Abstract: A mold for use in a reaction injection molding method and system to make a reinforced polymeric article having reduced surface defects includes a novel gating system. The mold includes a pair of mold sections which define a closed, article-forming cavity, an injection aperture, and an after-mixer which helps to form a plurality of flow paths which extend downstream from the injection aperture toward the article-forming cavity to further mix a curable, multi-component, reaction fluid mixture including a filler. The flow paths are also at least partially defined by an elongated film gate and an elongated runner which extends along and is in fluid communication with the film gate along substantially the entire length of the film gate. The runner has a closed end and an open end into which a fluid mixture for the article flows for distribution by the runner into the film gate.

Abstract: A mold for use in a reaction injection molding method and system to make a reinforced polymeric article having reduced surface defects includes a novel gating system. The mold includes a pair of mold sections which define a closed, article-forming cavity, an injection aperture, and an after-mixer which helps to form a plurality of flow paths which extend downstream from the injection aperture toward the article-forming cavity to further mix a curable, multi-component, reaction fluid mixture including a filler. The flow paths are also at least partially defined by an elongated film gate and an elongated runner which extends along and is in fluid communication with the film gate along substantially the entire length of the film gate. The runner has a closed end and an open end into which a fluid mixture for the article flows for distribution by the runner into the film gate.

Abstract: An efficient continuous wave solid state laser is described. An array of semiconductor diode lasers is employed to generate a pump light source at an absorption wavelength for a solid state laser such as Nd:YAG laser. The array of diode lasers is pulsed at a high repetition rate to produce narrow light pulses which are directed upon an end surface of the solid state laser rod. The pump pulses rate is selected sufficiently high to establish CW operation of the solid state laser while the duty cycle for the pump-light source is sufficiently low to avoid excessive junction heating of the diode lasers, which would substantially reduce their output power.