Patent ID: 11931932
Assignee: THERMWOOD CORPORATION
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 15:
16. A method for molding a part with a mold assembly, the method comprising:
forming at least a portion of a first mold section and a second mold section by depositing a plurality of layers of a thermoplastic material with an additive manufacturing apparatus;
connecting the first mold section to the second mold section to form a part-receiving cavity and such that a joint is formed by adjacent surfaces of the first mold section and the second mold section;
applying a sealing material along the joint between the first mold section and the second mold section;
placing a part within the part-receiving cavity;
heating the part within the part-receiving cavity during a curing process, wherein the heating causes the part-receiving cavity to expand due to thermal expansion of at least one of the part of the mold assembly;
wherein the sealing material applied along the joint maintains a seal between the first mold section and to the second mold section during at least a portion of the curing process;
separating the first mold section and the second mold section, during heating, such that the seal between the first mold section and to the second mold section is broken; and
removing the part from the part-receiving cavity;
wherein separating the first mold section and the second mold section includes moving a member to apply a force to separate the first mold section and the second mold section.