A method for molding a composite material in which a curved corner is formed between two planes by using a molding jig includes: shaping a laminated body in such a manner that a thickness of the laminated body is decreased from an outer side toward an inner side of the corner, by using the molding jig in which the angle formed by the two planes is a first bending angle, the laminated body including fiber sheets laminated so as to have the corner curved at the first bending angle; and shaping the laminated body in such a manner that the thickness is decreased from the outer side toward the inner side by curving the corner so as to form a second bending angle, by using the molding jig in which the angle formed by the two planes is the second bending angle smaller than the first bending angle.

A method for molding a composite material in which a curved corner is formed between two planes by using a molding jig includes: shaping a laminated body in such a manner that a thickness of the laminated body is decreased from an outer side toward an inner side of the corner, by using the molding jig in which the angle formed by the two planes is a first bending angle, the laminated body including fiber sheets laminated so as to have the corner curved at the first bending angle; and shaping the laminated body in such a manner that the thickness is decreased from the outer side toward the inner side by curving the corner so as to form a second bending angle, by using the molding jig in which the angle formed by the two planes is the second bending angle smaller than the first bending angle.

The first aspect of the present invention provides a foamed structure, comprising: a first foamed body extending in a first direction; a second foamed body extending in the first direction and facing the first foamed body with a gap interposed therebetween; and a reinforcement disposed in the gap between the first foamed body and the second foamed body, the reinforcement having an elongated shape, wherein the first foamed body has a portion overlapping with the second foamed body in the first direction view.

A method for printing on a multi-dimensional object may include creating a customized object holder for the multi-dimensional object by heating a thermoforming sheet to a thermoforming temperature, molding the heated thermoforming sheet around at least a portion of a multi-dimensional object to form a holding portion for the multi-dimensional object, creating one or more printable areas on the molded thermoforming sheet, and applying one or more datum points on the molded thermoformed sheet. The one or more datum points may be configured to provide information relating to position of the one or more printable areas to a print system.

A method for printing on a multi-dimensional object may include creating a customized object holder for the multi-dimensional object by heating a thermoforming sheet to a thermoforming temperature, molding the heated thermoforming sheet around at least a portion of a multi-dimensional object to form a holding portion for the multi-dimensional object, creating one or more printable areas on the molded thermoforming sheet, and applying one or more datum points on the molded thermoformed sheet. The one or more datum points may be configured to provide information relating to position of the one or more printable areas to a print system.

A luggage shell fabrication method includes the step of making a thermoplastic sheet into a shell using a vacuum molding method, the step of placing the shell in a female mold area of a heating mold, the step of applying a molten thermosetting plastic layer to the inner surface of the shell; and the step of pressing the thermosetting plastic layer toward the inner surface of the shell and simultaneously heating the molten thermosetting plastic layer and the shell for causing the shell and the thermosetting plastic layer to be combined with each other to form a luggage shell.

A luggage shell fabrication method includes the step of making a thermoplastic sheet into a shell using a vacuum molding method, the step of placing the shell in a female mold area of a heating mold, the step of applying a molten thermosetting plastic layer to the inner surface of the shell; and the step of pressing the thermosetting plastic layer toward the inner surface of the shell and simultaneously heating the molten thermosetting plastic layer and the shell for causing the shell and the thermosetting plastic layer to be combined with each other to form a luggage shell.

Composite structures and methods of forming composite structures are provided. The composite structures can include one or more composite structure components. Each composite structure component is formed from a composite panel that includes one or more sheets of material. The sheets of material include a thermoplastic material and a plurality of reinforcing fibers. A composite panel can be formed in three dimensions to form a composite structure component. Multiple composite structure components can be fused to one another to form a composite structure. In addition, each composite structure component and the composite structure formed therefrom can include an aperture. An interior volume can be formed between adjacent composite structure components. Methods for forming a composite structure can include a step of simultaneously molding and fusing composite structure components.

A method for manufacturing keycaps of a capped keyboard apparatus is disclosed. The proposed method includes: (a) providing a cover layer and plural keycap main bodies, wherein the cover layer includes plural units, and each the unit has an upper surface with a character; (b) putting the plural keycap main bodies on a fixture; (c) shaping the cover layer on the fixture and attaching each the unit to a corresponding one of the plural keycap main bodies; and (d) cutting the cover layer to obtain plural keycaps independent of one another.

A method for manufacturing keycaps of a capped keyboard apparatus is disclosed. The proposed method includes: (a) providing a cover layer and plural keycap main bodies, wherein the cover layer includes plural units, and each the unit has an upper surface with a character; (b) putting the plural keycap main bodies on a fixture; (c) shaping the cover layer on the fixture and attaching each the unit to a corresponding one of the plural keycap main bodies; and (d) cutting the cover layer to obtain plural keycaps independent of one another.