US 12,447,651 B2
Molding methods for making chiral parts
Nataniel Jacobson, Alameda, CA (US); Isaiah De Leon, Emeryville, CA (US); Garrett Reed, Berkeley, CA (US); and Marko Lolic, Alameda, CA (US)
Assigned to Arris Composites Inc., Berkeley, CA (US)
Filed by Arris Composites Inc., Berkeley, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/206,983.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/349,921, filed on Jun. 7, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0390973 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 43/18 (2006.01); B29C 43/34 (2006.01); B29L 31/50 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 43/34 (2013.01) [B29C 43/18 (2013.01); B29L 2031/50 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for fabricating a first part and a second part, wherein the first and second parts are mirror images of one another, but exhibit chirality and are not superposable, the method comprising:
designing the first part, the first part having a shape and a first size;
designing a flat-planar preform charge, the flat-planar preform charge having a shape and second size that is based on a planar projection of the first part, wherein the second size is smaller than the first size;
fabricating a first instance of the flat-planar preform charge via a preform-charge fixture;
placing the first instance of the preform charge in a first mold for use in molding the first contoured part, wherein the first instance of the preform charge has a first orientation in the first mold;
compression molding the first part;
fabricating a second instance of the preform charge via the preform-charge fixture, wherein the second instance is identical to the first instance;
placing the second instance of the preform charge in a second mold for use in molding the second part, wherein the second instance of the preform charge has a second orientation in the second mold, wherein the second orientation is obtained by rotating the second instance of the preform charge 180 degrees relative to the first orientation about an axis that is parallel to a reflection axis of the first and second instance of the preform charge; and
compression molding the second part.