The present invention relates to micro-/nanostructured compound-eye arrays and fabrication method thereof, and discloses a fabrication method and applications for the molded polymer parts with the micro-/nanostructured compound-eye arrays on their surfaces, which exhibit both hydrophobicity and light trapping. The fabrication method for the molded polymer parts with the micro-/nanostructured compound-eye arrays includes following steps. A flexible microlens array template is assembled; the flexible microlens array template is fixed on an injection mold cavity, and a polymer part with microlens arrays distributing on its surface is molded by using injection molding; the microlens arrays on the molded polymer part are imprinted onto the surface of an ultra-pure aluminum foil, nanopores are formed on its surface via anode oxidation, and so an aluminum template with negative micro-/nanostructured compound-eye arrays is fabricated; the aluminum template is fixed on an injection mold cavity, and a polymer part with micro-/nanostructured compound-eye arrays distributing on its surface is molded by using injection molding. The dual-level compound-eye arrays (orderly distributed convex semi-sphere microlens and densely distributed nanopillars) are developed on the surface of the molded polymer part, which exhibits both hydrophobicity and light trapping.

A preparation method of a bionic adhesive material with a tip-expanded microstructural array includes the following steps: machining through-holes on a metal sheet; modifying morphology of a through-hole by electroplating, using the metal sheet in step 1 as an electroplating cathode, and arranging the electroplating cathode and an electroplating anode in parallel to prepare a hyperboloid-like through-hole array assembly, fitting a lower surface of the hyperboloid-like through-hole array assembly tightly to an upper surface of a substrate assembly to prepare a through-hole assembly of a mold; and filling the mold assembly with a polymer, curing, and demolding to obtain the adhesive material with the tip-expanded microstructural array.

A micro-structured mold-core of a microfluidic chip and its manufacturing method, which includes the steps of: installing a mold-core on a worktable of a five-axis machining center, and installing a micro-milling cutter and a fine milling-grinding tool on a tool holder of the five-axis machining center; rough-milling a surface of the mold-core using the micro-milling cutter according to a preset first machining track, to form a micro-projection array structure with a specific shape; finishing a surface of the micro-projection array structure formed by rough-milling using the fine milling-grinding tool according to a preset second machining track, to form a desired micro-projection array structure; and installing the mold-core on an injection molding machine, and adding particle material of polymer for micro injection molding to form a microfluidic chip, or installing the mold-core on a hot-embossing machine, and adding block material of polymer for hot embossing to form a microfluidic chip.

A method is provided for configuring fluid in a programable fluid array which includes applying a sequence of magnetic fields to a movable fluidic network component; which includes a magnetic object to produce a force on the component. In one arrangement the fluid array includes a plurality of pre-formed channels and at least one property of at least one of said pre-formed channels is changed by the movable fluidic network component in another arrangement the fluid array comprises an injection molding system where the programmable fluid array is used to improve the speed and accuracy of the injection molding process and/or to additionally modify the shape and form of a molded object. In this arrangement the fluidic network component follows a path through the mold cavity determined at least in part by a sequence of magnetic fields and exerts a force on molding material therein.

A method is disclosed for micro-molding articles. The method comprises melting and pre-pressurizing thermoplastic material to a first level, within a plasticizing barrel. The melt pressure of the thermoplastic material is manipulated to a second level, within a hot runner. The melt pressure of the thermoplastic material is manipulated to an ultra-cavity packing pressure within a valve gate nozzle.

A method is disclosed for producing thin-walled small plastic parts having an average wall thickness of less than about 1.5 mm, wherein the small plastic parts are produced in a plastic injection-molding method from polyethylene furanoate (PEF) having a viscosity of, for example, 0.3 dl/g to 0.7 dl/g, for example, preferably less than e.g., 0.6 dl/g, measured according to a measurement method as per ASTM D4603, which polyethylene furanoate has an exemplary water content of less than 100 ppm in the plastic injection process.

Provided herein is a cell macroencapsulation device composed of hydrogel in a 3D conformation that optimizes encapsulated cell viability and function when transplanted into a vascularized tissue space. The hydrogel macroencapsulation device is intended to reduce or eliminate immune response to the cell graft, while allowing exchange of encapsulated cell-secreted products, such as insulin. Also described herein is an injection-mold and fabrication process to generate the hydrogel macroencapsulation devices for use in the clinic.

Apparatus and methods are described including a progressive lens that is configured to provide a far-vision correction and a near-vision correction. The progressive lens includes a single-focus, far-vision corrective lens that is configured to provide only a portion of the far-vision correction, and a film coupled to the single-focus, far-vision corrective lens. The film defines a far-vision corrective portion that is configured to provide the remainder of the far-vision correction, a near-vision corrective portion that is configured to provide additive near-vision correction, and an intermediate portion in which the film transitions between the far-vision corrective portion and the near-vision corrective portion. Other applications are also described.

A method of manufacturing a microfluidic or microtiter device, the method comprises fabricating, by a single compression injection molding operation, a microfluidic or microtiter device having one or more indentations, in which a base thickness of the one or more indentations is less than 400 m. In embodiments, the fabricating step comprises: forming a mold cavity; filling the mold cavity with molten material; closing the mold cavity; and driving one or more molding formations complementary to the one or more indentations into the mold cavity.

A micro moulding machine and process for forming small plastic parts for the medical device industry. The machine adds heat in two steps to a precision sized plastic pellet and then displaces the entire pellet volume into the mould cavity. A substantial amount of heat is added to the pellet by forcing it through an orifice very near the gate of the mould. The pneumatic pressure to drive the pellet through the orifice is controlled to regulate the amount of heat introduced into the pellet.