mold

Mold system for forming multilevel blocks

A mold system for forming a multilevel block is disclosed which comprises a multilevel mold box insert for forming a multilevel block, a mold box frame adapted for receiving therein the multilevel mold box insert, a multilevel plunger assembly, and a press head plate adapted for receiving thereon the multilevel plunger assembly.




mold

Mold for rectangular structure

An inner mold body includes a first pair of side walls opposite one another, each of the first pair of side walls having a pair of engagement members attached thereto, a second pair of side walls opposite one another; wherein each of the second pair of side walls is adjacent to each of the first pair of side walls, and a separation mechanism in contact with each of the second pair of side walls.




mold

Device for regulating deformations of the bed of a geometrically aerodynamic mold and molding method with this device

The invention describes a regulating device that adapts to the aerodynamic profile of a mold bed made of composite material offsetting the geometrical deviations occurring in the mold bed. The device comprises some stiffening ribs (20) supported on a surface of the bed (10) of the mold and is equipped with actuators (21) that modify the curvature of the bed (10) of the mold.




mold

Process and apparatus for demolding and palletizing cast concrete blocks

A method for demolding concrete blocks which are cast in a resilient mold supported in a rigid frame, the mold having a top surface and at least one cavity with an opening on the top surface, which cavity holds a cured cast concrete block. The mold has two opposing edges. The demolded blocks are stacked on a collection surface. A support is positioned over the cavity and the mold, the support and the frame are inverted and positioned in demolding apparatus. After two opposing edges of the mold are engaged by the demolding apparatus, the support is withdrawn to allow the mold to sag. The blocks may release from the mold and fall onto the collection surface. If any blocks remain in the mold, a plunger mechanism is pushed against the sagging mold to release the blocks. Guide members may facilitate positioning the blocks on the collection surface.




mold

Polycrystalline silicon ingot casting mold and method for producing same, and silicon nitride powder for mold release material for polycrystalline silicon ingot casting mold and slurry containing same

Provided are a polycrystalline silicon ingot casting mold and a method for producing a polycrystalline silicon ingot casting mold, with which high-quality silicon ingots can be obtained at high yields by minimizing sticking with the surfaces of the silicon ingot casting mold, and losses and damages that occur when solidified silicon ingot is released from the mold. The method for producing a polycrystalline silicon ingot casting mold having a release layer, including: forming a slurry by mixing a silicon nitride powder with water, coating the surface of the mold with the slurry, and heating the mold at 400 to 800° C. in an atmosphere containing oxygen, after coating the slurry.




mold

Molding system

The present invention discloses a molding system, more particularly, a shrinking type molding system comprising an outer mold, an inner mold and a first pattern layer. An adjustable gap is formed between the outer mold and the inner mold to contain a work piece therein. Furthermore, the work piece with a pattern structure on the surface thereof can be formed by the first pattern layer. The difference between the present invention and the prior art is that the molding system of the present invention is capable of optionally or simultaneously forming the pattern structure on the inner surface or the outer surface of the work piece, so as to solve the long last problem that not all the surfaces of the work piece could have the pattern structure thereon in the prior art.




mold

Optical lens mold with built in cooling channel

An optical lens mold includes a mold body, a magnetic fluid, a plurality of thermocouples, a plurality of electromagnets, a controlling unit and a power source. The mold body defines a plurality of injection chambers and a cooling channel surrounding the plurality of injection chambers. The magnetic fluid contains magnetic particles and flows in the cooling channel. The thermocouples are capable of sensing temperatures of the plurality of injection chambers correspondingly. The electromagnets are positioned above the cooling channel corresponding to the plurality of thermocouples. The plurality of thermocouples and the plurality of electromagnets are connected to the controlling unit via the power source, the controlling unit is capable of the comparing the standard temperature value with temperature values sensed by the plurality of thermocouples, and maintaining the temperature of the plurality of injection chambers in a normal state.




mold

Polycrystalline silicon ingot casting mold and method for producing same, and silicon nitride powder for mold release material for polycrystalline silicon ingot casting mold and slurry containing same

A polycrystalline silicon ingot casting mold, and method for producing same. Mold release material being obtained by blending a silicon nitride powder (A) having an average particle diameter along the short axis of 0.6 to 13 μm with a silicon nitride powder (B) having an average particle diameter along the short axis of 0.1 to 0.3 μm at a weight ratio of 5:5 to 9:1; coating the mold surface with the slurry; and a heating the mold at 800 to 1200° C. in an atmosphere containing oxygen.




mold

Vibrating machine for producing molded bodies by means of compacting

A vibrating machine for producing a molded body by compacting a granular raw mixture includes an oscillatable vibrating table configured to receive a molding box. A clamping device is produced by at least two clamping closures, each including: a pivot bracket having a lower end being pivotally mounted on the vibrating table and an upper end including a cranking which is directed outward; a double-acting hydraulic pivot cylinder pivotally mounted on the vibrating table; a two-armed rocker arm pivotally connected to the pivot bracket and including an inner part that cooperates with the molding box and an outer part that cooperates with the hydraulic pivot cylinder; and a compression spring disposed between the cranking and the outer part of the rocker arm such that the rocker arm releases from a position closing the respective clamping closure upon a pressure in the hydraulic pivot cylinder being relieved.




mold

Compensating mold plunger for integrated circuit manufacture

A device and method for manufacturing integrated circuit packaging using a mold plunger with position compensation in a manufacturing setting. In an embodiment, a compensating mold plunger, which may be used during the manufacture of an integrated circuit package, engages a die set on a carrier and within a bushing. This may be done to inject a mold compound on top of the die/carrier. If the bushing that is housing the die/carrier tandem is misaligned with the plunger in any lateral direction, the amount of pressure may be compromised. A compensating mold plunger includes a flexible portion that allows for the head of the plunger to properly engage the die/carrier despite any possible misalignments. Further, different die/carrier combinations may also be used with a compensating mold plunger because the pressure and force applied may be uniform inside a bushing despite the contents of the bushing.




mold

Machine for shaping curved molding

A machine for shaping curved wooden molding includes an arbor mounted on a housing for receiving a cylindrical workpiece formed from four lengths of curved molding blanks, a drive for rotating the arbor, and a pivot arm carrying a blade at the top end thereof for movement towards and away from a workpiece mounted on the arbor, whereby, when the top end of the pivot arm is rotated towards the arbor, the blade engages the rapidly rotating workpiece to shape the latter.




mold

Valve for a fluid flow connector having an overmolded plunger

A fluid flow connector and a method of manufacturing the same wherein the fluid flow connector utilizes a valve having a plunger which is made by overmolding a soft exterior to a hard core. The soft exterior being overmolded to the hard core by either insert or multi-shot methods. The method also including attaching the soft exterior to the hard core mechanically and/or by molecular bonding.




mold

Molded gap seal apparatus with inward pointing fibrillations

A cover for the gap in an automobile automatic gear shift assembly is presented. The gap cover is formed from a single molded housing with inward pointing fibrillations. These fibrillations act as fingers to cover the hole created when the multi position mechanism is moved from one position to another. The fibrillations are assisted back to their original position through (1) physical properties of the advanced polymeric substance used to mold the housing and (2) through the interactions of assisting tabs formed on the back side of the fibrillations, which act as springs.




mold

Block ice maker with mold body and method of forming fan shaped ice with mold body

An ice maker has an ice-making vessel having a cylindrical shape, a cooling means, a block ice making mold which is placed inside, and an agitator. The mold includes a main mold body having a plurality of connected L-shaped plates projected radially outward from the central axis; a base plate which is joined to each L-shaped plate, and the top side of the L-shaped plates form a screw insertion part of the mold body such that the agitator fits between the L-shaped plates at a second end of the central axis.




mold

Mold, casting apparatus, and method for producing cast rod

Arnold (13) includes a recessed portion (21) for receiving a melt (2). The recessed portion (21) is constituted by an inner wall surface (29) for converting the melt (2) into a solidified portion when the inner wall surface (29) contacts the melt (2), and opens in a withdrawal direction (D1) of the solidified portion. A curved line formed by a first contour (23p) and a second contour (25p) has a cusp at a position of start points (43 and 45). The distance between the first contour (23p) and the second contour (25p) in a width direction (D2) increases continuously from an upstream side to a downstream side of the withdrawal direction (D1). The shape of the inner wall surface (29) of the recessed portion (21) is determined so that a cast rod (3) can be rotationally displaced clockwise or counterclockwise about an axis passing through a first end point (33) or a second end point (35) and perpendicular to a section of the mold 13.




mold

Metal alloy injection molding protrusions

Metal alloy injection molding techniques are described. In one or more implementations, these techniques may also include adjustment of injection pressure, configuration of runners, and/or use of vacuum pressure, and so on to encourage flow of the metal alloy through a mold. Techniques are also described that utilize protrusions to counteract thermal expansion and subsequent contraction of the metal alloy upon cooling. Further, techniques are described in which a radius of edges of a feature is configured to encourage flow and reduce voids. A variety of other techniques are also described herein.




mold

Non-electroslag remelting type clean metal ingot mold

A non-electroslag remelting type clean metal ingot mold includes an ingot mold body and a insulating riser arranged on the ingot mold body; an insulated heating and heat preservation device is vertically arranged in the ingot mold body and divides the space in the ingot mold body into a plurality of independent cavity units; and the cavity units are distributed in two rows in the ingot mold body. Because the insulated heating and heat preservation device is arranged in the ingot mold body and divides the space in the ingot mold body into a plurality of independent cavity units, most of impurities and segregates in liquid metals are enriched in the part in contact with the isolation and heat insulation mechanism during the directional solidification and crystallization of the liquid metals and the enriched alloy segregates, and the impurities can be easily eliminated by utilizing flame or other processing methods.




mold

Clean metal ingot mold

A clean metal ingot mold comprises an ingot mold body and an insulating riser arranged on the ingot mold body. The bottom mold plate of the ingot mold is provided with at least a ridge connected thereto. The region having a V-shape containing impurities produced during the crystallization process of the liquid metal moves upwards because of the ridge, and then the impurities depart from the center of the cast ingot and the impurities are more centralized. A water-cooling device is arranged in the ridge to allow the temperature of the metal in the ingot mold to decrease rapidly, and the crystallization process of the metal to be rapid.




mold

Method for the manufacture of casting molds and a device for realizing the same

A method of pulsed-air compacting of mold-sand in combination with compacting by compression supplements the pulsed-air compacting of the mold-sand by an operation of re-compacting the mold-sand by pressing which is performed with the pattern plate containing the patterns by the plate moving inside the cavity of the filling frame in the direction of the latticed pressing element which is subjected to a counter-pressure force corresponding in its value to the prescribed level of the half mold compaction. The method is realized with a device in which the pattern plate containing the patterns is mounted with the possibility of a reciprocal motion inside the cavity of the filling frame, and the pressing cylinder is mounted with the possibility to apply a force against the movable pattern plate.




mold

Metal alloy injection molding overflows

Metal alloy injection molding techniques are described. In one or more implementations, these techniques may also include adjustment of injection pressure, configuration of runners, and/or use of vacuum pressure, and so on to encourage flow of the metal alloy through a mold. Techniques are also described that utilize protrusions to counteract thermal expansion and subsequent contraction of the metal alloy upon cooling. Further, techniques are described in which a radius of edges of a feature is configured to encourage flow and reduce voids. A variety of other techniques are also described herein.




mold

Insert molding of bulk amorphous alloy into open cell foam

Provided in one embodiment is a method of making use of foams as a processing aid or to improve the properties of bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy materials. Other embodiments include the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy/foam composite materials made in accordance with the methods.




mold

Tufted back mold for fabric covered button




mold

Button making device, button, and method of mounting pressing mold in button making device

A button making device capable of simply exchanging a first pressed mold, a second pressed mold, and a pressing mold so as to produce buttons of different sizes; a polygonal button whose front surface plate is dome-wise curved and has its shape fixed; and such a button making device, are provided. The button making device has a sliding platform, two pressed molds, a fixed member, a pressing shaft, a pressing mold, and an operation mechanism. The pressed molds are provided on an attachment member which is removably attached to the sliding platform. The pressing mold is removably attached to a lower end of the pressing shaft using magnetic force. The present invention can be used for a button making device which can easily form a metal button by press processing which can be used as an accessory adhered to clothes or the like by a pin or the like.




mold

Single mold milling process

A bit mold is milled using a turning stage which forms a base mold component and a base gagering component. Next, a blade milling stage is performed in which the base mold component and base gagering component are milled to define integral junkslot formers separated by blade regions. Lastly, a pocket milling stage is performed in which the blade regions and integral junkslot formers of the base mold component are milled to define a plurality of cutter pockets in primary and perhaps secondary rows. Each cutter pocket includes a seat portion and a face portion. The milling of the pocket milling stage provides, at one or more of the cutter pockets, a facet. This facet is provided in an area about the junkslot former associated with the face portion of the cutter pocket, the face portion having, due to the presence of the facet, a surface for matching a cutter core displacement end surface without voids of a size which would require the use of fill material. The facet is also provided on either side of the pocket associated with the seat portion to avoid the need to clay the sides of the displacement for providing top-loading clearances. The milling process at the pocket milling stage further supports definition of relief and erosion resistance features in the mold.




mold

Moldable explosives formulated with chlorinated waxes and oils

Moldable explosives containing chlorinated and/or fluorinated oils and waxes are described which exhibit significant energetic characteristics while at the same time possessing desirable IM character. Such moldable explosives are potential replacements for the C4 compositions known and used in the art.




mold

Hybrid yarn for producing molded parts

A hybrid yarn for producing molded parts having a thermoplastic matrix and reinforcing fibers embedded therein. The hybrid yarn includes a core substantially made of staple fibers aligned in a straight line in the longitudinal direction of the hybrid yarn, and a cover made substantially of staple fibers wound helically about the core. The staple fibers forming the core and the staple fibers forming the cover each are made of an intimate mixture of thermoplastic matrix fibers and reinforcing fibers.




mold

Injection-molded resin face gear

An injection-molded resin face gear that can suppress deterioration of gear accuracy caused by shrinkage of resin material after injection molding and allow accurate and smooth rotation transmission is provided. An injection-molded resin face gear 1 includes a boss 3, a disk-shaped web 4, and a teeth section 5. The boss 3 has an axis hole 2. The web 4 is formed on an outer circumferential side of the boss in an outward radial direction. The teeth section 5 is formed on an outer circumferential edge of the web 4. The teeth section 5 includes a cylindrical section 13, a disk-shaped section 14, and a plurality of teeth 15. The cylindrical section 13 is connected to the outer circumferential edge of the web 4. The disk-shaped section 14 is formed on one end side of the cylindrical section 13 in the outward radial direction. The teeth 15 are formed evenly spaced on an outer circumferential side of the cylindrical section 13 such that one side surface of the disk-shaped section 14 is a bottom land 16. The web 4, the cylindrical section 13, and the disk-shaped section 14 have almost the same thicknesses. The outer circumferential edge of the web 4 is connected between an end surface 19 and an end surface 22 of the cylindrical section 13, in almost the center in a direction along a rotational center axis CL.




mold

Molded polymeric spacing devices

Substrates such as sheet metal components may be kept spaced apart from each other using a molded polymeric spacing device. The spacing device has a main body with a thickness corresponding to the desired minimum spacing between the substrates and, extending from the main body or a base connected to said main body, an attachment member capable of being inserted into an opening in one of the substrates, but resistant to being easily withdrawn from such opening. Noise and vibration that might otherwise be generated or propagated by closely proximate substrates are reduced through the use of such molded polymeric spacing devices, which may be integrally fashioned from a rubber.




mold

Injection-molded planter having undercuts and process for manufacturing

A planter for holding a plant includes a container having an open upper end. The container has side walls extending downward from the upper end and tapering inward to a lower end. A base at the lower end of the container has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the upper end. A circumferential ring surrounds the lower end of the container. The circumferential ring has an upper edge that extends outward from the container by a distance such that removal of the container and ring from a mold as a single unit would be inhibited. Accordingly, the container and the circumferential ring are molded from a thermoplastic material as separate components. The circumferential ring fits around the lower end of the container and is held in place by a mechanical interlock between the container and the ring.




mold

LAMINATE AND INTEGRALLY MOLDED ARTICLE

A laminate including a radio wave permeable member having a radio wave permeability; and a heat conducting member having an electromagnetic wave shielding property and/or a rigidity retaining member having an electromagnetic wave shielding property in the thickness direction of the radio wave permeable member; wherein the laminate has a radio wave permeable area solely constituted from the radio wave permeable member as a part of the laminate, and the radio wave permeable area is a thin area; and an integrally molded article using such laminate.




mold

Light weight molded roof tile with integrated solar capabilities

An improved building roof tile for a sloping roof including a polyurethane foam tile that includes outer coating layers that are made of a uniquely fire resistant or retardant layered system that includes a first outer fire resistant layer of 100% solid aliphatic polyurea material and a second inner layer of an 100% solid intumescent non-halogenated phosphate material, said inner layer forming a fire blocking partition and said outer layer offering UV protection, featherweight, category 5 hurricane proof, yields a high R-value, offer low thermal transference into attic space, will retrofit any sloped roof without structural build-up, can be molded into single or triple units, cannot break under foot or when extreme pressures are applied, can produce upgradable solar energy, is easy to transport and install and can molded to look like slate, wood, flat roll tile or most other historical tiles.




mold

Virus could ‘smolder’ in Africa, cause many deaths, says WHO


JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The coronavirus could “smolder” in Africa for years and take a high death toll across the continent, the World Health Organization has warned. The virus is spreading in Africa, but so far the continent has not seen a dramatic explosion in the number of confirmed cases. More than 52,000 confirmed infections and […]




mold

Biodegradable HyO-Cups are dried gourds grown inside 3D printed molds

Jun Aizaki, the founder of New York-based design studio Crème Design, and his team created HyO, a completely organic, biodegradable cup made from a gourd grown inside a 3D printed mould to take their functional shape.



  • 3D Printing Applications

mold

3D printed molds help to insulate NASA supersize Space Launch System

To keep rockets from getting too hot during the extreme temperatures of launch, insulation is essential — but it's not always easy to fit it into a spacecraft's cramped machinery.



  • 3D Printing Applications

mold

Moldex-Metric, Inc. v. McKeon Products, Inc.

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Reversing the district court's summary judgment in favor of the defendant in a suit for trademark infringement relating to foam earplugs in a specific bright green color used by the plaintiffs in their earplugs because the district court's conclusion that the green color mark was functional and therefore not protectable as trade dress was in error. The existence or nonexistence of alternative designs is probative of functionality or nonfunctionality and a genuine issue of fact regarding whether the color was functional remained.




mold

Contour Design, Inc. v. Chance Mold Steel Co., Ltd.

(United States First Circuit) - In dispute arising from a district court order preliminarily enjoining defendants from misappropriating plaintiff's trade secrets by selling computer mouse products similar to or derived from those made by plaintiff, order is affirmed where court properly upheld the validity of a non-disclosure agreement between the parties.




mold

Contour Design, Inc. v. Chance Mold Steel Co., Ltd.

(United States First Circuit) - In an action for trade secret misappropriation and breach of contract, involving certain ergonomic computer mouse products, district court's judgment is: 1) reversed where the it erred in extending the injunction to defendant's ErgoRoller product because the record does not support the finding that defendant breached the NDA in producing this product; 2) affirmed where it did not err in the duration of the injunction as applied to the other enjoined products; and 3) affirmed where it did not err in jury instructions on lost profits, as but for the breach, plaintiff could have recovered the lost profits by employing another company to manufacture the products and selling them.




mold

Moldex-Metric, Inc. v. McKeon Products, Inc.

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Reversing the district court's summary judgment in favor of the defendant in a suit for trademark infringement relating to foam earplugs in a specific bright green color used by the plaintiffs in their earplugs because the district court's conclusion that the green color mark was functional and therefore not protectable as trade dress was in error. The existence or nonexistence of alternative designs is probative of functionality or nonfunctionality and a genuine issue of fact regarding whether the color was functional remained.




mold

Mold Inspection and Testing Service

Mold is a fungus with the Ability to flourish in just about any circumstance. While found almost everywhere in nature, mold can cause serious problems when found in residential areas and must be quarantined and removed as soon as possible.… Continue Reading




mold

Landlord Tries To Keep Tenants In Mold House

Man, this landlord sounds like a particularly unpleasant human being. The guy continued to ignore the completely reasonable series of requests/complaints from the girls that were living in the property. Well, they certainly taught him a lesson. They ultimately engineered his demise by putting together a mold test that showed they were living in a pit of unwanted mold. Mold is no joke, man! 

Check out another landlord revenge story over here, with the time a tyrannical landlord tried to scam tenants and was dealt justice.




mold

Moldova timeline

A chronology of key dates




mold

Country profile: Moldova

Key facts, figures and dates




mold

AT#686 - Travel to Moldova

Hear about travel to Moldova as the Amateur Traveler talks to Christina Lutcan from findingelevation.com about her country of origin.




mold

CBD News: France, Mali, the Netherlands, the Republic of Moldova and Sweden are the latest countries to ratify the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization, bringing the t




mold

Political Will Was Not Enough for Justice Reform in Moldova

27 November 2019

Cristina Gherasimov

Former Academy Associate, Russia and Eurasia Programme
The pro-reform Sandu government had the will to dismantle oligarchic power structures, but was taken down by limited political experience.

2019-11-26-Sandu.jpg

Maia Sandu in Germany in July. Photo: Getty Images.

The lack of political will to carry out rule of law reforms is frequently the reason why reforms are not fully implemented. The case of Moldova proves that in societies where strong vested interests still persist, political savviness is equally as important as political will.

Old and new political power brokers in Moldova struck a fragile pact in June to oust Vladimir Plahotniuc. Plahotniuc had built a network of corruption and patronage with the help of the Democratic Party, which he treated as a personal vehicle and which allowed him and a small economic elite circle to enrich themselves off of government institutions and state-owned enterprises, to the detriment of Moldovan citizens and the health of their political process.

Maia Sandu, co-leader of the pro-reform ACUM electoral bloc, then formed a technocratic government with a remit to implement Moldova’s lagging reform agenda. Though made up of ministers with the integrity and political will to implement difficult transformational reforms, its biggest weakness was its coalition partner – the pro-Russian Socialists’ Party and its informal leader, Igor Dodon, the president of Moldova.

Now the Socialists – threatened by how key reforms to the justice system would impact their interests – have joined forces with Plahotniuc’s former allies, the Democratic Party, to oust ACUM, exploiting the party’s lack of political savviness. 

Reform interrupted

It was always clear the coalition would be short-lived. President Dodon and the co-ruling Socialists joined to buy themselves time, with the hope that they could restrict the most far-reaching reforms and tie the hands of ACUM ministers. In less than five months, however, the Sandu government initiated key reforms in the judicial system, aimed at dismantling Plahotniuc’s networks of patronage but also impacting the Socialists, who to a large degree also profited from the previous status quo.

The red line came over a last-minute change in the selection process of the prosecutor general proposed by Sandu on 6 November, which the Socialists claimed was unconstitutional and gave them the justification to put forward a motion of no confidence in the Sandu government. This was conveniently supported by the Democratic Party, who appeared threatened by an independent prosecutor’s office and saw an opportunity to return to power.

Thus, the political will to reform proved insufficient in the absence of a clear strategy on how to address the concerns of the old regime that they would be prosecuted and their vested interests threatened. Here, ACUM’s lack of political experience let them down. With their hands tied from the beginning in a fragile coalition with the Socialists, ACUM were unable to prevent sabotage from within state institutions and their own coalition, and could not find consensus to proceed with more radical methods to tackle corruption.

Less than two days after the Sandu government was out, a new government was sworn in on 14 November. Prime Minister Ion Chicu was an adviser to President Dodon before taking office and former minister of finance under the Plahotniuc-backed government of Pavel Filip, as part of a cabinet of ministers consisting largely of other presidential advisers and former high-level bureaucrats and ministers from the Plahotniuc era. 

The new government

A top priority for the Chicu government is to convince the international community that it is independent from President Dodon, and that its ‘technocrats’ will keep the course of reforms of the Sandu government. This is critical to preserving the financial assistance of Western partners, which the Moldovan government heavily relies on, particularly with a presidential election campaign next year, when they will likely want to create fiscal space for various giveaways to voters.

But within its first week in office, Chicu appears incapable of walking this line. Reverting to the initially proposed pre-selection process of prosecutor general signals that the post could be filled by a loyal appointee of President Dodon. Moreover, Chicu’s first visit abroad was to Russia, allegedly a major financial contributor of the Socialists’ Party. With the Socialists now holding the presidency, government, Chisinau mayoralty, and the parliament speaker’s seat, the danger of an increased Russian influence on key political decisions is very real.

A government steered by President Dodon risks bringing Moldova back to where it was before June, with a political elite mimicking reforms while misusing power for private gains. The biggest danger is that instead of continuing the reform process to bring Moldova back on its European integration path, the new government may focus on strengthening the old patronage system, this time with President Dodon at the top of the pyramid.

Lessons

This new minority government, supported by the Democrats, is a more natural one for President Dodon and therefore has more chances to survive, at least until presidential elections in autumn of 2020. Both the Socialists and the Democrats will likely seek to use this time to rebuild their own methods of capturing state resources. But with the Socialists relying on the Democrats’ votes in parliament, this is a recipe for further political instability.

Similar to Moldova, several other states across the post-Soviet space such as Ukraine and Armenia have had new political forces come to power with the political will and mandate to carry out difficult reforms to strengthen rule of law and fight systemic corruption in their countries. What they all have in common is the lack of political experience of how to create change, while old elites, used to thinking on their feet to defend their vested interests, retain their connections and economic and political influence.

Moldova is a good example of why political will needs to be backed up by clear strategy on how to deal with threatened vested interests in order for new political forces to be able to maintain themselves in power and reforms to be sustainable. When the chance comes again for fresh leaders to come to power, it is importantthey are politically prepared to use it swiftly and wisely.




mold

Moldova in 2020 and Beyond: Challenges Ahead

Invitation Only Research Event

5 March 2020 - 2:00pm to 3:30pm

Chatham House | 10 St James's Square | London | SW1Y 4LE

Event participants

Maia Sandu, President, Action and Solidarity Party; Prime Minister of Moldova (June-November 2019)
Chair: Cristina Gherasimov, Research Fellow, German Council on Foreign Relations; Academy Associate, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House
 

After a tumultuous 2019 when Moldova witnessed the end of the Plahotniuc era, the country seems bound for an equally difficult year ahead.
 
Increasing international isolation, a temporary working coalition between the Socialists and the Democrats, concentration of power and resources in the hands of President Igor Dodon, and presidential elections in autumn are among the ordeals to be discussed at this event. Ms Sandu will assess how Moldova can move beyond these challenges and return to a path for sustainable democratic reform. 

Department/project

Anna Morgan

Administrator, Ukraine Forum
+44 (0)20 7389 3274




mold

Political Will Was Not Enough for Justice Reform in Moldova

27 November 2019

Cristina Gherasimov

Former Academy Associate, Russia and Eurasia Programme
The pro-reform Sandu government had the will to dismantle oligarchic power structures, but was taken down by limited political experience.

2019-11-26-Sandu.jpg

Maia Sandu in Germany in July. Photo: Getty Images.

The lack of political will to carry out rule of law reforms is frequently the reason why reforms are not fully implemented. The case of Moldova proves that in societies where strong vested interests still persist, political savviness is equally as important as political will.

Old and new political power brokers in Moldova struck a fragile pact in June to oust Vladimir Plahotniuc. Plahotniuc had built a network of corruption and patronage with the help of the Democratic Party, which he treated as a personal vehicle and which allowed him and a small economic elite circle to enrich themselves off of government institutions and state-owned enterprises, to the detriment of Moldovan citizens and the health of their political process.

Maia Sandu, co-leader of the pro-reform ACUM electoral bloc, then formed a technocratic government with a remit to implement Moldova’s lagging reform agenda. Though made up of ministers with the integrity and political will to implement difficult transformational reforms, its biggest weakness was its coalition partner – the pro-Russian Socialists’ Party and its informal leader, Igor Dodon, the president of Moldova.

Now the Socialists – threatened by how key reforms to the justice system would impact their interests – have joined forces with Plahotniuc’s former allies, the Democratic Party, to oust ACUM, exploiting the party’s lack of political savviness. 

Reform interrupted

It was always clear the coalition would be short-lived. President Dodon and the co-ruling Socialists joined to buy themselves time, with the hope that they could restrict the most far-reaching reforms and tie the hands of ACUM ministers. In less than five months, however, the Sandu government initiated key reforms in the judicial system, aimed at dismantling Plahotniuc’s networks of patronage but also impacting the Socialists, who to a large degree also profited from the previous status quo.

The red line came over a last-minute change in the selection process of the prosecutor general proposed by Sandu on 6 November, which the Socialists claimed was unconstitutional and gave them the justification to put forward a motion of no confidence in the Sandu government. This was conveniently supported by the Democratic Party, who appeared threatened by an independent prosecutor’s office and saw an opportunity to return to power.

Thus, the political will to reform proved insufficient in the absence of a clear strategy on how to address the concerns of the old regime that they would be prosecuted and their vested interests threatened. Here, ACUM’s lack of political experience let them down. With their hands tied from the beginning in a fragile coalition with the Socialists, ACUM were unable to prevent sabotage from within state institutions and their own coalition, and could not find consensus to proceed with more radical methods to tackle corruption.

Less than two days after the Sandu government was out, a new government was sworn in on 14 November. Prime Minister Ion Chicu was an adviser to President Dodon before taking office and former minister of finance under the Plahotniuc-backed government of Pavel Filip, as part of a cabinet of ministers consisting largely of other presidential advisers and former high-level bureaucrats and ministers from the Plahotniuc era. 

The new government

A top priority for the Chicu government is to convince the international community that it is independent from President Dodon, and that its ‘technocrats’ will keep the course of reforms of the Sandu government. This is critical to preserving the financial assistance of Western partners, which the Moldovan government heavily relies on, particularly with a presidential election campaign next year, when they will likely want to create fiscal space for various giveaways to voters.

But within its first week in office, Chicu appears incapable of walking this line. Reverting to the initially proposed pre-selection process of prosecutor general signals that the post could be filled by a loyal appointee of President Dodon. Moreover, Chicu’s first visit abroad was to Russia, allegedly a major financial contributor of the Socialists’ Party. With the Socialists now holding the presidency, government, Chisinau mayoralty, and the parliament speaker’s seat, the danger of an increased Russian influence on key political decisions is very real.

A government steered by President Dodon risks bringing Moldova back to where it was before June, with a political elite mimicking reforms while misusing power for private gains. The biggest danger is that instead of continuing the reform process to bring Moldova back on its European integration path, the new government may focus on strengthening the old patronage system, this time with President Dodon at the top of the pyramid.

Lessons

This new minority government, supported by the Democrats, is a more natural one for President Dodon and therefore has more chances to survive, at least until presidential elections in autumn of 2020. Both the Socialists and the Democrats will likely seek to use this time to rebuild their own methods of capturing state resources. But with the Socialists relying on the Democrats’ votes in parliament, this is a recipe for further political instability.

Similar to Moldova, several other states across the post-Soviet space such as Ukraine and Armenia have had new political forces come to power with the political will and mandate to carry out difficult reforms to strengthen rule of law and fight systemic corruption in their countries. What they all have in common is the lack of political experience of how to create change, while old elites, used to thinking on their feet to defend their vested interests, retain their connections and economic and political influence.

Moldova is a good example of why political will needs to be backed up by clear strategy on how to deal with threatened vested interests in order for new political forces to be able to maintain themselves in power and reforms to be sustainable. When the chance comes again for fresh leaders to come to power, it is importantthey are politically prepared to use it swiftly and wisely.




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Moldova in 2020 and Beyond: Challenges Ahead

Invitation Only Research Event

5 March 2020 - 2:00pm to 3:30pm

Chatham House | 10 St James's Square | London | SW1Y 4LE

Event participants

Maia Sandu, President, Action and Solidarity Party; Prime Minister of Moldova (June-November 2019)
Chair: Cristina Gherasimov, Research Fellow, German Council on Foreign Relations; Academy Associate, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House
 

After a tumultuous 2019 when Moldova witnessed the end of the Plahotniuc era, the country seems bound for an equally difficult year ahead.
 
Increasing international isolation, a temporary working coalition between the Socialists and the Democrats, concentration of power and resources in the hands of President Igor Dodon, and presidential elections in autumn are among the ordeals to be discussed at this event. Ms Sandu will assess how Moldova can move beyond these challenges and return to a path for sustainable democratic reform. 

Department/project

Anna Morgan

Administrator, Ukraine Forum
+44 (0)20 7389 3274




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Wounded feet, healed heart - Moldova

Their desire to help leads a Love Moldova outreach team to a woman whose loss of her toes leads to the salvation of her soul.




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Ceramic Cup Plaster Mold Tutorial

This SOLIDWORKS Tutorial for a Ceramic Cup Plaster Mold walks you through start to finish of the process of creating a model for a plaster mold and a 3 part cup mold. The tutorial focuses on copying bodies and combing them with each other to finish the tutorial with a 3 piece mold. The final ceramic cup is available to download in the description.

Author information

I am a 3D Designer and Solidworks Blog Contributor from the UK. I am a self taught Solidworks user, and have been using it to inform and create my designs since 2012. I specialise in the design of Ceramics, Home Accessories and Wooden Toy Design.

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