Forming tool, method for manufacturing the same, and method for manufacturing a composite part in the forming tool

Abstract

A molding tool for manufacturing a composite part using induction heating includes a mold having a contact surface adapted to contact a material to be deformed into the composite part and an outer surface, at least one coil or at least one wire of a coil disposed on the outer surface of the mold, and at least one clamping means. The clamping means has a first end, a second end, and an intermediate section extending between the first end and the second end. At least one of the first end and the second end is attached to the outer surface of the mold using welding, brazing, or soldering so as to at least partially fix the at least one coil to the outer surface of the mold. The intermediate section at least partially surrounds the at least one wire or coil and holds the at least one wire or coil in place on the outer surface of the mold.

Description

【Technical Field】 【0001】 The present invention relates to a molding tool for manufacturing composite parts using induction heating, a method for manufacturing the molding tool, and a method for manufacturing composite parts using the molding tool. 【Background Art】 【0002】 Over the past few years, in, for example, the automotive and aerospace industries, reducing carbon emissions during transportation has been a major goal, and there has been an increasing interest in using lightweight materials. For example, it has become increasingly common for components of vehicles or aircraft to be made of fiber composite materials. 【0003】 When manufacturing fiber composite parts, automotive doors, aircraft parts, etc., it is important to control heating and ensure a uniform heat distribution throughout the relevant areas of the parts. There are some examples of molding tools for composite material manufacturing in the prior art, but these each have different drawbacks. For example, there is the problem that the amount of heat to be heated and cooled is large, the cycle time is long, and the energy consumption is high. Another common problem is that the heating is non-uniform, which affects part performance and has an adverse effect on the yield. The need for a large physical space, high equipment investment, limitations in size and temperature are also other problems with existing solutions. 【0004】 Common heat sources are ovens, and heating autoclaves, heat cartridges, resistance wires, IR lamps, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. The environmental aspect is also another important topic regarding specific energy sources such as high-temperature oil and high-pressure steam technology. 【0005】 Examples of composite material manufacturing processes that typically use the above heat sources and suffer from the above drawbacks are resin transfer molding and compression molding, which are usually used in some type of press to hold two mold halves together. Other examples include vacuum infusion, vacuum bagging, autoclave processing, where one of the mold halves is usually replaced by a flexible film or bag, or the mold halves are pressed together by a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the mold. 【0006】 Therefore, the manufacture of composite parts requires improved molding tools that enable short cycle times, high energy efficiency, high quality and high yield, and cost - effective mass production. Additionally, the molding tools also need to be robust, cost - efficient, easy to manufacture, and have a long service life. 【Summary of the Invention】 【Problems to be Solved by the Invention】 【0007】 The object of the present invention is to solve or at least mitigate problems associated with the prior art. This object is achieved by the technology described in the appended independent claims, and the preferred embodiments are defined in the related dependent claims. 【Means for Solving the Problems】 【0008】 According to a first aspect, there is provided a molding tool for manufacturing a composite part using induction heating. The molding tool comprises a mold having a contact surface adapted to contact a material to be deformed into the composite part and an outer surface, at least one coil or at least one wire of a coil disposed on the outer surface of the mold, and at least one clamping means having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate section extending between the first end and the second end, wherein at least one of the first end and the second end is attached to the outer surface of the mold using welding, brazing, or soldering so as to at least partially fix the at least one coil to the outer surface of the mold, and the intermediate section at least partially surrounds the at least one wire or coil, holds the at least one wire or coil in place on the outer surface of the mold, the at least one wire or coil is electrically insulated from the mold, and is operably in communication with at least one processing means. 【0009】 According to a second aspect, there is provided a method of manufacturing the above molding tool. The method includes providing a mold having a contact surface adapted to contact a material to be deformed into the composite part and an outer surface, providing at least one coil or at least one wire of a coil and disposing it on the outer surface of the mold, providing at least one clamping means having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate section extending between the first end and the second end, and attaching at least one of the first end and the second end (42) of the at least one clamping means to the outer surface of the mold using welding, brazing, or soldering so as to at least partially fix the at least one coil to the outer surface of the mold, wherein the intermediate section at least partially surrounds the at least one wire or at least one coil, holds the at least one wire or coil in place on the outer surface of the mold, the at least one wire or coil is electrically insulated from the mold, and is operably in communication with at least one processing means. 【0010】 According to a third aspect, a method for manufacturing a composite component is provided. The method includes providing a molding tool having at least one of the above clamping means, placing a fiber and a plastic material on a contact surface of a mold, closing the mold, applying a consolidation pressure to the material to be processed, and inductively heating the mold containing the material according to a predetermined time-temperature profile to consolidate and / or cure the material to manufacture a composite component. 【0011】 According to a fourth aspect, another method for manufacturing a composite component is provided. The method includes providing a molding tool having at least one of the above clamping means, placing a fiber material to be processed on a contact surface of a mold, closing the mold, applying a vacuum pressure, and injecting a plastic material into the fiber material, wherein the plastic material forms part of the material to be processed thereby, and inductively heating the mold containing the fiber and the plastic material according to a predetermined time-temperature profile to manufacture a composite component. 【Advantages of the Invention】 【0012】 Generally, the advantage of using clamping means is that it can accelerate and automate the manufacturing process of an induction heating molding tool compared to gluing a coil to the outer surface of a mold. For example, in the case of thermoplastic composites having a high-end matrix such as PA, PC, or PET matrix, or PEEK, PEI, and PPS widely used in the aerospace industry, it can reach a temperature at which glue does not function. In other words, the clamping means needs to withstand high-temperature applications. 【Brief Description of the Drawings】 【0013】 As an example, here, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 【0014】 【Figure 1a】 It is a cross-sectional view of a molding tool and a material according to an embodiment. 【Figure 1b】 Cross-sectional view of a coil assembly attached to a mold of a molding tool according to one embodiment. 【Figure 2】 Schematic block diagram of a molding tool associated with processing means according to one embodiment. 【Figure 3】 Schematic view of a coil assembly attached to a mold according to one embodiment. 【Figure 4】 Perspective view of two wires of at least one coil clamped to a mold according to one embodiment. 【Figure 5】 Cross-sectional view of a clamping means attached to a mold according to one embodiment. 【Figure 6】 Different cross-sectional views of at least one wire of a coil clamped to a mold by clamping means. 【Figure 7】 Different cross-sectional views of at least one wire of a coil clamped to a mold by clamping means. 【Figure 8】 Different cross-sectional views of at least one wire of a coil clamped to a mold by clamping means. 【Figure 9】 Different cross-sectional views of at least one wire of a coil clamped to a mold by clamping means. 【Figure 10】 Different cross-sectional views of at least one wire of a coil clamped to a mold by clamping means. 【Figure 11】 Different cross-sectional views of at least one wire of a coil clamped to a mold by clamping means. 【Figure 12】 Different cross-sectional views of at least one wire of a coil clamped to a mold by clamping means. 【Figure 13】 Different cross-sectional views of at least one wire of a coil clamped to a mold by clamping means. 【Figure 14】 Different cross-sectional views of at least one wire of a coil clamped to a mold by clamping means. 【Figure 15】 Different cross-sectional views of at least one wire of a coil clamped to a mold by clamping means. 【Figure 16】 Different cross-sectional views of at least one wire of a coil clamped to a mold by clamping means. 【Figure 17】 Different cross-sectional views of at least one wire of a coil clamped to a mold by clamping means. 【Figure 18】 Different cross-sectional views of at least one wire of a coil clamped to a mold by clamping means. 【Figure 19】 Different cross-sectional views of at least one wire of a coil clamped to a mold by clamping means. 【Figure 20】 Different cross-sectional views of at least one wire of a coil clamped to a mold by clamping means. 【Figure 21】 Different cross-sectional views of at least one wire of a coil clamped to a mold by clamping means. 【Figure 22】 Different cross-sectional views of at least one wire of a coil clamped to a mold by clamping means. 【Figure 23】 It is a schematic block diagram showing a method for manufacturing a composite part according to an embodiment. 【Figure 24】 It is a schematic block diagram showing a method for manufacturing a composite part according to another embodiment. 【Figure 25】 It is a schematic diagram of a part of a method for manufacturing a composite part in a molding tool according to an embodiment. 【Figure 26】 It is a schematic block diagram showing a method for manufacturing a molding tool. 【MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION】 【0015】 Forming tools are often used to manufacture composite parts of different shapes. Typical parts to be manufactured include automotive parts, sports equipment, drones or aircraft parts, wind energy parts such as body panels, structural parts such as automotive doors, aircraft and wind turbine blades, etc. The tools applicable within the inventive concept disclosed herein are shell tools and solid tools having single or multiple cavities. The inventive concept mainly relates to induction heating tools for manufacturing composite articles. 【0016】 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terms used in the detailed description of the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings are not intended to limit the present invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements. 【0017】 Before entering into a detailed description of the forming tool and a novel and inventive method of attaching a coil to the mold 10, the forming tool with respect to the material will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 1a - b. 【0018】 As shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the mold 10 has a body with a contact surface 11 and an outer surface 12 when viewed in cross-section. The mold body may be divided into several layers that allow heat transfer from the outer surface 12 to the contact surface 11. The contact surface 11 is the inner region of the mold 10 configured to face the material 110 that is deformed into the composite part A (shown in FIG. 25) during the molding process. The mold 10 can also be seen as a body having cavities sized and shaped to the desired shape of the part A to be manufactured. It is the contact surface 11 of the mold 10 that is configured to receive the material 110. For example, the part A produced in the mold 10 of the molding tool is a composite part such as a card door. The mold 10 may include a plurality of cavities, whereby several components can be manufactured in a single manufacturing cycle, and is still called the material 110 that is deformed into the composite part A. 【0019】 Hereinafter, the contact surface 11 is referred to as the front side of the mold, and the outer surface 12 is referred to as the back side of the mold 10. The coil assembly 20 is attached to the back side 12 of the mold, as will be further described. The heating of the molding tool is induced by the coil assembly 20 disposed on the back side 12 of the mold 10. 【0020】 FIG. 1b shows an embodiment in which the coil assembly 20 is attached to the mold 10 of the molding tool. The coil assembly 20 may include, for example, a combination of a main coil and a surrounding coil, and its attachment is shown by a dashed line in FIG. 1b. The coil is attached to the back side 12 of the mold via clamping means. Preferably, at least one part / end of the clamping means is attached to the back side of the mold. For example, the clamping means may be attached by welding, brazing or soldering. Optionally, the clamping means may be seen as a fixing element to which at least one coil can be clipped or clamped (see, for example, FIGS. 10, 11 and 22). Details of the clamping means are shown and described in connection with FIGS. 5-22. 【0021】 Typically, the mold 10 is at least partially made of a material selected from the group consisting of carbon fiber composite materials or metals. The material is preferably a material that can be heated by induction, for example, a material having an excellent electrical conductivity of more than 1 Siemens / meter. 【0022】 When the mold 10 is made of a carbon fiber composite material, the mold 10 may be a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). The fiber reinforcement material can also be a hybrid of carbon and another type of industrial fiber such as glass fiber or basalt fiber. The fibers can be continuous or chopped, unidirectional ply, or multi-axial layup or randomly oriented fibers. In a preferred embodiment, the fibers are woven. Different types of fibers and layups have their specific advantages such as stiffness, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), electrical and thermal properties, etc. Preferably, carbon fibers having high thermal conductivity such as pitch carbon fibers or high thermal conductivity polyacrylonitrile carbon fibers are used to facilitate uniform temperature generation. Similar selections apply to the matrix material, where easy low-temperature processing is advantageous along with high-temperature resistance and a high glass transition temperature. Also, a low CTE and a long durability or service life are important properties. Examples of the matrix can be epoxy, bismaleimide, polyimide, benzoxazine, phenols, and silicone, as well as thermoplastic or semi-crystalline substances such as polycarbonate (PC), polyphenylene-sulfide (PPS), and polyetheretherketone (PEEK). 【0023】 If the mold 10 is made at least partially of metal, the mold 10 may typically be an alloy such as steel, aluminum, or invar. Nickel or coated steel is also common, but any metal can function and may be beneficial depending on the particular application. The purpose of using a metal or carbon fiber composite material is that the molding tool, and more importantly the molding mold 10, should be capable of being induction heated. Basically, the molding tool is a susceptor, which means it has the ability to absorb electromagnetic energy and convert it into heat. In this case, the molding tool is induction heated via the coil assembly 20. During the molding process, the material 110 being processed is typically a mixture of fibers and a polymer material and is configured to be heated by the induction heated molding tool. Also, the material 110 being processed may be a fiber material into which resin is later injected during the molding process. Overall, the resin or plastic material injected during the molding process is considered part of the material 110 being processed. 【0024】 In some cases, the mold 10 and the material 110 being processed may be of similar materials and may also absorb heat directly from the induction. The material 110 being processed will be discussed in more detail below. The molding mold 10 can be single-sided to reduce costs and provide a simpler molding tool when the requirements for one side of the part are lower than those for the other. The molding mold 10 can alternatively be double-sided depending on the process and requirements, as two independent molding tools, as tool halves, or as one molding tool with at least one coil connected together, but may mechanically be two individual molds 10. 【0025】 The material 110 processed within the forming mold 10 is mainly heated by contact with the contact surface 11, but when it contains carbon fibers, it can also directly absorb a certain amount of energy from induction heating. The material 110 is typically a composite material based on a mixture of a fiber material and a polymer material. As a non-limiting example, the material may include a plurality of fiber layers, for example, 10 layers of glass or carbon fibers embedded in a thermosetting or thermoplastic matrix. The material can be made of a woven web of woven or randomly oriented fibers, or, for example, chopped fibers. Optionally, the web is a non-woven fabric. The matrix may be, for example, epoxy, polyester (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), polycarbonate (PC), or alternatively a high-end amorphous or semi-crystalline thermoplastic material such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyetherimide (PEI) or polyetheretherketone (PEEK). The fibers may also be any other technical textile such as linen fibers, aramid, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, etc. As a non-limiting example, glass fibers may be used as a reinforcing material in a polycarbonate-based matrix. The composite material can also be constructed with hybrid fiber reinforcements, for example, glass fibers and carbon fibers. The typical processing temperature ranges from just above room temperature to about 450 °C, but can be higher depending on the matrix material. 【0026】 Component A is manufactured in a forming tool by heating the material 110 to be processed under pressure. In other words, when the material 110 is heated by an induction heating forming tool, component A is manufactured, either because the matrix material already exists at the start of the process or because it is added during the process using an injection process. Preferably, the material 110 is processed under a vacuum pressure to reduce the risk of voids, pinholes or insufficient wet-out. 【0027】 Figure 2 shows a molding tool 1 including a mold 10, a coil assembly 20, and a clamping means 40. The coil assembly 20 may include one or more coils 21, 22, 23. In FIG. 2, this is shown as a first coil 21, optionally a second coil 22, and also a third coil. The coil assembly 20 may include three, four, five coils, or any other suitable number of coils. 【0028】 Similarly, since the mold 10 may have any size and shape suitable for the application, the coils 21, 22 may have any shape, size, or configuration. Examples of coil configurations are layouts that generate horizontal or vertical magnetic fluxes, or combinations thereof, which generate local or global circulating currents within the mold 10. In a preferred embodiment, the coil assembly 20 comprises a plurality of coils 21, 22, 23 that cover part or all of the back side of the mold 10, and the current in each coil can be individually controlled to achieve the desired mold 10 temperature at all times. This is illustrated in FIG. 3. When the entire mold 10 is not heated, it is preferable to have at least one coil covering the main area of the mold and at least one coil covering the periphery of the heated area so as to compensate for heat loss due to heat conduction. Each coil may be composed of one or more parallel wires (not shown) to ensure heat management. 【0029】 The clamping means 40 is configured to at least partially fix at least one of the coils 21, 22 to the mold 10. The clamping means 40 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 22. 【0030】 In one embodiment, the molding tool 1 is arranged together with one or more main coils arranged on the back side 12 of the mold 10 using the clamping means 40. The main coils are electrically insulated from the mold 10 and are configured to inductively heat the mold 10 when an electric current flows. Preferably, the main coils are made of Litz wire because they are flexible and have low losses at high frequencies. Depending on the dimensions and application, one or several wires in parallel can ensure good efficiency of the system. 【0031】 For example, the molding tool 1 may include some cooling means for cooling the temperature of the mold 10 after the processing cycle. Cooling can be carried out from the outer surface 12 using, for example, forced air and / or water to transport a cooling medium in the form of a gas and / or a liquid, or using cooling channels inside or in the vicinity of the mold 10. 【0032】 To further improve the inductive heating of the molding tool 1, soft magnetic elements and conductive elements (not shown) may be arranged in a predetermined region along the coil assembly 20. The soft magnetic elements are typically made of a magnetic material with low hysteresis loss. The soft magnetic elements are manufactured so that no eddy current flows in the material. Typical examples of soft magnetic materials are soft magnetic composites, sometimes called powder cores, or soft ferrites. The relative permeability must be substantially greater than 1 and is typically between 10 and 10,000. The conductive elements are typically made of a highly conductive material such as copper or aluminum, which is intended to induce an electric current without substantial loss. The soft magnetic and conductive elements are used to achieve a desired heating pattern, concentrate the magnetic flux density, improve the efficiency of the inductive heating system, reduce the stray magnetic field, and shield the high-frequency electromagnetic field to prevent undesired regions or materials from being heated by induction. 【0033】 Returning to FIG. 2, at least one processing means 30 is provided that is operably in communication with the coil assembly 20. The processing means 30 controls the operation of the coil assembly 20, energizes it, and thereby also controls the induction heating process that heats the molding tool 1 and results in the production of the composite part A. The coils of the coil assembly 20 may be coupled to one and the same processing means or to different processing means. The processing means 30 is configured to generate a high-frequency current within the coil assembly 20. Preferably, the processing means 30 is a frequency converter or includes a frequency converter. At least one processing means 30 is configured to generate an alternating voltage and current in the coil to inductively heat the mold 10 of the molding tool 1 and enable the production of part A. In some embodiments, a single processing means 30 can control multiple coils. In other embodiments, several processing means 30 can be used to control the heating of the molding tool 1. 【0034】 Preferably, the processing means 30 comprises at least one type of interface (not shown) for operating the system, as some type of microcontroller or central processing unit, specific intelligence regarding memory, etc., and as a human-machine interface regarding a graphical display, buttons, knobs, etc., or as a communication interface controlled by a monitoring system such as a PC or PLC. 【0035】 Referring now to FIGS. 4-22, the clamping means 40 for clamping the coils 21, 22, 23 / wires 211, 212, 213 to the mold 10 will be described. The principle of clamping the coils 21-23 to the outer surface 12 of the mold 10 is applicable to all types of coils consisting of one or more wires 211, 212, 213 clamped individually or together. Each clamping means 40 can be attached to the mold to clamp one or more wires 211, 212 of one coil 21, one or more windings 211, 212 of the same coil 21, or several coils 21, 22 together or in combination. 【0036】 Figure 4 schematically shows a part of a forming tool having two wires 211, 212 of at least one coil arranged in parallel, and the two wires 211, 212 are held together by a plurality of clamping means 40 along their longitudinal axes. The number of clamping means 40 may vary according to several factors such as the length of the coil, the pattern of the coil, and the size of the clamping means 40. As a mere example, the clamping means 40 are arranged at a distance of 50 mm from each other. 【0037】 In Figure 4, each clamping means 40 has a first end 41 and a second end 42 respectively attached to the back side 12 of the mold 10, thereby clamping the wires 211, 212 of at least one coil to the mold 10. The first and second ends 41, 42 may also be referred to as the first and second side sections. Optionally, only one of the first and second ends 41, 42 is attached to the back side of the mold. 【0038】 The intermediate section 43 of the clamping means 40 is high enough to fit over the coil / wires 211, 212 and the side sections 41, 42 and hold them firmly in place against the outer surface 12 of the mold 10. The intermediate section 43 may be rigid or flexible as long as it maintains the coil in place during the manufacture of the composite part A. The rise of the intermediate section 43 creates a void or space between the central part of the clamping means 40 and the outer surface 12 of the mold 10. In other words, the distance between the intermediate section 43 and the back side 12 of the mold 10 defines a space in which one or more wires such as one or more coils, electrical insulation material, heat insulation material, cooling channels, etc. can be arranged and clamped. The intermediate section 43 is preferably made of a material having a thickness that is less than twice the skin depth of that material at the operating frequency of the current configured to flow through the coil in order to prevent or at least reduce self-heating of the clamping means from the induction coil. 【0039】 The first end portion 41, the second end portion 42, and the intermediate section 43 may be formed as an integral body or separately from each other. At least a part of the clamping means 40 is made of a metal having a relative permeability of less than 100. The clamping means 40 is preferably made of stainless steel, titanium or copper. The clamping means is preferably attached to the mold 10 by welding such as spot welding, MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welding, MAG (Metal Active Gas) welding, TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding, ultrasonic welding, etc. Alternatively, the clamping means 40 may be attached to the mold 10 by soldering or brazing. The mold is defined as a mold tool including inserts, fasteners, or other components attached thereto, and the clamping means can be attached thereto by welding, brazing, or soldering. More specifically, the above-described attached or integrated attachments are regarded as part of the outer surface 12 of the mold 10. As an example, when the mold is made of a carbon fiber composite material, the mold may have metal parts attached to the mold using glue, for example, from the time of manufacturing the composite material or thereafter, or may have metal parts to which the clamp can be attached using the above method. As another example, when the molding tool is made of a carbon fiber thermoplastic, the clamping means 40 made partially or entirely of a polymer material can be welded to the back side 12 of the mold 10 using, for example, ultrasonic or induction welding. 【0040】 Referring to FIG. 5, the clamping means 40 is shown in cross-section. The first side section 41 of the clamping means 40 and the second side section 42 of the clamping means 40 are each attached to the back side 12 of the mold 10 on the opposite side of the intermediate section 43 extending between the two side sections 41, 42. In FIG. 5, the intermediate section 43 has an inverted U-shaped and substantially square cross-section. Optionally, as shown in other drawings, the intermediate section 43 may have a more rounded shape such as an arc shape. 【0041】 The first side section 41 of the clamping means 40 has an attachment surface 41a facing the outer surface 12 of the mold 10. A welding interface 44 is provided between the first attachment surface 41a and the outer surface 12. Similarly, the second side section 42 has a corresponding attachment surface 42a facing the outer surface 12 of the mold 10, and a welding interface 45 is provided between the attachment surface 42a and the outer surface 12, or a welding interface 48 is provided between the attachment surface 42a and a part of the first side section 41. At each of the welding interfaces 44, 45, the clamping means 40 is welded to the back side 12 of the mold 10. Optionally, as shown in FIG. 8, the attachment surfaces 41a, 42a are welded to a weldable element such as a metal strip, and the metal strip is then adhered to the back side 12 of the mold 10, which is part of the mold 10 as defined above. For example, the metal strip is glued to the back side 12. The clamping means 40 can be attached to the outer surface 12 of the mold 10 by any of welding, brazing or soldering. 【0042】 Furthermore, the first side section 41 and the second side section 42 have respective upper surfaces 41b, 42b facing away from the back side 12 of the mold 10. The upper surfaces 41b, 42b can be exposed to welding tools such as spot welding machines, welding electrodes or ultrasonic tools, or other heat generators such as soldering irons or open frames. Also, when attaching the clamping means 40 to the back side 12, it may be affected by the pressing force during the attachment process. 【0043】 The features disclosed in relation to FIG. 5 above, namely the side sections 41, 42, the intermediate section 43 and the attachment surfaces 41a, 42a, are all common features with the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 to 22. 【0044】 Figure 6 shows a coil wire 211 clamped between the clamping means 40 and the back side 12 of the mold 10, sharing the features described in relation to Figure 5. The coil wire 211 is surrounded by an electrical insulation material 60 provided around the wire 211 and along the entire outer surface 12 of the mold 10. As can be seen from the figure, the intermediate section 43 further at least partially surrounds the electrical insulation material 60. Further, the electrical insulation material 60 may not be in contact with the inside of the intermediate section 43. 【0045】 Referring to Figure 7, two wires 211, 212 of at least one coil are arranged within a space defined by the distance between the intermediate section 43 and the back side 12 of the mold 10. A heat insulating material 70 is provided between the wires 211, 212 and the back side 12 of the mold 10. The main advantage of using such a material is that the mold can be heated to a temperature higher than the temperature that the wire can withstand, but it is also possible to save the energy spent on heating the wire by conduction. 【0046】 As described above, the first and second side sections 41, 42 of the clamping means 40 may be welded to weldable elements such as metal strips 51, 52, which are adhered to the back side 12 of the mold 10 and regarded as part of the back side 12 of the mold 10. In one embodiment, the metal strips 51, 52 are glued onto the back side 12 of the mold 10. The weldable surfaces of each metal strip 51, 52 face the respective mounting surfaces 41a, 42a of the clamping means 40. Welding interfaces 44, 45 are provided between the mounting surfaces 41a, 42a and the weldable surfaces of the metal strips 51, 52. This is shown in Figure 8 and is reflected in the embodiment disclosed in relation to Figure 6 in all other respects. 【0047】 FIG. 9 shares the features disclosed in relation to FIG. 6. However, in FIG. 9, the intermediate section 43 has a more curved or rounded shape and abuts the electrical insulation material 60 along a majority of the circumference of the electrical insulation material 60 that covers the wire 211 of the coil. As with all embodiments disclosed herein, the electrical insulation material 60 covers the wire 211 in this region at least along the longitudinal extension of the wire 211. A thermal insulation material 70 is provided in the region between the wire 211 of the coil with the surrounding electrical insulation material 60 and the outer surface 12 of the mold 10. In FIG. 9, the thermal insulation material 70 is preferably a void. 【0048】 Moving on to FIG. 10, two wires 211, 212 of at least one coil are disposed on the back side 12 of the mold 10. The first side section 41 and the second side section 42 of the clamping means 40 are shown as an inverted T-shape. In this embodiment, the intermediate section 43 of the clamping means 40 is pressed, riveted, or bolted to the first and second side sections 41, 42 at the press / bolt joint interfaces 46, 47, and the press / bolt joint interfaces are welded to the back side 12 of the mold 10 at their respective mounting surfaces 41a, 42a, thereby forming the weld interfaces 44, 45. Alternatively, the first side section 41 and the second side section 42 are soldered or brazed to the back side 12 of the mold. The clamping means 40 may also be constructed by several welding sections, and the intermediate section 43 is welded to the first and / or second side sections 41, 42. 【0049】 In Figure 11, the intermediate section 43 of the clamping means 40 is claw-shaped and is adapted to receive the two wires 211, 212 of at least one coil. For all embodiments disclosed herein, one wire, or three or more wires, may be clamped by the clamping means 40. In this particular embodiment, the clamping means 40 can form a space that acts as a thermal barrier between the wires 211, 212 and the back side 12 of the mold 10. Preferably, the clamping means 40 is quite flexible and can clip the wires 211, 212 in the direction towards the back side 12 of the mold 10 to form a firm attachment. 【0050】 As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, each wire may be associated with cooling channels 80, 81, 82. The cooling channels are incorporated into or disposed adjacent to the corresponding wires 211, 212, 213 of at least one turn of at least one coil. The purpose of the cooling channels is mainly to cool the gas or liquid and prevent overheating of the coil, heat generated by losses in the wires themselves 211 - 213, or heat conducted from the hot mold 10. The intermediate section 43 at least partially surrounds the cooling channels, as well as surrounding the coil and the electrical insulation elements 60, 61, 62, 70. In FIG. 12, the coil / wire includes the cooling channel 80. In other words, the cooling channel 80 is incorporated into the wire 211 of the coil. The wire 211 is surrounded by the electrical insulation element 60, and a heat insulation element 70 is provided between the electrical insulation element 60 and the back side 12 of the mold 10. In FIG. 13, three wires 211, 212, 213 of at least one coil are provided. Each of the wires 211, 212, 213 is surrounded by its respective electrical insulation element 60, 61, 62. Instead of being incorporated into the coil, the cooling channels 80, 81, 82 are disposed adjacent to the coil / wire. The cooling channels 80, 81, 82 are surrounded by a material that prevents leakage of the cooling medium. This material can be the same as one of the electrical insulation elements 60, 61, 62 associated with the respective wires 211, 212, 213. 【0051】 A further embodiment is shown in FIG. 14, where a soft magnetic element and / or a conductive element 90 is disposed between the wires 211, 212 of at least one coil and an intermediate section 43 of the clamping means 40. The intermediate section 43 at least partially surrounds the soft magnetic element and / or at least one conductive element 90, in the same way as it surrounds the wires 211, 212 together with the electrical insulating elements 60, 61 around them. 【0052】 Referring to FIG. 15, a support 95 is welded to the back side 12 of the mold 10. The support 95 is shaped such that the wire 211 fits into a recess of the support 95. In other words, the support 95 holds the coil wire 211 in place on the surface of the mold. However, the shape of the support 95 can have many different shapes and is not limited to having a recess / groove, etc. The support 95 may be considered as a bridge creating a physical distance and thereby separating the back side 12 of the mold 10 from the coil. The purpose of the support 95 is to achieve heat insulation between the coil and the mold 10. For example, the support 95 may be made of the same material as the clamping means 40 and attached in the same way. 【0053】 The embodiment shown in FIG. 16 corresponds to a considerable extent to the embodiment of FIG. 14. In FIG. 16, the soft magnetic element 90 is, for example, cast around an intermediate section 43 of the clamping means 40. The conductive element may be a copper tube clamped around the clamping means. Further, the entire clamping means 40 may be a conductive element for the purpose of locally reducing power. For this, it is necessary that the thickness of the clamping means exceeds twice the skin depth. A wire 211 of the coil is clamped between the back side 12 of the mold and the soft magnetic body 90. 【0054】 Moving on to Fig. 17, the first side section 41 of the clamping means 40 is attached to the back side 12 of the mold 10 by any of the methods described above, i.e., by welding, brazing or soldering. As previously mentioned, like numbers refer to like elements. The second side section 42 of the clamping means 40 is attached to the mold surface, which is orthogonal to the surface to which the first side section 41 is attached. The clamping means 40 described herein can be attached to substantially any geometric surface and is adaptable to different mold shapes. In Fig. 17, the wire 211 of the coil is located between the clamping means 40 and the back side 12 of the mold 10. The intermediate section 43 has a shape that is substantially like a tip in this configuration. In another embodiment (not shown), the intermediate section 43 can have a shape of a smooth bend that conforms to the shape of the wire / coil to be clamped. 【0055】 In some cases, as is apparent from Figs. 18 to 22, only one of the side sections, such as the first side section 41, is attached to the mold 10. In those cases, the other of the side sections, such as the second side section 42, is formed as a free end or is attached to another part of the clamping means, such as the first side section 41, by any of welding, brazing or soldering. 【0056】 Referring to Fig. 18, the first side section 41 of the clamping means is attached to the outer surface 12 of the mold 10 at the welding interface 44. The second side section 42 is at least partially wound around the wire 211 of the coil and is then attached to the first side section 41 at another welding interface 48. The upper surface 42b of the second side section 42 may face the upper surface 41b of the first side section 41. The attachment surface 42a of the second side section 42 may face the upper surface 41b of the first side section 41. In either case, the clamping means surrounds the wire / coil and is welded to both itself and the mold. 【0057】 In FIGS. 19 and 20, the first side section 41 of the clamping means is attached to the back side 12 of the mold 10 at the welding interface 44. The second side section 42 is loose and clamps around the wire 211 of the coil to maintain the wire 211 in place on the back side 12 of the mold. In FIG. 19, the intermediate section 43 of the clamping means is substantially flat / square, and in FIG. 20, the intermediate section 43 of the clamping means is quite arcuate. 【0058】 Moving on to FIG. 21, the first side section 41 of the clamping means is attached to the outer surface 12 of the mold, and the second side section 42 clamps the intermediate section 43 of the clamping means. For example, the first and second ends 41, 42 are made from round studs with one or several barbs, and the intermediate section 43 is made from a thin metal sheet of a specific material, preferably having a thickness less than twice the skin depth of the material at the operating frequency, and includes deformable holes or slots that can be pushed onto the barbs of the studs to lock the wire 211 in place. 【0059】 In FIG. 22, the first side section 41 of the clamping means is attached to the back side 12 of the mold, and at least one of the coil wires 211, 212 is clamped around the clamping means. This can be explained as follows. Two litz wires 211, 212 are provided, and a hole (not shown) is opened between these two litz wires 211, 212. The second side section 42 of the clamping means is passed through this hole. The wires 211, 212 are held in place by bulb-like elements protruding outward from the intermediate section 43 of the clamping means. In this way, the coil is held in place on the back side of the mold. 【0060】 It is understood that the above-mentioned wires 211, 212, 213 may be surrounded by electrical insulation elements. From the viewpoints of safety, security, EMC and functionality, it is beneficial that the mold 10 and the coils 21 - 23 are electrically insulated from each other, that is, electrical insulation capable of withstanding typically several thousand volts during the entire life of the molding tool 1. Certain types of wires including Litz wires, such as magnet wires or enameled wires, already have an insulating layer due to the enamel coating and may or may not provide sufficient insulation. In the case of Litz wires, it is common to have a wrapping such as silk, nylon, polyimide, aramid, etc. to hold the strands together and further improve electrical insulation. Similar to cables, the wires can further have one or more solid polymer layers to further improve electrical and thermal insulation, for example, to achieve resistance to cooling fluids, or to form leak - proof channels for cooling the wires, or for other reasons suitable for the application. The same reasons apply when the wire is a solid or hollow conductor such as a copper tube. The electrical and thermal insulation can also be loosely attached to the wire so as to partially or completely surround the wire and can be adhered or clamped in place, for example. Figures 4 - 22 schematically show the selection of insulation types. 【0061】 A method of manufacturing a composite article or part A using the molding tool 1 is shown in Figure 23. In the method described in relation to Figure 23, the material to be processed placed in the mold is a mixture of fibers and a plastic material. Another method is shown in Figure 24, where the material placed in the mold is a fibrous material into which a plastic material is injected during the molding process, and the plastic material forms part of the material 110 to be processed. Figure 25 provides a schematic view of parts of these methods. 【0062】 In the methods shown in FIGS. 23 to 25, the material 110 to be processed may be composed of industrial fibers such as carbon, glass, aramid, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, linen or basalt fibers, or may be a mixture of fibers and a plastic material. The material 110 may be a prepreg, a sheet / bulk molding compound (SMC / BMC), a hybrid yarn, an intermediate material or separate fibers and plastics, and the plastics may be in the form of, for example, a sheet or powder. The plastic component may be a thermoplastic or a thermosetting material, and the fiber component may be a fiber tow, a multi-axial material, a fabric, or randomly oriented fibers. The layup, number of layers, direction, size, and shape of the material 110 may vary greatly depending on the processes and applications well known in the art. The material 110 may be placed in the mold, for example, layer by layer in sequence, or may be preformed before being placed in the mold. In addition to the fibers, the material 110 may include a core / distance / sandwich material such as a foam core or a honeycomb structure common to many composite components, or may include a metal insert typical for assembly purposes in the final use of part A. The material 110 may be transformed into a multi-material part A that includes both fiber composites and metals. 【0063】 The method shown in FIG. 23 includes step 305 of providing a molding tool 1 having a mold 10 configured to be inductively heated by a coil assembly 20 attached to the mold 10 by clamping means 40 according to the teachings of this specification. Optionally, a release agent is added to the mold 1 at this stage to facilitate separation of the manufactured part A from the molding mold 10. The method further includes step 310 of placing the material 110 to be processed on the contact surface 11 of the mold 10. Preferably, the material 110 is in the form of fibers and a plastic material in the form of a preform having a shape similar to the contact surface 11 and can be easily placed in the mold. 【0064】 In this case, if the plastic is already in the mold, i.e., as the matrix material incorporated into the fiber material disposed in the mold, the method further includes a step 312 of closing the mold 10 and a step 315 of applying a consolidation pressure to the material 110 to be processed. The mold 10 may be closed, for example, by a half of another molding tool 1 or by a flexible film or bag. 【0065】 Before the step 315 of applying a consolidation pressure to the material 110 to be processed, the method may further include a step 314 of applying a vacuum or a substantially vacuum pressure to the material 110. In a specific process, by applying a reduced pressure, i.e., a vacuum pressure, to the material, the trapped air is removed, thereby enhancing the wettability of the matrix on the fibers during the manufacturing process, and thereby reducing the risk of dry spots or voids in the manufactured part A. 【0066】 The consolidation pressure may be applied, for example, by disposing a vacuum bagging unit on top of the material 110 and performing vacuum bagging. The consolidation pressure may also be applied by a press, an autoclave, or, if there is a substantially vacuum pressure inside the mold, simply through atmospheric pressure. In the latter case, the step 315 of applying a consolidation pressure to the material 110 often means pulling a vacuum inside the molding tool 1. In some cases, the vacuum pressure is the same as the consolidation pressure. 【0067】 The method described in connection with FIG. 23 further includes a step 320 of inductively heating the mold 10 containing the material 110. The heating is performed according to a predetermined time - temperature profile to consolidate and / or cure the material 110 to manufacture the composite part A. The mold 10 is heated by a coil assembly 20 operably communicating with the processing means 30 as described above. The molding tool 1 or its mold 10 may be heated before, during, and / or after the step 315 of applying pressure. Also, the pressure does not have to be constant throughout the process. For example, when the material 110 gets warmer, the pressure can be increased to improve the quality of the part. 【0068】 The mold 10 and the material 110 to be processed are typically held at this position within the molding tool 1 for a predetermined period to ensure sufficient temperature throughout the material and proper consolidation / wetting of the fiber composite material. In the case of thermosetting substances, the resin or plastic material should be fully cured before demolding, while in the case of thermoplastic substances, the part becomes solid after cooling. Thus, ultimately, a cured or consolidated material 110 is provided, forming the composite part A. This is schematically shown in FIG. 25. There are several applicable processes to this method, for example, often referred to as compression molding, stamp molding, autoclave treatment, out-of-autoclave treatment, vacuum bagging, etc. 【0069】 Referring now to FIG. 24, this is the case where the matrix material is not placed within the mold, i.e., the material 110 initially consists only of fibers and, in some cases, may be combined with a core / distance / sandwich material or a metal insert as described above. The method includes the step 305 of providing the molding tool 1 and then placing the fiber material 110 within the mold. Thereafter, the mold is typically closed 312 with another mold half, a flexible film or bag. The closed mold may consist of a plurality of mold halves, bags or films, or combinations thereof, together providing a sealed or semi-sealed mold assembly. In this case, the material 110 placed on the contact surface 11 of the mold 10 may also be referred to as a layup or preform of the fiber material. 【0070】 The method related to FIG. 24 further includes the step 314 of applying a reduced pressure, preferably a vacuum or a pressure close to vacuum, to the material 110. The evacuation of the gas may be done through a single or multiple openings and may be done only in this step, throughout the manufacturing process. 【0071】 This method further includes a step 316 of injecting a matrix material, preferably a low-viscosity resin of any type, into the material 110 within the mold 10. The resin in this case is also called a plastic material. This can be done using so-called vacuum infusion, and the driving force is the pressure difference between the vacuum pressure and the ambient pressure within the mold. The injection can also be done using high pressures up to several hundred bar, which is often referred to as resin transfer molding RTM, high-pressure resin transfer molding HPRTM, vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding VARTM, etc. Similar to what was described above in relation to FIG. 23, this method further includes a step 320 of inductively heating the mold 10 containing the material 110. 【0072】 In both of the above methods for manufacturing the composite part A, the heating step 320 and the step of pressurizing or injecting the resin, i.e., the plastic material, into the material 110 within the mold 10 may be performed simultaneously. The heating may be performed according to a predetermined time-temperature profile for manufacturing the composite part A. The mold 10 is heated by the coil assembly 20 operably communicating with the processing means 30 as described above. The molding tool 1 or its mold 10 may be heated before, during, and / or after the step of injecting the matrix material in the case of the method described in relation to FIG. 24. 【0073】 A warmed tool is typically beneficial for reducing the viscosity of the resin, but typically also initiates the chemical reaction for curing the resin, so different modes are applied depending on the application and the choice of materials. In the preferred case, proper wetting out of the fibers by the resin is obtained without dry spots or voids. In this method, a typical matrix is a thermosetting resin, and it is necessary to cure the matrix. New plastics are continuously being developed, and this method may be used with hybrid thermosetting / thermoplastic matrices and low-viscosity thermoplastics. 【0074】 All methods described herein may further include active or passive cooling 325 of at least a portion of the molding tool 1 and / or the manufactured part A formed therein. Finally, the described methods further include the step 330 of demolding the part A from the molding tool 1. In certain applications, the part A can be demolded at the processing temperature, which is beneficial from the perspective of cycle time. In contrast, lowering the molded part ejection temperature is often beneficial from the perspective of part quality. 【0075】 A portion of the method described above in connection with FIGS. 23 and 24 is shown in FIG. 25. The material 110 to be processed, i.e., a mixture of a fiber material and a polymer material, or a fiber material into which a resin or plastic material is to be injected during the molding process as described above, is placed 310 within the molding tool 1. The fiber material may be, for example, a carbon fiber or a flax fiber material. Preferably, the mixture is in the form of a preform or a web piece. Alternatively, the molding tool 1 is arranged in an efficiency system in which a web of material is fed stepwise to the molding tool 1. Before heating, the material 110 is shown by a dashed line. The material may extend beyond the heating region of the molding tool 1 or be located inside the heating zone, depending on the application. When the molding tool 1 is induction heated 320 by a coil assembly driven by a processing means, the mixture of the fiber and the polymer material, i.e., the material 110 to be processed, is consolidated or cured to form a part A having a shape corresponding to the shape of the molding tool 1. After being cured or consolidated, the material to be processed is shown by a solid line. When the process temperature profile is completed, the molding tool is cooled 325 and the part A is removed from or demolded from the molding tool 330. The shape of the part A corresponds to the contact surface of the mold. 【0076】 Next, with reference to FIG. 26, a manufacturing method of the molding tool 1 will be described. 【0077】 In a first step, a mold 10 configured to be induction heated is provided 405. The mold 10 has a contact surface 11 and an outer surface 12, i.e., a back side. In a next step, at least one coil 21, 22, 23 is provided 410 and arranged on the back side 12 of the mold 10 415. The coils 21, 22, 23 may be arranged in a desired pattern on the outer surface 12 of the mold 10 so as to achieve a preferred heating pattern. The magnetic field generated by this current is configured to induce a current in at least a part or portion of the mold 10 to be heated. 【0078】 The mold 10 is configured to be heated by an alternating current at a specific operating frequency flowing through at least one coil 21, 22, 23, and the magnetic field generated by the alternating current is configured to induce a current in at least a part of the mold 10 to be heated. 【0079】 As described above, the molding tool 1 includes a mold 10, a coil assembly 20, and a clamping means 40. For example, the coil assembly 20 includes a single coil. The coil assembly 20 may also include several coils. 【0080】 At least one coil 21, 22, 23 is electrically insulated from the mold 10 and is operably in communication with at least one processing means 30. 【0081】 In a preferred embodiment, the wires 211, 212 of at least one coil 21, 22 consist of a Litz wire, i.e., a wire constructed of many thin strands individually electrically insulated and twisted together to reduce high-frequency losses caused by skin and proximity effects. Further, the method may further include the step of arranging at least one soft magnetic element and / or conductive element 90 in a predetermined region along at least one coil 21, 22, 23. 【0082】 Furthermore, a method of manufacturing the molding tool 1 is the method described above in connection with FIGS. 4 to 15 and includes a step 420 of providing at least one clamping means 40 having a first end 41, a second end 42, and an intermediate section 43 extending between the first end 41 and the second end 42. Next, the method includes a step 425 of attaching at least a first end 41 of the at least one clamping means 40 to the outer surface 12 of the mold 10 using welding, brazing, or soldering so as to at least partially fix at least one of the coils 21, 22, 23 to the outer surface 12 of the mold. 【0083】 In one embodiment, a molding tool for manufacturing a composite part using induction heating is provided. The molding tool 1 includes a mold 10 having a contact surface 11 adapted to contact a material 110 to be deformed into a composite part A and an outer surface 12, i.e., a back side. The mold 10 is configured to be inductively heated by at least one coil 21, 22, 23 attached to the back side 12 of the mold 10 using clamping means 40 preferably fixed to the mold 10 by welding. Optionally, the clamping means 40 is indirectly welded to the mold 10 by being welded to a weldable material, and then the weldable material is attached to the back side 12 of the mold. For example, in the case of a composite mold, the glued metal strips 51, 52 can function as a weldable material (see FIG. 7). The clamping means 40, more specifically the intermediate section 43 of the clamping means 40, may also be screwed, bolted, riveted, or pressed to a separate part welded to the mold surface 12, such as the T-shaped side sections 41, 42 of FIG. 9. Furthermore, the clamping means 40 may be in the form of a clip that clamps the coils 21, 22, 23 from below, i.e., the coils are clipped to the clamping means 40 already in place on the outer surface 12 of the mold 10 rather than first placing the coils and then clamping them. A further option for clamping is to attach a plurality of clamping means 40 to the back side 12 of the mold 10 using welding, brazing, or soldering and pass at least one of the coils 21, 22, 23 through the clamping means. 【0084】 At least one alternating current having at least one frequency that flows through at least one of the coils 21, 22, 23 and can change with time is supplied to the coils 21, 22, 23. The magnetic field generated by the current is configured to induce a current in at least a part of the mold 10 to be heated. Preferably, at least one of the coils 21, 22, 23 is electrically insulated from the mold 10 and includes a litz wire that operably communicates with at least one processing means 30. The portion of the clamping means 40 that covers the wires 211, 212 of the coils 21, 22, for example, the above-described intermediate section 43, is thinner than twice the skin depth of the material of the clamping means at the operating frequency. The skin depth depends on the resistivity, the magnetic permeability, and the operating frequency, and can be described as the depth under the surface of a conductor where the current density has decreased to a certain extent.

Claims

[Claim 1] A molding tool (1) for manufacturing a composite part (A) using induction heating, A mold (10) having a contact surface (11) and an outer surface (12) that are adapted to contact a material (110) that will be deformed into a composite part (A), At least one coil (21-23) or at least one wire (211-213) of the coil (21-23) is arranged on the outer surface (12) of the mold (10), At least one clamping means (40) having a first end (41), a second end (42), and an intermediate section (43) extending between the first end (41) and the second end (42), wherein at least one of the first end (41) and the second end (42) is attached to the outer surface (12) of the mold (10) by welding, brazing, or soldering to secure at least one coil (21-23) to the outer surface (12) of the mold (10), Equipped with, The intermediate section (43) at least partially surrounds the at least one wire (211-213) or coil (21-23) and holds the at least one wire (211-213) or coil (21-23) in place on the outer surface (12) of the mold (10). A molding tool in which at least one wire (211-213) or coil (21-23) is electrically insulated from the mold (10) and is operably in communication with at least one processing means (30). [Claim 2] The molding tool according to claim 1, wherein each of the first end (41) and the second end (42) of at least one clamping means (40) has mounting surfaces (41a, 42a) facing the outer surface (12) of the mold (10), and welding interfaces (44, 45, 48) are provided between each of the mounting surfaces (41a, 42a) and the outer surface (12) of the mold (10), and / or between each of the mounting surfaces (41a, 42a) and a portion of the clamping means (40). [Claim 3] The molding tool according to claim 1, further comprising at least one wire (211-213) or coil (212-23) and the outer surface (12) of the mold (10), wherein the intermediate section (43) further surrounds the electrical insulating material (60, 61, 62) at least partially. [Claim 4] The molding tool according to claim 1, further comprising a thermal insulation material (70) provided between the at least one wire (211-213) or coil (212-23) and the outer surface (12) of the mold (10), wherein the intermediate section (43) further surrounds the thermal insulation material (70) at least partially, and preferably the thermal insulation material (70) is air. [Claim 5] The molding tool according to claim 1, further comprising at least one cooling channel (80-82) integrated into or located adjacent to the at least one wire (211-213) or coil (212-23), wherein the intermediate section (43) further at least partially encloses the at least one cooling channel (80-82). [Claim 6] The molding tool according to claim 1, further comprising at least one soft magnetic element and / or at least one conductive element (90) at least partially disposed between the at least one wire (211-213) or coil (21-23) and the intermediate section (43), wherein the intermediate section (43) at least partially surrounds the at least one soft magnetic element and / or at least one conductive element (90). [Claim 7] The molding tool according to claim 1, wherein the first end (41), the second end (42), and the intermediate section (43) are formed as a whole or separately from each other. [Claim 8] The molding tool according to claim 1, wherein at least one coil (21-23) comprises Litz wire. [Claim 9] The molding tool according to claim 1, wherein the mold (10) is heated by an alternating current of a specific operating frequency flowing through at least one coil (21-23), and the magnetic field generated by the current is configured to induce a current in at least a portion of the heated mold (10). [Claim 10] The molding tool according to claim 9, wherein the intermediate section (43) is made of a material having thickness, the thickness being less than twice the skin thickness of the material at the operating frequency. [Claim 11] The forming tool according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate section (43) is made of metal, and the metal has a relative magnetic permeability of less than 100. [Claim 12] A method for manufacturing a molding tool as described in claim 1, The steps (405) include providing a mold (10) having a contact surface (11) and an outer surface (12) that are adapted to contact a material (110) to be deformed into a composite part (A), The steps include providing (410) at least one coil (21-23) or at least one wire (211-213) of the coil (21-23) and placing it on the outer surface (12) of the mold (10), Step (420) of providing at least one clamping means (40) having a first end (41), a second end (42), and an intermediate section (43) extending between the first end (41) and the second end (42), Step (425) of attaching at least one of the first end (41) and the second end (42) of the at least one clamping means (40) to the outer surface (12) of the mold (10) by welding, brazing, or soldering, so as to fix at least one coil (21, 22) to the outer surface (12) of the mold (10) at least partially, Includes, The intermediate section (43) at least partially surrounds the at least one wire (211-213) or the at least one coil (21-23), and holds the at least one wire (211-213) or coil (21-23) in place on the outer surface (12) of the mold (10). A method wherein the at least one wire (211-213) or coil (21-23) is electrically insulated from the mold (10) and is operably in communication with at least one processing means (30). [Claim 13] A method for manufacturing composite parts, The step (305) of providing a molding tool (1) having at least one clamping means (40) as described in claim 1, Step (310) of placing the fiber and plastic material (110) on the contact surface (11) of the mold (10), The step (312) of closing the mold (10), The steps include applying compaction pressure (315) to the material (110) to be processed, The steps include: inducing heating (320) the mold (10) containing the material (110) according to a predetermined time-temperature profile to compact and / or cure the material (110) in order to manufacture a composite part (A); Methods that include... [Claim 14] The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of applying vacuum pressure to the material (110) before the step of applying compaction pressure to the material (110) to be processed (315). [Claim 15] Step (325) of cooling the molding tool (1) and / or at least a portion of the manufactured part (A), The steps include: releasing the part (A) from the molding tool (1) (330), The method according to claim 13, further comprising: [Claim 16] A method for manufacturing composite parts, The step (305) of providing a molding tool (1) having at least one clamping means (40) as described in claim 1, The steps include: (310) placing the fibrous material (110) on the contact surface (11) of the mold (10); The step (312) of closing the mold (10), Steps include applying vacuum pressure (314) and injecting plastic material into the fibrous material (316), wherein the plastic material forms part of the material (110) to be processed, The steps include: inducing heating (320) the mold (10) containing the fiber and plastic material (110) according to a predetermined time-temperature profile to manufacture a composite part (A); Methods that include... [Claim 17] Step (325) of cooling the molding tool (1) and / or at least a portion of the manufactured part (A), The steps include: releasing the part (A) from the molding tool (1) (330), The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

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