Abstract: An automated method and system for making painted vehicle body panel skins and vehicle body panels, such as instrument panels, are provided wherein throughput and equipment utilization are greatly improved at a relatively low cost. The method includes transferring a mold having a mold surface from an entrance station to a paint station within a dispensing area. The method further includes applying paint on the mold surface to form a layer of paint on the mold surface at the paint station. The method still further includes spraying curable polyurethane elastomer on the painted surface at a spray station within the dispensing area. The paint and spray stations may be coincident.

Abstract: An automated method and system for making painted vehicle body panel skins and vehicle body panels, such as instrument panels, are provided wherein throughput and equipment utilization are greatly improved at a relatively low cost. The method includes transferring a mold having a mold surface from an entrance station to a paint station within a dispensing area. The method further includes applying paint on the mold surface to form a layer of paint on the mold surface at the paint station. The method still further includes spraying curable polyurethane elastomer on the painted surface at a spray station within the dispensing area. The paint and spray stations may be coincident.

Abstract: An automated method and system for making painted vehicle body panel skins and vehicle body panels. The method includes transferring a mold having a mold surface from an entrance station to a paint station within a dispensing area. The method further includes applying paint on the mold surface to form a layer of paint on the mold surface at the paint station. The method still further includes spraying curable polyurethane elastomer on the painted surface at a spray station within the dispensing area. The paint and spray stations may be coincident. The method still further includes, after the step of spraying and while the polyurethane elastomer is uncured, transferring the mold with the paint and the uncured polyurethane elastomer from the spray station to at least one accumulator station in a curing area to allow the polyurethane elastomer to completely cure in the mold and form the skin.

Abstract: An automated method and system for making painted vehicle body panel skins and vehicle body panels, such as instrument panels, are provided wherein throughput and equipment utilization are greatly improved at a relatively low cost. The method includes transferring a mold having a mold surface from an entrance station to a paint station within a dispensing area. The method further includes applying paint on the mold surface to form a layer of paint on the mold surface at the paint station. The method still further includes spraying curable polyurethane elastomer on the painted surface at a spray station within the dispensing area. The paint and spray stations may be coincident.

Abstract: An automated method and system for making painted vehicle body panel skins and vehicle body panels. The method includes transferring a mold having a mold surface from an entrance station to a paint station within a dispensing area. The method further includes applying paint on the mold surface to form a layer of paint on the mold surface at the paint station. The method still further includes spraying curable polyurethane elastomer on the painted surface at a spray station within the dispensing area. The paint and spray stations may be coincident. The method still further includes, after the step of spraying and while the polyurethane elastomer is uncured, transferring the mold with the paint and the uncured polyurethane elastomer from the spray station to at least one accumulator station in a curing area to allow the polyurethane elastomer to completely cure in the mold and form the skin.

Abstract: An automated method and system for making painted vehicle body panel skins and vehicle body panels, such as instrument panels, are provided wherein throughput and equipment utilization are greatly improved at a relatively low cost. The method includes transferring a mold having a mold surface from an entrance station to a paint station within a dispensing area. The method further includes applying paint on the mold surface to form a layer of paint on the mold surface at the paint station. The method still further includes spraying curable polyurethane elastomer on the painted surface at a spray station within the dispensing area. The paint and spray stations may be coincident.

Abstract: An automated method and system for making painted vehicle body panel skins and vehicle body panels, such as instrument panels, are provided wherein throughput and equipment utilization are greatly improved at a relatively low cost. The method includes transferring a mold having a mold surface from an entrance station to a paint station within a dispensing area. The method further includes applying paint on the mold surface to form a layer of paint on the mold surface at the paint station. The method still further includes spraying curable polyurethane elastomer on the painted surface at a spray station within the dispensing area. The paint and spray stations may be coincident.

Abstract: An automated method and system for making painted vehicle body panel skins and vehicle body panels are provided. The method includes transferring a mold having a mold surface from an entrance station to a paint station within a dispensing area. The method further includes applying paint on the mold surface to form a layer of paint on the mold surface at the paint station. The method still further includes spraying curable polyurethane elastomer on the painted surface at a spray station within the dispensing area. The paint and spray stations may be coincident. The method still further includes, after the step of spraying and while the polyurethane elastomer is uncured, transferring the mold with the paint and the uncured polyurethane elastomer from the spray station to at least one accumulator station in a curing area to allow the polyurethane elastomer to completely cure in the mold and form the skin.

Abstract: A forming tool made from resins and fillers for the cold forming of sheet metal and especially suitable for forming short runs of sheet metal parts with drop hammers, hydraulic presses or mechanical crank presses, the filler being a mixture of iron filled resin and an aggregate; the aggregate being a lightweight by-product of the steel making process.