An expansion apparatus includes: a first expander for irradiating with electromagnetic waves emitted from a lamp a thermal conversion layer for conversion of the electromagnetic waves to heat, to cause at least a portion of a thermal expansion layer to expand, the thermal conversion layer being laminated to a molding sheet including a base and the thermal expansion layer laminated to a first main surface of the base; and a second expander for causing expansion of a region (C) of the thermal expansion layer that is smaller in size than a region (B) of the thermal expansion layer expanded by the first expander.

An expansion apparatus includes: a first expander for irradiating with electromagnetic waves emitted from a lamp a thermal conversion layer for conversion of the electromagnetic waves to heat, to cause at least a portion of a thermal expansion layer to expand, the thermal conversion layer being laminated to a molding sheet including a base and the thermal expansion layer laminated to a first main surface of the base; and a second expander for causing expansion of a region (C) of the thermal expansion layer that is smaller in size than a region (B) of the thermal expansion layer expanded by the first expander.

In a three-dimensional object formed by bending and deforming a sheet-like base material made of a thermoplastic resin at a ridge line, a surface of the base material bent and oriented outward at least at the ridge line is covered with a thermal expansion layer that expands when heated to a thermal deformation temperature of the thermoplastic resin or a higher temperature, and the thermal expansion layer is expanded at the ridge line.

In a three-dimensional object formed by bending and deforming a sheet-like base material made of a thermoplastic resin at a ridge line, a surface of the base material bent and oriented outward at least at the ridge line is covered with a thermal expansion layer that expands when heated to a thermal deformation temperature of the thermoplastic resin or a higher temperature, and the thermal expansion layer is expanded at the ridge line.

A thermally expandable sheet including two or more thermally expandable layers that are laminated, the thermally expandable layers each expanding upon being heated to or above a predetermined expansion start temperature, wherein the thermally expandable layers include two adjacent layers different from each other in the expansion start temperature.

A thermally expandable sheet including two or more thermally expandable layers that are laminated, the thermally expandable layers each expanding upon being heated to or above a predetermined expansion start temperature, wherein the thermally expandable layers include two adjacent layers different from each other in the expansion start temperature.

A method of making a waveguiding optical component includes processing a polymer optical material to form a billet having an axis of light transmission and having residual stress maintaining a transverse extent of the billet; placing the billet into a mold, the mold being configured to constrain transverse expansion of the billet according to a desired shape of the waveguiding optical component; and heating the billet in the mold to induce relaxation of the residual stress and corresponding transverse expansion of the billet, thereby forming the billet into the waveguiding optical component with the desired shape. An alternative method begins with a collection of individual canes or fiber segments which are fused during the heating process, bypassing a separate process of forming a billet.

A method of making a waveguiding optical component includes processing a polymer optical material to form a billet having an axis of light transmission and having residual stress maintaining a transverse extent of the billet; placing the billet into a mold, the mold being configured to constrain transverse expansion of the billet according to a desired shape of the waveguiding optical component; and heating the billet in the mold to induce relaxation of the residual stress and corresponding transverse expansion of the billet, thereby forming the billet into the waveguiding optical component with the desired shape. An alternative method begins with a collection of individual canes or fiber segments which are fused during the heating process, bypassing a separate process of forming a billet.

An apparatus and method are provided utilizing electropermanent magnets (EPMs) or other electromagnetic effectors to deliver either or both electrical and changing magnetic fields to rescue the brains or other sections of the nervous system of human or non-human animals that have been subject to acute injury.

Three dimensional molded objects are produced from a plurality of expandible elements deposited in a mold by heating and moving the expandible elements during heating in the mold. The expandible elements have at least one layer of vertically lapped material held in a pre-compressed state during or before they are deposited in the mold. Movement is achieved by physically moving the mold continuously or periodically during heating, by blowing air or other gas into the mold continuously or periodically during heating, or by heating and depositing and moving the expandible objects at the same time.