The Boeing Company

Michael P Kuntz

Mark L Younie

David Eric Gideon

Eugene A Jackson

David A Vaughan

Gary E Georgeson

John D Nemchick

Brian L Davis

A molding apparatus comprises an upper molding box, a lower mold box, an upper flexible membrane covering an opening of the upper mold box, a lower flexible membrane covering an opening of the lower mold box, a heating system located in the upper mold box, a set of ports located between the upper flexible membrane and the lower flexible membrane capable of being used to draw a vacuum between the upper flexible membrane and the lower flexible membrane, and a displacement system located in the lower mold box under the lower flexible membrane.

Flexible tooling method and apparatus

Methods and computer storage media provide for the installation of potted inserts and installation validation. According to embodiments described herein, an insert is placed within an insert aperture of a panel or other structure. Potting compound is injected into a potting cavity surrounding the insert through a fill hole in the insert until potting compound overflows from another fill hole. The installation is validated by applying a force to the installed insert at a determined frequency using a mechanical impedance instrument and measuring a response frequency. The response frequency is compared to an acceptable frequency range to determine whether the insert is properly installed.

Potted insert installation and validation

An apparatus and method for making a mold or mold face includes a container having at least one opening. The apparatus also includes a flexible membrane that is retained to the container that extends across the opening of the container. The apparatus for making a mold further includes support media that is disposed within the container along with a vacuum valve that is connected to the container.

Molding apparatus and method

Decorative textured surfaces are formed on articles having curved or contoured surfaces. A reusable, flexible textured blanket is placed in a mold along with a first material charge. A pressurizer is used to both impart the texture of the blanket to the first material charge and consolidate the charge to form a textured shell. The blanket is removed from the mold and a second material charge is introduced into the mold over the shell. The application of heat and pressure consolidates the second material charge and the shell to both form and cure the completed article.

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Snohomish, WA, United States of America

Michael P Kuntz