Abstract: A method of forming a transferring surface onto a producing die to produce an optical element, wherein the transferring surface transfers an optical surface onto the produced optical element, the method comprising the steps of: cutting a material so as to form the transferring surface with a curvature; wherein the material has a hardness not smaller than Rockwell hardness HRA 80 or Vickers hardness Hv 1000 and the cutting step is conducted with a critical cutting-in depth of 5 ?m or less for the material.

Abstract: A method of forming a pattern is disclosed, which can improve the interfacial properties between a soft mold and a substrate including a pattern-formation material, the method comprising loading a substrate coated with a pattern-formation material into a chamber; positioning a soft mold, whose surface is provided with embossing and depressed patterns, in opposite to the substrate inside the chamber; forming an adsorption layer by evaporating some components of the pattern-formation material and adsorbing the components evaporated from the pattern-formation material to the surface of soft mold; forming a pattern layer with a shape being inverted to the embossing and depressed patterns included in the surface of soft mold by bring the soft mold including the adsorption layer into contact with the remaining pattern-formation material; and separating the soft mold from the pattern layer.

Abstract: The present invention aims to allow production of a molded item having a highly precise shape. A molding metal mold is provided having a movable metal mold (first metal mold) and a fixed metal mold (second metal mold) defining a cavity therebetween in which a molded item is produced. The movable metal mold has a first convex taper tapering toward the fixed metal mold. The fixed metal mold has a first concave taper fittable with the first convex taper. The first convex taper and the first concave taper are arranged so that, when fitted to each other, respective taper surface abut to each other first, and then a clamping force of the movable metal mold and the fixed metal mold causes an abutting between an end surface and a bottom surface which are respective parting surfaces of the movable metal mold and the fixed metal mold around the cavity. The molding metal mold is used to produce a molded item by means of injection molding, for example.

Abstract: A fixture device generally includes a base member, a reconfigurable pad disposed on the base member, wherein the reconfigurable pad comprises a shape memory material configured to selectively conform to a surface contour of a workpiece, and an activation device in operative communication with the shape memory material.

Abstract: A method and product made by using a polymeric ceramic precursor to synthesize dense, crack-free bulk ceramics in a technique using a sacrificial mold provides a ceramic structure for many technical, medical and industrial applications. The novel process uses an open cell material as a sacrificial mold to shape a ceramic precursor during curing. The cured ceramic green body can be machined and shaped to form the desired ceramic structure prior to final pyrolysis. The open cell material forms gas release paths to release large amount of gases generated during the pyrolysis of the cured ceramic precursor. After pyrolysis, an intact, dense, crack-free ceramic structure with high purity, strength and durability is obtained. Uses of the present invention include, but are not limited to, bulk ceramic parts, ceramic crucibles, a replacement material in some applications involving glass, silicon carbides, silicon nitrides, hafnium carbide and the like.

Abstract: A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material that is molded to provide details to accept audio devices such as playback mechanisms (if desired) and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides EMC, RFI, BCI and ESD shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The major components and subassemblies self-interconnect by integral guide and connection features effecting “slide lock” and “snap lock” self-interconnection. The major components and subassemblies self-ground by establishing an interference fit with exposed, resilient, embossed portions of wire mesh.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium which has a substrate and a magnetic layer formed on the substrate, the method including: forming the magnetic layer over a convexo-concave pattern provided on a surface of a mold, and releasing the mold from the magnetic layer formed on the substrate.

Abstract: A weight ballast having a reduced cost of manufacture includes a housing filled with a filling. The housing includes a bottom side, two lateral sides, with the two lateral sides, two terminal sides and bottom side defining a compartment as well as an opening to allow the filling being poured into the housing. The housing further including two lugs extending longitudinally with respect to a longitudinal axis of the housing from the two terminal sides respectively, and with each of the two lugs including a cavity connected to and in communication with the compartment. The filling is a mixture of cement and scum with a predetermined specific weight.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for optical detection of substances in a liquid or gaseous medium, with a substrate with molecules for detecting the substances that are to be detected, wherein these molecules are immobilised at a surface of the substrate or in the substrate and wherein the substances that are to be detected can essentially be selectively bound to these molecules, wherein light waves can be coupled into the substrate and can be guided through this, and wherein the substrate is a foil element made of a transparent material in which a coupling structure for coupling the light waves is integrally formed and in which the coupled light waves can be guided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of making a flexible mold from a polymerizable resin composition, the flexible mold, the polymerizable resin composition, as well as methods of using the flexible mold.

Abstract: The invention is a cell aggregation device comprising a hydrogel substrate having at least one, preferably a plurality, of cell-repellant compartments recessed into the uppermost surface. Each compartment is composed of an upper cell suspension seeding chamber having an open uppermost portion and a bottom portion, and one, or more than one, lower cell aggregation recess connected to the bottom portion of the upper cell suspension seeding chamber by a port. The diameter of the port may be fully contiguous with the walls of the chambers and walls of the recesses, or the diameter of the port may be more narrow than the walls of the chamber but fully contiguous with the walls of the recesses or more narrow than both the walls of the chamber and the walls of the recesses. The upper cell suspension seeding chambers are formed and positioned to funnel the cells into the lower cell aggregation recesses through gravitational force.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mold which is processed by ion beam irradiation or electron beam irradiation and in which a throughput of the mold is high and a decrease in the throughput or electrostatic discharge due to charging does not occur, a method of producing the mold, and a method of producing a molded article produced using the mold. In a mold for molding a plastic resin or the like, at least one of a cavity and a core on the micrometer order to the nanometer order is provided on the surface of a conductive glass substrate. A method of producing a mold for molding a plastic resin or the like includes forming at least one of a cavity and a core on the micrometer order to the nanometer order by irradiating an ion beam on the surface of a conductive vanadate glass substrate that contains vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) as a main component and that has an electric conductivity in the range of 1.0×10?1 to 1.0×10?8 S/cm.

Abstract: A process of producing a container closure by molding a gob of elastomeric material in a mold cavity

Abstract: A molded article having a field of molded hooks formed integrally thereon is made in a mold in which the hook-forming cavities are on a surface of a retractable mold insert. The insert is retracted from the molded article prior to the article's release from the mold, so that the molded hooks do not experience excessive shear forces as the article is removed from the mold cavity. The invention is especially useful when the draft angle of the hook-bearing surface of the molded article is less than about 45°.

Abstract: A cannula and method of forming a cannula by forming a cannula mandrel assembly having a nare mandrel, a main body mandrel and mouthpiece mandrel; heating the cannula mandrel assembly, applying a polymeric material to the cannula mandrel assembly to provide a desired material thickness on the mandrel assembly to form the cannula, curing the polymeric material of the formed cannula and extracting the mandrel assembly from the cannula by disassembly and removal of the mandrel assembly parts.

Abstract: The present invention provides a decorative sheet having a base film made of a thermoplastic polyester resin and a decorative layer on the base film, and provides a decorated resin molding produced by using the decorative sheet. The base film is not broken in both of MD (a flow direction of film-forming) and TD (a direction perpendicular to MD) and has a stress of 20 N/cm2 or less in any of MD and TD under a 200% elongation at 80° C. The decorated resin molding includes a resin molding and the decorative sheet which is unitedly laminated to the resin molding. The decorative layer of the decorative sheet faces toward the resin molding. The decorative sheet is suitable for producing the decorated resin molding by a decorating injection molding method.

Abstract: A method of forming a wooden mold may include, but is not limited to, the following processes. A resin solution may be impregnated into at least one wood board thereby forming at least one resin-impregnated wood board. The resin solution may include a resin component. The resin component may include at least one water-soluble bifunctional acrylic resin and at least one trifunctional or higher-functional acrylic resin. The at least one resin-impregnated wood board may be deformed. The resin component in the at least one resin-impregnated wood board may be cured at the same time or after the at least one resin-impregnated wood board may be deformed.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a color filter substrate for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes forming red (R), green (G) and blue(B) color filters in color filter areas on a substrate; forming an overcoating layer on the R, G and B color filters; arranging a mold on the overcoating layer; performing a first curing process on the overcoating layer through the mold; removing the mold from the overcoating layer; and performing a second curing process on the overcoating layer after removing the mold.

Abstract: In a method for the manufacture of an embossing due for the cold and hot embossing of paper and cardboard a plane material impregnated with a duroplastic resin is brought into close contact with a shaping die, both are pressed together to obtain a press die from a plane material impregnated with duroplastic resin after hardening of the materials brought into contact with each other.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, features can be directly imprinted into the surface of a solid substrate. Specifically, a substrate is directly imprinted with a desired pattern by the steps of providing a mold having a molding surface to imprint the pattern, disposing the molding surface adjacent or against the substrate surface to be imprinted, and irradiating the substrate surface with radiation to soften or liquefy the surface. The molding surface is pressed into the softened or liquefied surface to directly imprint the substrate. The substrate can be any one of a wide variety of solid materials such as semiconductors, metals, or polymers. In a preferred embodiment the substrate is silicon, the laser is a UV laser, and the mold is transparent to the UV radiation to permit irradiation of the silicon workpiece through the transparent mold. Using this method, applicants have directly imprinted into silicon large area patterns with sub-10 nanometer resolution in sub-250 nanosecond processing time.

Abstract: A shaped composite article is prepared by a process wherein an aesthetic laminate having a clear outer arylate layer and a colored compatible resin layer is thermoformed into a desired shape, and then compression molded together with a reinforced resin material containing compatible resin to form a color composite of the desired shape having an outer layer of clear arylate polyester polymer with the compatible resin layer forming an adherent bond with the compatible resin in the resin reinforced material.

Abstract: The present invention includes a coating. The coating includes flyash in a concentration of 25 to 70 percent by weight; Portland cement; silica; and a curing agent. The coating optionally includes one or more of chopped nylon fiber; styrene; and, rubber.

Abstract: A resin part of a vehicular lamp and a method for producing such a part in which a metallic vapor deposition coating for forming a reflective surface is formed directly on a surface of a resin body part without applying an undercoating layer. The body of the resin part is produced by injecting molten resin into a cavity of a molding die in which a heat insulating layer is formed on a portion of the cavity surface corresponding to the reflective surface. A metallic vapor deposition coating is applied directly to the portions of the body of the resin part which were in contact with the heat insulating layer during injection molding.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a protective helmet includes the steps of: (a) providing a fiber-based filler, such as a fiberglass sheeting; (b) mixing course ceramic particles into a thermoset resin; (c) impregnating the resin/ceramic particle mixture into the fiber-based filler; (d) forming or molding the impregnated fiber-based filler into a shape of a protective helmet; and (e) curing the resin mixture impregnated into the fiber-based filler. The course ceramic particles are preferably created by chopping a ceramic material. The presence of the ceramic particles in the composite helmet substantially reduces the heat reflectance of the helmet; while also reducing the overall weight of the helmet, since the ceramic material weighs less than the portion of resin material that the ceramic material is being used in place of. Finally, because the ceramic particles are course, they will not all flow to “low spots” in the helmet during the curing process.

Abstract: A metal mold for use in a nano-imprinting process comprises a firmly adhering monomolecular non-sticking layer. The layer was obtained by subjecting the mold to a reaction with a fluoroalkyl compound having a mercapto group. As a result of said reaction, the layer comprises an organic sulfide of said metal.

Abstract: A method for casting a thick layer of photoresist material onto a substrate. The method including the steps of pressing the photoresist against the substrate material using a presser plate and limiting the travel of the presser plate by using spaces which can be positioned on the substrate material. The process further including the step of holding the presser plate in a pressed position while the photoresist is at least partially cured or solidified.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high-temperature superconductor component with a particular cross-sectional area, which has a current-carrying section, the current-carrying section being in contact with a safety conductor in such a way that the critical current flowing on transition of the superconductor to normal conduction can be taken up without damage by the safety conductor in at least 1 second and rerouted, as well as a process for its production.

Abstract: A slip casting mold includes a water absorption layer having self water absorption capability and substantial water resistance. With the water saturation percentage of the water absorption layer being controlled, a slurry layer is deposited in the slip casting mold mainly under capillary attractive forces of the slip casting mold. The water absorption layer comprises an open porous body which is manufactured by stirring a mixture of an epoxy compound having at least one epoxy ring in one molecule, a hardener for reacting with the epoxy compound to harden the epoxy compound, a filler for developing self water absorption capability and mold releasability, and water into an O/W-type emulsion slurry, and casting the emulsion slurry into a mold impermeable to water, hardening the emulsion slurry in the mold while containing water.

Abstract: The method of making a dental device or the like which involves starting with a pattern of the device to be made, closely surrounding that pattern with a settable material to form a unit with the pattern, separating the unit and removing the pattern therefrom, filling the thus produced space with settable material of the type desired for the ultimate device, setting that material and removing the set material constituting the device to be made, and in particular utilizing a retention device to enclose the settable materials and other contents. The process is particularly useful when the device is to be made of a light-sensitive material, in which case the retention device and the first-used settable material are light-transmissive and the retention device preferably focuses light on the material to be set.

Abstract: Non-stick mold, tool or apparatus is used to convert a liquid or semi-solid material to an end product after the application of a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time. The non-stick mold, tool or apparatus includes a planar portion having at least one cavity. The cavity defined by a side wall that extends downwardly from the planar portion to a closed end. The non-stick mold, tool or apparatus is made from a blend of a fluoropolymer component and a food grade silicon rubber component.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a PVC ornamental article having effects of imitated materials includes steps of: (a) mold casting: making a prototype of a desired ornamental article, exploding said prototype into a plurality of blank elements, coating said blank elements with silicone to form hollow silicone molds, injecting a wax material into said hollow silicone molds to obtain a wax object, taking out said wax object for trimming and electroplating said wax object, and melting said wax object to obtain a mold; (b) blank formation: adding colorants into said PVC plastic material and mixing said colorants to obtain desired colors, injecting said PVC plastic material into said mold, utilizing centrifugal force to affix said PVC plastic material onto an inner wall of said mold, and removing molded PVC from said mold to form a blank by force before said molded PVC dries, filling a filler into said blank to increase hardness; and (c) assembly: assembling blanks together and joining the blanks with other decorations to

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, features can be directly imprinted into the surface of a solid substrate. Specifically, a substrate is directly imprinted with a desired pattern by the steps of providing a mold having a molding surface to imprint the pattern, disposing the molding surface adjacent or against the substrate surface to be imprinted, and irradiating the substrate surface with radiation to soften or liquefy the surface. The molding surface is pressed into the softened or liquefied surface to directly imprint the substrate. The substrate can be any one of a wide variety of solid materials such as semiconductors, metals, or polymers. In a preferred embodiment the substrate is silicon, the laser is a UV laser, and the mold is transparent to the UV radiation to permit irradiation of the silicon workpiece through the transparent mold. Using this method, applicants have directly imprinted into silicon large area patterns with sub-10 nanometer resolution in sub-250 nanosecond processing time.

Abstract: In a manufacturing method for hollow panels wherein highly rigid, lighter and various shapes of hollow panels constructed by layering board material made from fibers, wood elements, or wood strands can be obtained economically, wood strands on which a binder is added are layered with a plurality of cores, a thermal compression molding is performed on this layered material uniformly, cores are extracted after the thermal compression molding, and thus ribs and holes are formed in the panel. Also in the core is a bar which may be of irregular shape, and the core can be a combination of bars having the same or different cross sections. The cores are joined by joining boards in a direction of the short dimension of the core.

Abstract: Injection-molding materials comprised of polycarbonate can be processed into optically isotropic films in a chill roll extrusion method. The optically isotropic films are used as covering films for protecting data carriers (CD-ROMS) from becoming scratched, or they are used as supporting materials for the information layer.

Abstract: A method for tracking multiple SKUs of ophthalmic devices in a manufacturing line, comprises the steps of: assembling first molding devices, at least one of the first molding devices having an identification device, such as, a bar-code or an inductive transmitting/receiving device; reading the identification device of the first molding devices; forming first molded parts using the first molding devices; providing a plurality of carriers, the carriers having carrier indicators; transferring the first molded parts to at least one of a plurality of carriers; reading the carrier indicator of the carrier carrying the first molded parts; and storing in machine-accessible memory the information associated with the identification device of the first molding devices and the information associated with the carrier indicator of the carrier carrying the first molded parts.

Abstract: A method of producing a mould by forming around a pattern (20, 21) of an article to be produced comprises, (a) pressing a mould matrix (50) material around said pattern (20, 21) in a chamber bounded by solid retaining means (40, 80); (b) causing said mould matrix (50) material to harden to produce a flexible mould (50) having the following physical properties; flexural strength in the range 20-175 Mpa; flexural modulus in the range 700-5,000 Mpa; tensile strength in the range 10-120 Mpa; tensile modulus in the range 850-4,000 Mpa; compressive strength in the range 30-200 Mpa; compressive modulus in the range 400-5,000 Mpa; hardness in the range 5-20 Vickers; relative density in the range 0.5 to 3.0 g/cm3, and (c) removing the pattern (20, 21) to leave a mould (50), conforming to the pattern; wherein said mould matrix material (50) contains from 10 to 90% by volume of fibres, said fibres having a length in the range from 10 to 1000 &mgr;m and a thickness in the range from 0.1 to 30 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A method of making a cold cured composite molded article utilizes a mold requiring pressure in only one dimension. The mold is filled with a composite material and closed. The mold is then inserted between two series of rollers, wherein the rollers are positioned at a specified distance from each other such that the proper amount of pressure is applied to the mold. The mold is propelled through the two series of rollers by motorizing at least some of the rollers. The cure time is controlled by controlling the speed at which the mold is propelled through the two series of rollers.

Abstract: A method of making precision geometry honeycomb material formed of a composite material and exhibiting dimensional uniformity, is disclosed. Composite material is molded in the cavity of a single-sided female mold to form a first web with a plurality of honeycomb cell portions of the desired cell shape in the web. The details of the cavity mold configuration are captured to form the honeycomb cell portions in the composite material during molding the web by applying pressure to the composite material in the mold with an elastomeric pressure intensifier. The composite material of the web is stabilized as by curing. First and second molded webs are precisely aligned in a fixture and joined together at facing cell nodes thereof by bonding yielding a honeycomb material with superior geometric platform.

Abstract: A method for making a prototype mold includes step 1: to prepare thermoplastic liquid by mixing hollow particles and resin; step 2: to crush used prototype molds into 5 mm to 10 mm particles; step 3: to mix the crushed particles in step 2 with the thermoplastic liquid; step 4: to eliminate bubbles in the mixture of the thermoplastic liquid and the crushed particles; step 5: to pour the mixture of the thermoplastic liquid and the crushed particles in a mold to make a product; step 6: to heat the product in step 5 at 60 to 200 degrees Celsius for 0.5 to 120 hours; step 7: to heat the product in step 6 at 60 to 80 degrees Celsius for 8 to 12 hours to obtain a stable crystal structure; step 8: to take the product from the mold, and step 9: to trim the product.

Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus for a metal mold is provided, which includes a heat exchange passage provided for the metal mold, a first supply unit for supplying hot heat carrier to the heat exchange passage and a second supply unit for supplying cold heat carrier to the heat exchange passage. The heat exchange apparatus performs heat exchange for the metal mold by supplying the hot heat carrier and cold heat carrier to the heat exchange passage switching alternately. And the heat exchange apparatus has a feature that it includes an air supply unit for supplying air to the heat exchange passage so that the heat carriers are purged when the hot heat carrier and cold carrier are switched.

Abstract: A method of forming a cannula by forming a cannula mandrel assembly having a nare mandrel, a main body mandrel and mouthpiece mandrel; heating the cannula mandrel assembly, applying a polymeric material to the cannula mandrel assembly to provide a desired material thickness on the mandrel assembly to form the cannula, curing the polymeric material of the formed cannula and extracting the mandrel assembly from the cannula by disassembly and removal of the mandrel assembly parts.

Abstract: A method of forming a cannula by forming a cannula mandrel assembly having a nare mandrel, a main body mandrel and mouthpiece mandrel; heating the cannula mandrel assembly, applying a polymeric material to the cannula mandrel assembly to provide a desired material thickness on the mandrel assembly to form the cannula, curing the polymeric material of the formed cannula and extracting the mandrel assembly from the cannula by disassembly and removal of the mandrel assembly parts.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing linear small diameter thin wall tubular articles, which are useful as hypodermic needles and catheters and in industrial applications.

Abstract: To provide a thermoplastic polyester resin composition which has a very good durability to alkaline solutions for a long period of time. That is, a thermoplastic polyester resin composition, wherein a thermoplastic polyester resin (A) is compounded with 1-25% by weight (in the total composition) of impact resistance rendering materials (B), 0.1-15% by weight (in the total composition) of a silicone compound and/or a fluorine compound (C), 1-50% by weight (in the total composition) of an inorganic filler (D), and 0.1-10% by weight of at least one polyfunctional compound (E) selected from the group consisting of an epoxy compound, an isocyanate compound and a carboxylic acid dianhydride. A molded article of the present invention has anti-stress properties even in a weld part thereof.

Abstract: A method of producing three dimensional polyurethane shapes by spray molding a quasi-gel like polymer precursor composition that is first mixed and then sprayed by a spray gun. The spray coating of quasi-gel polymer precursor composition subsequently cures to form a molded polyurethane polymer shape. Such artificial three dimensional shapes may include rocks, rock walls or faces, tree stumps or limbs, animals, architectural features or settings in which a certain visual appearance is desired.

Abstract: Induced surface reconstruction of silicone rubber by blending silicone gel reactants with a modified and curing with a mold having high critical surface tension was used to improve the adhesion of chemically inert silicone rubber to polyurethane. The modifier has the following formula wherein m=25˜50; R1, R2, R3, R4, R11 and R12 independently are alkyl; R′ is R or OR, wherein R is a polymer backbone having a molecular weight of 1000˜20000. The mold is formed with a material having a critical surface tension greater than that of a polymer having a repeating unit of said R.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making a prototype by providing at least one polymeric board material having a glass transition temperature less than the molten temperature of a thermoplastic molding material and removing at least a portion of the polymeric board material to form, according to a computer-aided design, a reverse image of a desired article to be molded. Selected molten polymeric molding material is injected into the resulting mold to produce the desired prototype.

Abstract: A device, preferably a micro-device, is molded from a plastic material by injection molding, compression molding or embossing. A microabrader can be molded having microneedles for abrading the stratum corneum of the skin to form an abraded site in the tissue for enhancing drug delivery. The micro-device is molded using a mold assembly having a silicon molding surface. The silicon molding surface can include a recess corresponding to the desired shape and length of the microneedles. The silicon molding surface enables micron and submicron size features to be molded from polymeric materials without the polymeric material adhering to the mold surface. Micro-devices having molded features having micron and submicron dimensions can be rapidly produced without the use of a release agent.

Abstract: Mould parts of a mould for vehicle tyres, such as sector matrices in a centripetal mould, are made by sintering of a metal- or ceramic-based powder (3) cyclically deposited in consecutively superposed layers. Deposition of each layer is followed by sintering of the powder by a laser beam (8) moving within previously defined areas delimiting contours of the sintered laminate portion thus obtained. Movement of the laser beam (8) is managed by a programmable electronic control unit (11) in which digital information defining the three-dimensional graphic representation of the mould portion to be obtained is stored. The digital information is processed for dividing the graphic representation into superposed layers corresponding each to one of the laminate portions to be obtained by sintering of the corresponding powder layer. Thus moulds of sintered material are obtained, which are provided with inner microcavities enabling air ejection during the tyre vulcanization.

Abstract: Process for moulding a make-up composition in a mould comprising a concave moulding surface forming the base of the mould and a bottom forming the upper component of the mould and closing off the space bounded by the said moulding surface, the composition being cast in the said mould in fluid form and subsequently solidifying to form a demouldable solid product capable of being packaged, in which the said composition is cast in a mould (1) whose bottom consists at least partly of a sheet (2) of open-cell plastic foam, so as partly to impregnate the said foam sheet (2) with the said composition and in which, after solidifying of the said composition, a moulded product consisting of the solidified composition and of the foam sheet which is bonded to it and which forms its support, is demoulded by removing the moulding surface (1).