A method of forming an opaque quartz glass component is provided. The method includes (a) providing a starting preform made of quartz glass; (b) heating at least a portion of the starting preform to a predetermined temperature at which the quartz glass of the starting preform has a viscosity in a range of 10E2 to 10E12 poise; and (c) deforming at least a portion of the heated preform at the predetermined temperature to change a shape and/or dimension(s) of the heated perform in order to form the opaque quartz glass component. The starting preform and the heated preform have respective densities of at least 2.15 g/cm.sup.3 and at least 2.10 g/cm.sup.3. The starting perform and the opaque quartz glass component have respective direct spectral transmissions of approximately 0.1-1% and 0.2-3% in the wavelength range of λ=190 nm to λ=4990 nm at a wall thickness of 3 mm and a diffuse reflectance of at least 60% in a wavelength range of λ=190 nm to λ=2500 nm.

A glass sheet used in the making of an aircraft windshield is shaped using the “cut-to-size” method instead of the “cut-after-bend” method. In a preferred aspect of the invention the “cut-to-size” method is practiced using a bending iron having a sheet shaping rail having a stationary shaping rail portion mounted on a support member and an articulating shaping rail portion pivotally mounted on the support member for movement from a non-shaping position to a shaping position.

A method for producing long-term bendable glass material includes: bending a glass material in a bending radius in a range of 1 mm to 10.sup.7 mm; storing the bent glass material for a time period of at least 1 day; inspecting at least a portion of the bent glass material for damage after the storing; and classifying the inspected bent glass material as a reject if damage is detected or as a long-term bendable glass material if no damage is detected.

A method of manufacturing a sheet of glass comprises: (a) forming a vertically oriented ribbon of glass that moves downward as a function of time, the ribbon of glass having a first primary surface and a second primary surface that face in generally opposite directions and a core disposed between the first and second primary surfaces; (b) as the ribbon of glass moves downward, passing the ribbon of glass adjacent to a first raised temperature zone liquefies the first primary surface while a temperature of the core remains below a softening temperature; and (c) after the ribbon of glass moves below the first raised temperature zone, separating a sheet of glass from the ribbon of glass. Passing the ribbon of glass adjacent the first raised temperature zone reduces total thickness variation, surface roughness, and other surface defects of the ribbon of glass.

Techniques for making glass components for electronic devices are disclosed. The techniques disclosed herein can be used to modify a glass workpiece to form a three-dimensional glass component, such as a glass cover member. The techniques may involve reshaping the glass workpiece, fusing glass layers of the workpiece, or combinations of these. Glass components and electronic devices including these components are also disclosed.

A shaped article can include a substrate formed from a glass material, a glass ceramic material, or a combination thereof and a cavity formed in the substrate. A sidewall of the cavity can have a random textured surface with a surface roughness of less than or equal to 300 nm. A method of machining a protrusion in a graphite block can include translating a cutting tool in a first longitudinal direction toward the graphite block to engage the graphite block with the cutting tool while rotating the cutting tool about a rotational axis without translating the cutting tool in a lateral direction, then translating the cutting tool in a second longitudinal direction away from the graphite block without translating the cutting tool in the lateral direction to disengage the cutting tool from the graphite block. A shaped article can be formed by pressing a preform with a monolithic graphite mold.

In a fabricating method for a quartz vial having a body part for containing a substance, a bottom part closing a lower end of the body part, a cylindrical neck part disposed at an upper end of the body part, a cylindrical mouth part disposed above the neck part and having an outer diameter larger than that of the neck part, and a tapered portion connecting the mouth part and the neck part to each other, outer peripheral surfaces of the tapered portion and the neck part are formed by shaving, and the body part that is separately fabricated is welded to the neck part. Thus, quartz vials having a predetermined shape can be mass-fabricated.

Provided is a method that can manufacture a glass material having excellent homogeneity by containerless levitation. With a block (12) of glass raw material held levitated above a forming surface (10a) of a forming die (10) by jetting gas through a gas jet hole (10b) opening on the forming surface (10a), the block (12) of glass raw material is heated and melted by irradiation with laser beam, thus obtaining a molten glass, and the molten glass is then cooled to obtain a glass material. Control gas is jetted to the block (12) of glass raw material along a direction different from a direction of jetting of the levitation gas for use in levitating the block (12) of glass raw material or the molten glass.

Provided is a method that can manufacture a glass material having excellent homogeneity by containerless levitation. With a block (12) of glass raw material held levitated above a forming surface (10a) of a forming die (10) by jetting gas through a gas jet hole (10b) opening on the forming surface (10a), the block (12) of glass raw material is heated and melted by irradiation with laser beam, thus obtaining a molten glass, and the molten glass is then cooled to obtain a glass material. Control gas is jetted to the block (12) of glass raw material along a direction different from a direction of jetting of the levitation gas for use in levitating the block (12) of glass raw material or the molten glass.

In some examples, a feedthrough assembly for a medical device may include a ferrule. The ferrule defines an aperture extending through the ferrule from an outer end surface defined by the ferrule to an end inner end surface defined by the ferrule. The aperture includes a first portion having a first diameter and a second portion having a second diameter less than the first diameter. The aperture defines a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and the ferrule defines a ledge between the first and second portions of the aperture that extends radially inward toward the longitudinal axis. The feedthrough assembly further may include a conductive pin within the aperture and an insulating member surrounding at least a portion of the pin. The insulating member may electrically insulate the conductive pin from the ferrule, and the ledge and a surface of the insulating member adjacent the ledge may define a space therebetween.