A molding device and a molding method are provided. The molding device includes an upper molding assembly and a lower molding assembly. The upper molding assembly includes an upper molding plate and a plurality of positioning columns disposed thereon. The mold core and a plurality of matching columns surrounding the mold core are disposed at the same side of the upper molding plate. The lower molding assembly includes a lower molding plate and at least one formation mold, wherein the lower molding plate has at least one accommodating groove, a plurality of matching grooves and a plurality of positioning holes surrounding the accommodating groove. The formation mold is disposed in the accommodating groove, and the formation mold has a formation cavity corresponding to the mold core. Each positioning column is disposed respectively into each positioning hole, and each matching column is disposed respectively into each matching groove.

A method for producing a glass article from a glass member including a glass substrate including a first main surface, a second main surface and an end face, and an irregular layer formed in at least one of main surfaces, includes forming an irregular layer having a glass transition point Tg which is equal to or lower than a glass transition point in a central part of the glass member in a thickness-direction sectional view and performing a heat treatment on the glass member so as to have an equilibrium viscosity in the central part of the glass member in thickness-direction sectional view of 10.sup.17 Pa.Math.s or lower.

A manufacturing method of 3D glass includes steps of precutting and drilling a 2D glass substrate by means of perfect laser cleaving and using a complex molding equipment to process and mold a 3D glass object with 3D curved structure. By means of the manufacturing method of 3D glass, the structural strength of the 3D glass object is enhanced. In addition, a 3D glass product with special surface texture or morphology can be produced. Also, the defective ratio in the manufacturing process can be lowered.

A tooling for forming a sheet of glass includes a forming die made of electrically conductive material and a heating unit, distant from the forming die. The forming die includes a molding surface, a support to hold a sheet of glass away from and opposite the molding surface, and an induction circuit having an inductor extending in a cavity in the forming die. The heating unit includes a surface configured to produce thermal radiation opposite the molding surface, and an induction circuit having an inductor extending in a cavity of the heating unit. A connector connects the induction circuits to a high-frequency current generator.

In illustrative implementations of this invention, a crucible kiln heats glass such that the glass becomes or remains molten. A nozzle extrudes the molten glass while one or more actuators actuate movements of the nozzle, a build platform or both. A computer controls these movements such that the extruded molten glass is selectively deposited to form a 3D glass object. The selective deposition of molten glass occurs inside an annealing kiln. The annealing kiln anneals the glass after it is extruded. In some cases, the actuators actuate the crucible kiln and nozzle to move in horizontal x, y directions and actuate the build platform to move in a z-direction. In some cases, fluid flows through a cavity or tubes adjacent to the nozzle tip, in order to cool the nozzle tip and thereby reduce the amount of glass that sticks to the nozzle tip.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for modifying the shape of a hollow structure. The method may comprise steps of providing a hollow structure having a cross-section with first and second diameters defining a first aspect ratio; heating at least a part of the hollow structure to at least its glass transition temperature, forming a malleable hollow structure; maintaining a positive pressure inside the malleable hollow structure to form a pressurized hollow structure; and pressing against a first side and an opposed second side of a heated part of the pressurized hollow structure, forming a hollow tabular structure having first and second opposed generally flat faces and a second aspect ratio greater than the first aspect ratio.

Provided is apparatus for fabricating materials, including: a first mold including a first forming unit pressing a first material, and a second forming mold arranged at a bottom surface of the first forming unit to have an opening exposing the first material and to form at least a part of the first material by being meshed at a part with the first forming unit; a second mold arranged at a bottom surface of the first mold to support a second material; and an interlocking mold including a fixing unit interposed between the first and second molds to fix the second material arranged at the second mold by pressing the second material, and an interlocking unit ascendably and descendibly coupled to the fixing unit to form the second material by pressing the second material in association with the forming of the first material.

A glass sheet used in the making of an aircraft windshield is shaped using the cut-to-size method instead of the out-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 mold which is made of a porous heat-resistant material comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. A plurality of light guide spots are formed on the first surface. The light guide spots are light guide spots. The first surface is a smooth polished surface, the mold enables direct manufacture of light guide plates for less heat expended.

A device for bending sheets of glass running between a bed of upper rolls and a bed of lower rolls forming a shaping bed that pinches the sheets as they run, the shaping bed being disposed in a path having a curved profile in the running direction of the sheets of glass, the shaping bed including at least one roll of what is known as the rod/sheath type including a fixed metal rod preformed in a curved profile lengthwise and a flexible sheath that is able to rotate about the rod, the sheath being rotated about the rod. The roll of the rod/sheath type may include a metal rod preformed in a curved profile lengthwise and a flexible sheath that is able to rotate about the rod, the sheath including a first envelope made of a polymer material and a second envelope made of a flexible metal material disposed around the first envelope, the first and the second envelope rotating together as one.