in amount of short fibers and powdery resin among individual products and that allows continuous production without damaging a die. In the step of pouring, slurry is poured onto a slurry diffusion member 7 from above the slurry diffusion member 7. The slurry diffusion member 7 extends in an upward direction, and is shaped such that the area of a transverse section taken along a direction orthogonal to the upward direction becomes smaller as the slurry diffusion member 7 extends in the upward direction. In the step of cleaning, a dispersion medium that is the same as the dispersion medium used in the step of pouring or water is poured onto the slurry diffusion member 7 from above the slurry diffusion member 7 to cause the short fibers and the powdery resin adhering to a slurry diffusion portion 71 of the slurry diffusion member 7 to fall down.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire in which a tread part is provided with a pair of central main grooves extending continuously around the circumference of the tire on both sides of a tire equator C, and central thin grooves extending continuously around the circumference of the tire on the tire-axially inner sides of the central main grooves and having less groove width than the central main grooves. The central thin grooves include a linear first central thin groove running along the tire circumference, and zigzagging second central thin grooves. The first central thin groove is provided on the tire-axially inner sides of the second central thin grooves.

Abstract: A stack forming apparatus according to embodiments comprises a nozzle and a controller. The nozzle is configured to selectively inject more than one kind of material to a target and to apply laser light to the injected material to melt the material. The controller is configured to control the kind and supply amount of material to be supplied to the nozzle.

Abstract: Technologies are provided herein for processing edible materials using tools associated with a fabrication system. In one aspect, a fabricator includes a control module and a drive assembly controlled by the control module. The fabricator also includes at least one food processing tool head coupled to the drive assembly that can process material for fabricating an edible structure on a build surface.

Abstract: An improved linear-motor-operated conveying system is distinguished, inter alia, by the following features: the conveyed web can be fixed to the nipper part, as a result of which a conveyed web plane is defined, said film plane being arranged at a height with respect to the motor working side of the single linear motor drive or of the more powerful linear motor drive in the case of two linear motor drives, and said height being less than or equal to the length of the secondary parts on the conveying parts; the conveying system comprises either a) only one linear motor drive provided beneath the conveying part, or b) only one linear motor drive provided above the conveying part, or c) one linear motor drive arranged beneath and one arranged above the conveying part, the upper linear motor drive and/or the associated control system being configured in such a manner that the upper linear motor drive can only be operated with a maximum power of 75% in relation to the maximum power of the lower linear motor drive.

Abstract: A system for the radiation treatment of substrates, which includes at least one radiation source above the substrate holders in a chamber, which holders are to be equipped with substrates that are to be treated, and the chamber has means for maintaining a gas flow in the chamber, having at least one gas inlet and at least one gas outlet, characterized in that the at least one gas inlet is situated in the vicinity of the substrate holders so that gas flowing in by means of the at least one gas inlet first flows around the substrate holders before either exiting the chamber directly via the gas outlet or exiting after flowing around the at least one radiation source.

Abstract: A lacrosse head pocket and a related method of manufacture are provided to facilitate consistent, repeatable and/or custom manufacture of lacrosse equipment. The pocket can be constructed from multiple different sections joined with one another, or can be knitted, weaved or otherwise assembled on an automated assembly machine from strands, and/or can be formed as a unitary textile material having regions/sections with different physical and/or mechanical properties. The pocket can be integrally molded within portions of a lacrosse head to eliminate manually constructed connections between the pocket and lacrosse head. The lacrosse head can be integrally molded with a lacrosse handle to provide a one-piece unitary lacrosse stick. Related methods of manufacturing also are provided.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a composite structure includes: (a) preparing: a metallic sheet(s) having a through-hole(s) penetrating throughout the metallic sheet(s) in its thickness direction; (b) setting a prepreg(s), constituting a fiber reinforced plastic sheet(s), and the metallic sheet in a pair of dies, which have a recess(es) arranged at a position(s) opposed to one side opening(s) of the through-hole(s), the recess(es) having a larger diameter than the one side opening; (c) closing the dies, wherein, upon closing, (ca) the prepreg(s) and the metallic sheet are molded to the predetermined shape, while surface-contacting therebetween, (cb) at least one of the prepreg(s) and a patch member(s) is extruded into the through-hole(s), so that the shaft part is molded, and (cc) the patch member(s) forms at least part of a head part(s) in the recess(es), the head part(s) integrated with the shaft part(s) and engaging on the metallic sheet(s).

Abstract: A system and method for forming a composite filler. The method comprises applying a pressure to a first portion of a composite material blank with a pair of forming dies of a composite filler forming apparatus, the pair of forming dies having a pair of convex radii, each forming die of the pair of forming dies having a respective convex radius of the pair of convex radii. The method also repeats the applying step to a subsequent portion of the composite material blank to incrementally form the composite material blank into a desired cross-section along its length.

Abstract: A device 100 for molding a fiber-reinforced plastic structure is a device for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced plastic structure 200 integrating a stringer 2, which is a fiber-reinforced plastic member having a longer dimension in a longitudinal direction D than in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction D, with a skin 1, which is a fiber-reinforced plastic member. The skin 1 is provided with a positioning plate 3, which is disposed along the skin 1 and engages with a bottom surface 201 of an end part 21 of a mandrel 20 for molding the stringer 2. The positioning plate 3 positions the stringer 2 relative to the skin 1, at least in the direction intersecting the longitudinal direction D.

Abstract: A head is disclosed for use with a continuous manufacturing system. The head may have a housing, a fiber guide rotatably disposed at least partially inside the housing, and a diverter disposed at an end of the housing. The diverter may be configured to divert radially outward a matrix-coated fiber passing through the fiber guide.

Abstract: A method of producing an undercover for a vehicle includes: placing a first component including a planar surface, second components including planar surfaces, and a third component including a cavity with an opening in a surface such that the third component is sandwiched between the second components with the surfaces of the second components and the surface of the third components opposed to the surface of the first component; placing the sheet that is softened between the first component and the second components; vacuuming the sheet with the first component until a first surface thereof is pressed against the surface of the first component; bringing the surfaces of the second components into contact with a second surface of the sheet; and moving the third component toward the first component until the cavity is filled with a portion of the sheet while maintaining the first component and the second components thereat.

Abstract: A lacrosse head pocket and a related method of manufacture are provided to facilitate consistent, repeatable and/or custom manufacture of lacrosse equipment. The pocket can be constructed from multiple different sections joined with one another, or can be knitted, weaved or otherwise assembled on an automated assembly machine from strands, and/or can be formed as a unitary textile material having regions/sections with different physical and/or mechanical properties. The pocket can be integrally molded within portions of a lacrosse head to eliminate manually constructed connections between the pocket and lacrosse head. The lacrosse head can be integrally molded with a lacrosse handle to provide a one-piece unitary lacrosse stick. Related methods of manufacturing also are provided.