Abstract: A mobile robot comprises a trunk and several limbs removably linked to the trunk. Each of the limbs are configured for prepositioning the limb on the trunk, and a single flange is linked to the trunk and configured to removably fix all the limbs to the trunk. Each of the limbs comprises a motorized articulation, via which the limb is positioned and fixed onto the trunk, and can be driven in movement relative to the trunk.

Abstract: A device for relief of strain on a cable includes a modular base for mounting, a first arm, a second arm, and a spring assembly. The first arm is pivotally coupled to the modular base. A first proximal end of the first arm is connected to the modular base at a first pivot point for pivoting of the first arm about a first rotational axis. The second arm is coupled to the modular base. A second proximal end of the second arm is connected to the modular base. The spring assembly is coupled to the first arm to provide a clamping force between the first arm and the second arm.

Abstract: A device for connecting pneumatic tools to a manipulator is described. The device includes a main body fixable to a manipulator and provided with seats for corresponding coupling portions of a tool, at least one duct for feeding or suctioning a working fluid to/from the tool, the duct extends in the main body, and an engaging mechanism to engage to tool. The engaging mechanism is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position in order to respectively prevent or allow the detachment of the tool. Advantageously, the engaging mechanism further acts as a valve for opening and closing the duct and is provided with a vent to the atmosphere through which the pressure of the working fluid in the tool is automatically brought to the atmospheric pressure when the engaging mechanism is in the unlocked position.

Abstract: A human-robot collaboration (HRC) workstation includes a robot having a robot controller and a robot arm comprising a plurality of joints and links connecting the joints. The joints are automatically adjusted by the controller to move or hold in space a tool or workpiece held by the robot arm by adjusting the joints. The (HRC) workstation further comprises a mounting device having a stationary base frame and a fixing device configured to hold in place a workpiece or a tool such that the workpiece and/or tool held on the mounting device may be assembled and/or machined in interaction with the robot arm. The mounting device includes a mechanical adjusting device and a triggering device controlled by the robot controller and the adjusting device is configured to automatically adjust the fixing device relative to the base frame from an operating position to a safety position when the triggering device is activated.

Abstract: Compliant manipulators are provided, in which the manipulators include a plurality of slideably interlocked filaments each having a proximate end and a distal end. The interlocked filaments can be formed from a flexible material. The compliant manipulators can also include at least one filament-actuating device operatively connected to the respective distal ends of the plurality of slideably interlocked filaments. The at least one filament-actuating device can be manipulated directly or remotely to push and/or pull the respective filaments to impart a desired movement to the manipulator. The stiffness or flexibility of the manipulators can also be controlled to provide varying degrees of stiffness during use.

Abstract: A hand-operated tool lock mechanism secures a pair of grips in a closed locked state. The mechanism includes: a holding recess at the end of one grip; an engaging recess at the end of the other grip; a ring component removably and rotatably disposed in the holding recess, which engages with the engaging recess placing the grips in the closed state; and a catch for removably and rotatably inserting the ring component in the holding recess. The holding recess and the catch hold the ring component oriented away from the other grip when the ring component is disengaged from the engaging recess. When the hand-operated tool is used, the releasing of the ring component from the locked state causes the ring component to be held between the holding recess and the catch in an orientation in which the ring component does not contact the other grip.

Abstract: Embodiments of automated hair cutting systems and user interfaces for use therewith are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an automated hair cutting system comprises a hair cutting device, the hair cutting device comprising a cutter head and at least one sensor, the sensor configured for determining orientation of the hair cutting device; a user interface for providing information to and receiving input from a user, wherein at least one input received from the user is a desired hair style; components configured for measuring hair thickness; components configured for mapping a user's head configuration and determining hair orientation; and a processor configured to prepare a hair cutting algorithm for the automated hair cutting system based on input received from the user, the at least one sensor, and one or more components configured for mapping at least one of a user's head configuration, hair thickness, and hair orientation.

Abstract: A tube cutter includes a first clamp handle, a second clamp handle, a blade, and a holder. The first clamp handle includes an opening. The second clamp handle is pivotally connected with the first clamp handle. The blade is connected with the second clamp handle. The holder includes a first recess and at least one second recess, and the first recess has a width wider than that of the at least one second recess. The holder is movably connected with the first clamp handle to form a first state or a second state with respect to the first clamp handle. The first recess is located at the opening when in the first state and the second recess is located at the opening when in the second state.

Abstract: An automated food slicing device is provided. The automated food slicing device may automate the cutting, packaging, and/or labelling of food items such as delicatessen food items. The automated food slicing device may also have a computerized input that allows a user to provide inputs regarding selected options which the slicing device will follow to provide a customized food product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of food processors, and more particularly, to a slicing mechanism and the slicer using the slicing mechanism, wherein the slicing mechanism comprises the lower cover and the cutter components; wherein the cutter components are fixed to the rotating gear, which rotates in the lower cover; wherein the rotating gear and the cutter components are directly fixed, improving transmission efficiency and stability so that the slicing process has higher uniformity and quality.

Abstract: A chainsaw apparatus has a guide bar, a drive sprocket, and endless cutting chain mounted over the guide bar and over the drive sprocket, a first motor drivingly connected to the drive sprocket so as to cause the drive spot sprocket to move the endless chain over the guide bar, the first control device for controlling operation of the first motor and configured to deliver at least one first data representative of an operation of the motor, a storage tank suitable adapted to receive a lubricating fluid therein, a pump cooperative with the storage tank so as to deliver the lubricating fluid toward the guide bar and the endless cutting chain, a second motor drivingly connected to the pump, and a second control device for controlling operation of the second motor on the basis of a lubricating control parameter derived from the first data. The second motor is an electric motor.

Abstract: A cutter includes a rotary shaft having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart multi-blade cutting strips each of which includes a plurality of cutting blades spacedly provided at at least one longitudinal side edge of a cutting strip body thereof. Each cutting blade of each cutting strip has a portion (P1) staggered with respect to an adjacent cutting blade of an adjacent cutting strip along a circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis, and a remaining portion (P2) aligned with the adjacent cutting blade of the adjacent cutting strip along the circumferential direction. The portion (P1) has an offset length (D) measured along the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for spray printing construction. In some embodiments, a system may include a rotating truss, which in some embodiments may be arch-shaped. The system may further include a sprayer apparatus configured to connect to and move along the truss, and a processor circuit configured to execute computer instructions to print a building structure using the sprayer apparatus and the rotating truss. In another embodiment, a method may include determining a spray pattern for creating a printable structure at a computer control system, and implementing, on the computer control system, the spray pattern to create the printable structure, including rotating an arched truss system supporting an adjustable spray printer, adjusting a position of the spray printer on the arched truss system, and activating the spray printer to execute the determined spray pattern.

Abstract: An injection mold system for injecting slurry into an internal portion of an injection mold component core is disclosed. The system may include a fill clip for injecting slurry into an internal portion of an injection mold component core including a fill member for injecting slurry into the internal portion of the injection mold component core, and a latch member for removably coupling the fill member with the injection mold component core. The system may also include a fill reservoir for collecting excess slurry from the internal portion of the injection mold component core. The fill reservoir may also redistribute the excess slurry back into the internal portion of the injection mold component core.

Abstract: An extrusion forming apparatus includes an extruding section, a chamber drum, and a forming section. The extruding section kneads a material including a ceramic raw material and extrudes a kneaded material. The chamber drum has a first space portion having a first extruding direction extending portion through which the kneaded material is allowed to flow in an extruding direction, and a second space portion which has a second extruding direction extending portion extending in the extruding direction and a direction changing portion bending from the extruding direction to a downward direction, to allow the kneaded material to flow in the downward direction changed from the extruding direction. The second space portion has a cross section obtained by isotropically decreasing a cross section of the first space portion perpendicular to a flow-through direction of the kneaded material. The forming section has a die to extrude a ceramic formed body.

Abstract: A portable concrete mixer includes a frame, a hopper, coupled to the frame, for receiving therein dry commercially available prepackaged concrete mixes containing gravel aggregates, a chute coupled to the hopper, a water supply system that supplies water to the chute, a motor, and an auger coupled to and rotated by the motor. The auger includes a shaftless helical auger body extending from the hopper into the chute via an aperture in the hopper. The shaftless helical auger body has an interior volume and a plurality of fingers extending from the auger body into the interior volume. The shaftless helical auger body has an uneven pitch such that a second portion of the helical auger body in the chute has a greater pitch than a first portion of the helical auger body in the hopper.

Abstract: A Method for manufacturing molding elements for molds is provided herein. The molds are used for molding tires provided with a tread with a circumferential arrangement of tread pattern elements. The method includes: a step consisting in aligning a plurality of basic linings; a step consisting in generating, from the basic tread circumference portion, an intermediate support; and obtaining an unfinished molding element from the intermediate support.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for producing a reinforcing structure, which comprises a fiber-reinforced strip having a thermoplastic material, onto a molded body surface. The device is characterized in that emission direction vectors of at least two laser diodes of a laser diode array are aligned in a non-parallel manner to one another and are directed toward one another in the direction of a heating surface of the strip and/or the molded body surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a laser sintering apparatus and a laser sintering method. The laser sintering apparatus includes a first laser head configured to output a laser beam at a first power level, a second laser head configured to output a laser beam at a second power level, and a driving device configured to drive the first laser head and the second laser head to move, so as to enable the first laser head and the second laser head to heat an identical region of a to-be-sintered material.

Abstract: A module (10) for heating a preform (12) made of a thermoplastic, includes: a lamp (16) having an emissive portion (22) emitting heating electromagnetic radiation and a non-emissive portion (24) that does not emit the heating radiation; and a longitudinal lens (32) that is fastened to the lamp (16), by at least one fastening brace (34), parallel to the emitting portion (22) in order to focus the heating radiation toward a selected zone of the preform; wherein each brace (34) is only fastened to the non-emissive portion (24) of the lamp (16).

Abstract: A producing method for a cylinder block includes: a spraying step of spraying a metallic material onto a bore inner surface of at least one cylinder bore formed in the cylinder block to form a spray deposit thereon; a pressurizing step of applying a predetermined pressure onto a surface of the spray deposit formed on the bore inner surface in the spraying step; and a honing step of applying a honing processing to the surface of the spray deposit after the pressurizing step.

Abstract: The extrusion apparatus includes a screw in a fixed barrel. The barrel has a feed inlet and an outlet with an extrusion nozzle which discharges into the nip between first and second rotary rolls that can rotate in opposite directions. The apparatus also has a first means for rotating and a first control means that are able to synchronize the speed of rotation of the first roll and the screw and has a second means that is able to rotate the second screw at a different speed of rotation than the first roll. The first control means can regulate the speed of rotation of the screw depending on the width of the strip, and a second control means can regulate the speed of rotation of the second roll depending on the thickness of the strip.

Abstract: In one embodiment of an apparatus for manufacturing a rubber sheet, a continuous rubber material is supplied onto a supply conveyor in a meandering state by supplying the continuous rubber material onto the supply conveyor while moving rubber supply device in a reciprocating manner in a roll axial direction. The rubber supply device has a full width moving mode in which the rubber supply device moves in the roll axial direction such that the continuous rubber material has a meandering shape of a width corresponding to a width of a rubber sheet, and a partial width moving mode in which the rubber supply device moves in the roll axial direction such that the continuous rubber material has a meandering shape of a width obtained by excluding widths of both edge portions of the rubber sheet from the width of the rubber sheet.

Abstract: A structure with a substrate, and a fine-unevenness-structure layer provided to at least one surface of the substrate, wherein the fine-unevenness-structure layer is disposed at a surface of the structure, the indentation elastic modulus of the structure is 1-1300 MPa, and the ratio (??) of the rate of change of the coefficient of kinetic friction of the surface of the structure is 0.15-1.05, wherein ??=??f/??s: ??s represents the rate of change of the coefficient of kinetic friction of the surface of the structure at an initial-abrasion stage of a reciprocating abrasion test; and ??f represents the rate of change of the coefficient of kinetic friction of the surface of the structure immediately prior to the end of the reciprocating abrasion test. This structure exhibits excellent scratch resistance without compromising on the optical performance thereof, such as the antireflection performance.

Abstract: To provide a fixing pressure roller production method which can readily provide a fixing pressure roller in which no abnormal foaming occurs at the interface between the elastic layer and the metallic core. The method of the present invention includes a molding step of molding, under reduced pressure, an unvulcanized silicone rubber containing a chemical foaming agent; after the molding step, a leaving step of allowing the molded product to stand for a predetermined period of time; and after the leaving step, a foam-curing step of vulcanizing the unvulcanized silicone rubber, to thereby yield an elastic layer formed of a foamed silicone rubber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming a molded fibrous product, comprising the steps of foaming an aqueous suspension of natural fibers, optionally in combination with synthetic fibers, to provide a first fibrous foam, a surfactant may be added to aid the foaming, feeding the fibrous foam into a mold, mechanically withdrawing a part of the water contained in the foam to produce a solidified, moist fibrous composition, and evaporating water from the solidified, moist fibrous composition to produce a dry fibrous product.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus and an method for the manufacture of moldable articles having an injection manifold, a plurality of hot runner nozzles, a first nozzle heater, a plurality of mold cavities positioned to receive molten material from the plurality of the hot runner nozzles, each mold cavity having at least one mold gate orifice and a mold cavity heater surrounding each mold cavity at least partially and a thermocouple associated with the mold cavity to measure directly or indirectly a temperature generated by the mold cavity heater.

Abstract: Photocurable millable polyurethane gum compositions contain a millable polyurethane gum having ethylenic unsaturation, photocatalyst, and a low molecular weight crosslinker containing minimally two ethylenically unsaturated groups. The compositions can be used to continuously extrude profiles which retain their shape.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a coextruded multilayer film The coextruded multilayer film includes a core component having from 15 to 1000 alternating layers of layer A and layer B. Layer A has a thickness from 10 nm to 1000 nm and includes a beta-propylene-based polymer having a crystallization temperature (T1c). Layer B includes a second polymer having a glass transition temperature (T2g), wherein T1C<T2g. Layer A has an effective moisture permeability less than 6.2 g-mil/m2/24 hrs.

Abstract: A method and a preform for blow molding to form a plastic container are disclosed, the preform having a coating formed on an inner surface thereof. The coating reduces a loss of heat energy from the heated preform during expansion thereof to ensure the preform maintains a temperature at or above the phase change/solidification temperature of the material forming the preform.

Abstract: An installation (26) for thermally conditioning thermoplastic preforms (14) that are intended to be formed, the installation (26) including:—a thermal-conditioning zone (40) divided vertically into a heating first part (42) which is intended to house a body (16) of the preform (14) and a cooling second part (44) which is intended to house a neck (20) of the preform (14);—a device (62) for cooling a portion of the preform (14) by producing a stream of gas passing through the thermal-conditioning zone (40); characterized in that the cooling device (62) produces a blade (63) of gas blown with laminar flow through an axial outlet slit (72).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fiber reinforced thermoplastic part includes placing fibers, fixing the fibers in place, cutting the fibers, infusing the fibers with a thermoplastic polymer, stacking multiple sheets of the fibers, and molding the multiple sheets together. A method of manufacturing a part includes placing original fibers, fixing the fibers in place, cutting the fibers, infusing the fibers with a thermoplastic polymer, stacking multiple sheets of the fibers, molding the multiple sheets together to form a moldable sheet, and applying a mold to the moldable sheet.

Abstract: A freeform extrusion fabrication process for producing three-dimensional ceramic, metal and functionally gradient composite objects, including the steps of filling a plurality of paste sources with a respective plurality of aqueous paste compositions, operationally connecting respective syringes containing respective aqueous paste compositions to a mixing chamber, moving a first aqueous paste composition from a first respective paste source into the mixing chamber, moving a second aqueous paste composition from a second respective paste source into the mixing chamber, mixing the first and second aqueous paste compositions to define a first admixture having a first admixture composition, extruding the first admixture onto a surface to define an extruded layer having a first admixture composition, surrounding the sides of the extruded layer with an oil bath, radiatively drying the extruded layer.

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: A three dimensional printer which prints at using at least one composite material having an inherently abrasive filler or fiber material has a Mohs hardness greater than substantially 1, or a Knoop/Vickers hardness greater than substantially 300 kg/mm2, or a Rockwell C hardness at least C30, and where a nozzle tip may contact a top surface of a previously deposited line of material may have a nozzle body includes a material having a thermal conductivity at least 35 w/M-K to conduct heat to the nozzle, and a nozzle throat and/or nozzle tip each include a material having a Rockwell C hardness at least C40, to resist wear from sliding contact of the nozzle tip with the previously deposited lines of the material being printed or another previously deposited material, or from the material being printed as it is printed through the nozzle throat.

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: A laser module with removable structures of three-dimensional printer includes a platform, a carrying seat and a laser module. The platform has a working side and a movement mechanism; the movement mechanism at least has a displacement rod. The carrying seat is disposed on the displacement rod, and the movement mechanism drives the carrying seat to move on the working side along the displacement rod. The carrying seat has an assembly portion, and the laser module is disposed on the assembly portion of the carrying seat and detachably integrated with the assembly portion as a whole. Thereby the purposes of fast and convenient disassembly can be achieved through assembling the laser module on the carrying seat.

Abstract: A method for adapting a 3D printing model includes calculating a layer representation model on the basis of a 3D object model of an object; determining a plurality of overhang regions in the layer representation model where the boundary edges of first layers extend over the boundary edges of second layers, the first layers being directly adjacent and subsequent to the second layers when going into the build-up direction of the layer representation model; determining a local overhang angle in each of the plurality of overhang regions; adapting the layer representation model by re-defining the boundary edges of layers in the overhang regions so that the local overhang angle remains below a predetermined overhang threshold angle; and outputting the adapted layer representation model as 3D printing model to the 3D printing apparatus.

Abstract: An unorganized point cloud may be created by an optical 3D scanner that scans a physical object, or by computer simulation. The point cloud may be converted into binary raster layers, which encode material deposition instructions for a multi-material 3D printer. In many cases, this conversion—from point cloud to binary raster files—is achieved without producing a 3D voxel representation and without producing a boundary representation of the object to be printed. The conversion may involve spatial queries to find nearby points, filtering material properties of the found points, looking up material mixing ratios, and dithering to produce binary raster files. These raster files may be sent to a multi-material 3D printer to control fabrication of an object. A user interface may display a preview of the object to be printed, and may accept user input to create or modify a point cloud.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material generally includes a rotary ultrasonic horn and a rotary anvil positionable in close proximity to the ultrasonic horn. The anvil has a face with a width and a circumferential axis. The face has a plurality of ridges each of which defines a plurality of interspaced lands and notches.

Abstract: A device for end-side welding of plastic profiles, preferably pipes, containing tensioning devices for retaining the plastic profiles in a coaxial position in relation to one another, a heating plate for generating heat rays for contact-free heating up of the plastic profile ends and a reflection outer ring for reflection of the heat radiation onto the plastic profile outer side, wherein a reflection inner ring is arranged on the heating plate, wherein the reflection inner ring reflects the heat rays of the heating plate onto the plastic profile inner side.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for affixing hardware components to garments. Hardware components are provided with an operative component and an adhesive surface. The operative component interacts with one or more other operative components and/or with one or more other features of the garment (e.g. with cords, straps or the like connected to the garment and/or with the fabric of the garment) and/or with one or more external devices. The adhesive surface is bonded to a corresponding interior surface of a fabric layer of the garment using an adhesive located between the adhesive surface and the corresponding surface of the fabric layer. The hardware component is projected from an interior of the fabric layer, through an aperture defined by the fabric layer, and to an exterior of the fabric layer.

Abstract: A device for fixing an edge material to a narrow side of a panel-shaped workpiece is provided, which has a feed mechanism for supplying the edge material to the narrow side of the workpiece, at least one infrared emitter for activating an adhesive layer, facing the workpiece, of the edge material, and a pressing mechanism for pressing the edge material onto the narrow side of the workpiece. In order to activate the adhesive layer of the edge material by means of infrared radiation using a reliable process without adversely affecting the visible face of the edge material, a radiation exposure zone with a specifiable size is arranged in the feed path of the edge material. In the exposure zone, the adhesive layer of the edge material is exposed to infrared radiation. The device has a guide mechanism for guiding the edge material through the radiation exposure zone.

Abstract: A method of fastening structural metal reinforcement on a portion of a gas turbine blade made of composite material and an injection mold for performing the method, the method including positioning the structural metal reinforcement in an injection mold, positioning the portion of the blade onto which the structural metal reinforcement is to be fastened in the injection mold, the portion of the blade and the structural metal reinforcement being positioned relative to each other in their final relative position while leaving between them a gap, injecting adhesive into the gap between the structural metal reinforcement and the portion of the blade onto which the structural metal reinforcement is to be fastened, and polymerizing the adhesive.

Abstract: A method for use in efficiently joining together multiple workpieces to inhibit establishment of weld material in unwanted areas. The method uses a hybrid shaping-and-energizing system having a shaping tool and an ultrasonic horn. The method positions the hybrid shaping-and-energizing system proximate a workpiece, uses the shaping tool to form at least one recess in the proximate workpiece, and applies weld energy to the proximate workpiece using the ultrasonic horn. The recess is formed and the weld energy applied such that molten workpiece material becomes disposed within the recess, thereby inhibiting formation of weld material in the unwanted areas.

Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional object is carried out by: providing a carrier and a pool of immiscible liquid, the pool having a liquid build surface, the carrier and the liquid build surface defining a build region therebetween; filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, wherein the immiscible liquid is immiscible with the polymerizable liquid (in some embodiments wherein the immiscible liquid has a density greater than the polymerizable liquid); irradiating the build region through at least a portion of the pool of immiscible liquid to form a solid polymer from the polymerizable liquid and advancing the carrier away from the liquid build surface to form the three-dimensional object comprised of the solid polymer from the polymerizable liquid.

Abstract: A fabrication method of magnetic device is provided. A magnetic material is provided. A portion of the magnetic material is selectively irradiated by an energy beam, and reactive gas is introduced simultaneously. The magnetic material being irradiated is melted and solidified to form a solidified layer. An outer layer of the solidified layer reacts with the reactive gas to form a barrier layer, so as to form a magnetic unit including the solidified layer and the barrier layer. It is determined whether the manufacturing process of the same layer is finished, if not, the energy beam is moved to the other portion of the magnetic material. The above step is repeated to overlap multiple magnetic units to form a magnetic layer. If yes, the flow returns to the 1st step to provide another magnetic material to the magnetic layer. The above steps are repeated to form a 3D magnetic device.

Abstract: A sheet compound (1) is disclosed, comprising a first group of conglomerates (3) of fiber segments (5) and a matrix (6) of polymeric material, the conglomerates (3) of the first group having a random orientation, and at least one second group of conglomerates (4) of fiber segments (5) and a matrix (6) of polymeric material, the conglomerates (4) of the second group having a prevailing orientation of a direction of maximum tensile strength (FR) thereof along a respective predetermined direction (FB) in said geometric plane (P), said at least one second group of conglomerates (4) being distinguishable from the first group of conglomerates (3) by at least one characteristic other than orientation. A process and an installation for making such a material, as well as a molded object made from such a material are also disclosed.

Abstract: High tenacity, high elongation multi-filament polymeric tapes as well as ballistic resistant fabrics, composites and articles made therefrom. The tapes are fabricated from multi-filament fibers/yarns that are twisted together, bonded together, compressed and flattened.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a composite part includes preparing a stack of plies made of a starting material, applying a vacuum bag to the stack of plies, and subjecting the stack of plies to a temperature and pressure cycle in an autoclave. The starting material is a laminate material of resin matrix reinforced with a fiber material. The matrix has a core layer of semi-crystalline thermoplastic resin and a pair of outer layers of amorphous thermoplastic resin arranged on opposite sides of the core layer. The glass transition temperature of the amorphous thermoplastic resin is below the melting point of the semi-crystalline thermoplastic resin. The autoclave temperature cycle heating rapidly the stack of plies to a working temperature above the transition temperature, but below the melting point, keeping the stack of plies at the working temperature during a time period for compaction alone; and cooling the stack of plies.