Material Tensioning System

摘要

A system and method for forming an item from a material, which may include elongated fibers and/or stretched broken fibers. The material is placed on a first clamping portion, which is placed on a fixture. A second clamping portion is placed against the material and the first clamping portion and secured together, forming a clamping assembly. The clamping assembly is removed from the fixture and placed on a first die portion, having a first profile. A second die portion is also provided, having a second profile. In forming the item, at least one of the first die portion and the second die portion are moved toward each other such that a second surface of the first die portion and a first surface of the second die portion contact and form the material into the item generally replicating the first profile and the second profile.

主权项

1. A system for forming an item from a material, the system comprising:
a first die portion having a first surface and a second surface generally opposite the first surface defining a first profile; a second die portion having a first surface and a second surface generally opposite the first surface of the second die portion defining a second profile; a first clamping portion defining a first die-receiving opening; and a second clamping portion defining a second die-receiving opening; at least one fastener adapted to secure together the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion with the material therebetween to form a clamping assembly; wherein the first clamping portion is adapted to receive the material and to expose the material to the first die-receiving opening, and the first die-receiving opening is adapted to receive at least one of the first die portion and the second die portion; wherein the second clamping portion is adapted to contact the material and to expose the material to the second die-receiving opening, and the second die-receiving opening is adapted to receive at least one of the first die portion and the second die portion; and wherein at least one of the first die portion and the second die portion are adapted to move such that the second surface of the first die portion and the first surface of the second die portion substantially simultaneously contact via the first die-receiving opening and the second die-receiving opening, respectively, to form the material into the item having portions generally replicating portions of the first profile and the second profile.