Buffing of a footwear component allows for an alteration of the component surface to achieve an intended surface for aesthetics and/or manufacturing purposes. The buffing is performed in a system having a vision module, a sidewall buffing module, an up surface buffing module, and a down surface buffing module. Each of the buffing modules are adapted for the unique shape and sizes of a footwear component to effectively and automatically buff the footwear component.

Buffing of a footwear component allows for an alteration of the component surface to achieve an intended surface for aesthetics and/or manufacturing purposes. The buffing is performed in a system having a vision module, a sidewall buffing module, an up surface buffing module, and a down surface buffing module. Each of the buffing modules are adapted for the unique shape and sizes of a footwear component to effectively and automatically buff the footwear component.

Buffing of a footwear component allows for an alteration of the component surface to achieve an intended surface for aesthetics and/or manufacturing purposes. The buffing is performed in a system having a vision module, a sidewall buffing module, an up surface buffing module, and a down surface buffing module. Each of the buffing modules are adapted for the unique shape and sizes of a footwear component to effectively and automatically buff the footwear component.

Buffing of a footwear component allows for an alteration of the component surface to achieve an intended surface for aesthetics and/or manufacturing purposes. The buffing is performed in a system having a vision module, a sidewall buffing module, an up surface buffing module, and a down surface buffing module. Each of the buffing modules are adapted for the unique shape and sizes of a footwear component to effectively and automatically buff the footwear component.

A printing apparatus for printing onto a surface of a previously made three-dimensional article consists of a printing head which is stationary in at least two dimensions, and a controllably movable holder that grips the article and moves the article around the printing head to present parts of the three dimensional possibly contoured surface in a printing order to a preset printing position under the printing head as the printing head prints onto said surface.

A method for printing on an article can include positioning an article in a print bed of a printing device. The fiducial is disposed in the print bed. The method can also include generating an image of the article and the fiducial, locating the fiducial in the image, using the fiducial to establish a point of reference relative to a print location on the article, providing a raster or vector graphic file comprising a graphic, printing a representation of the graphic on the article at the print location, and removing the article from the print bed.

A method for printing on an article can include positioning an article in a print bed of a printing device. The fiducial is disposed in the print bed. The method can also include generating an image of the article and the fiducial, locating the fiducial in the image, using the fiducial to establish a point of reference relative to a print location on the article, providing a raster or vector graphic file comprising a graphic, printing a representation of the graphic on the article at the print location, and removing the article from the print bed.

A method of lasting an upper for an article of footwear can include inserting a last in a collapsed state into an upper. The last can include at least two parts movable relative to each other so as to allow the last to be collapsed along a substantially longitudinal direction from an extended state to the collapsed state. The last can also include at least one fastener configured for attaching string and configured to hold string in the collapsed state and in the extended state of the last. The method can further include attaching the upper to the fastener using at least one string and extending the last. For example, the act of extending the last may increase tension in the string in a manner that draws the upper about the last.

A method for printing on an article can include selecting a shape model. The shape model is generated from a first image and includes a fiducial, a reference location, and a graphic marker, the fiducial is located in the first image. The reference location is based on a location of the fiducial in the first image, and the graphic marker is positioned at a pre-selected location relative to the reference location. The method can also include locating the fiducial in a second image of an article, by a computing device, establishing the reference location in the second image of the article, positioning the graphic marker within the second image of the article at the pre-selected location, and printing a graphic on the article at a graphic location, the graphic location on the article corresponds to the pre-selected location of the graphic marker on the second image of the article.

A method for printing on an article can include selecting a shape model. The shape model is generated from a first image and includes a fiducial, a reference location, and a graphic marker, the fiducial is located in the first image. The reference location is based on a location of the fiducial in the first image, and the graphic marker is positioned at a pre-selected location relative to the reference location. The method can also include locating the fiducial in a second image of an article, by a computing device, establishing the reference location in the second image of the article, positioning the graphic marker within the second image of the article at the pre-selected location, and printing a graphic on the article at a graphic location, the graphic location on the article corresponds to the pre-selected location of the graphic marker on the second image of the article.