An apparatus for consolidating fiber-reinforced resin material, the apparatus comprising: a housing , comprising: a barrel , having a symmetry axis ; a receptacle , comprising: a base , extending from the barrel along the symmetry axis ; a lid , selectively positionable relative to the base of the receptacle and relative to the barrel of the housing such that the housing is in an open state or in a closed state; and a de-gassing port , configured to be selectively open or selectively closed; a gasket that is in contact with the lid of the receptacle , the base of the receptacle , and the barrel when the housing is in the closed state; a piston , movable along the symmetry axis between, inclusively, a retracted position, in which the piston , in its entirety, is in the barrel , and an extended position, in which a portion of the piston is in the receptacle and another portion of the piston is in the barrel ; a seal , which is in contact with the piston and the barrel ; and a drive system , configured to selectively control movement of the piston between the retracted position and the extended position, wherein: with the housing in the open state, the lid of the receptacle is not in contact with a portion of the gasket , which is in contact with both the lid and the barrel when the housing is in the closed state; and with the housing in the closed state and with the de-gassing port selectively closed, the housing and the piston form a closed chamber, hermetically sealed via the gasket and the seal . a housing , comprising: a barrel , having a symmetry axis ; a receptacle , comprising: a base , extending from the barrel along the symmetry axis ; a lid , selectively positionable relative to the base of the receptacle and relative to the barrel of the housing such that the housing is in an open state or in a closed state; and a de-gassing port , configured to be selectively open or selectively closed; a barrel , having a symmetry axis ; a receptacle , comprising: a base , extending from the barrel along the symmetry axis ; a lid , selectively positionable relative to the base of the receptacle and relative to the barrel of the housing such that the housing is in an open state or in a closed state; and a de-gassing port , configured to be selectively open or selectively closed; a base , extending from the barrel along the symmetry axis ; a lid , selectively positionable relative to the base of the receptacle and relative to the barrel of the housing such that the housing is in an open state or in a closed state; and a de-gassing port , configured to be selectively open or selectively closed; a gasket that is in contact with the lid of the receptacle , the base of the receptacle , and the barrel when the housing is in the closed state; a piston , movable along the symmetry axis between, inclusively, a retracted position, in which the piston , in its entirety, is in the barrel , and an extended position, in which a portion of the piston is in the receptacle and another portion of the piston is in the barrel ; a seal , which is in contact with the piston and the barrel ; and a drive system , configured to selectively control movement of the piston between the retracted position and the extended position, with the housing in the open state, the lid of the receptacle is not in contact with a portion of the gasket , which is in contact with both the lid and the barrel when the housing is in the closed state; and with the housing in the closed state and with the de-gassing port selectively closed, the housing and the piston form a closed chamber, hermetically sealed via the gasket and the seal . <EOS>