A method of creating a selectively plated three-dimensional thermoplastic part. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a film of uncured polycarbonate film having a hardcoated layer on a first surface thereof; b) selectively catalyzing the polycarbonate film by depositing a catalyst in a desired pattern on the first surface of the polycarbonate film; c) thermoforming the polycarbonate film to form a three-dimensional polycarbonate film; d) UV-curing the hardcoated polycarbonate film by irradiating the film with UV rays; e) molding the hardcoated polycarbonate film to produce a three-dimensional molded part comprising the hardcoated polycarbonate film; f) activating the selectively catalyzed hardcoated polycarbonate film; and g) plating a metal layer on the catalyzed portions of the hardcoated polycarbonate film, wherein the plated metal only deposits on the catalyzed portions of the hardcoated polycarbonate film.

A method to permanently mark an item of laminated jewelry involves creating a laminate of two metals, and upper layer typically formed of a more precious metal such as gold, platinum or palladium that do not readily oxidize laminated onto the surface of a less precious metal, such as silver, which can be oxidized to create a dark color (e.g. black). A laser is used to create characters and/or designs in the upper layer by vaporizing portions thereof to effectively remove those portions. This exposes the upper surface of the less precious metal that does become oxidized. An oxidizer, such as liquid sulfur, is then used to blacken the silver, typically a dark gray. However, if more contrast is needed by making the marked text, designs etc. darker than gray a second step can be used by applying an additional oxidizing agent to turn the dark gray to substantially black.

A method and an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional decoration piece that does not damage the tacky bonding or adhesion strength of the lower layer material of the decoration piece. The method includes putting an upper layer material on a first table operating as cathode; lowering an upper mold operating as anode onto the first table, emitting a high frequency wave for dielectric heating; stopping the high frequency dielectric heating; moving a second table carrying a lower layer material having a tacky bonding property to below the upper mold; and lowering said upper mold onto the second table. In the apparatus, the second table or the lower mold is provided on the top surface thereof with recessed sections that are transversally and inwardly separated from a position where an edge of the first machining means contacts, by 0.2 mm to 1 mm; and a cushion member being arranged in the respective recessed sections.

Markings for electronic devices are disclosed. Markings are formed through a laser-based process which transforms a colorant in a multilayer structure disposed along an interior surface of a cover. The transformed colorant defines a marking visible along an external surface of the electronic device.

A method of creating a selectively plated three-dimensional thermoplastic part. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a film of uncured polycarbonate film having a hardcoated layer on a first surface thereof; b) selectively catalyzing the polycarbonate film by depositing a catalyst in a desired pattern on the first surface of the polycarbonate film; c) thermoforming the polycarbonate film to form a three-dimensional polycarbonate film; d) UV-curing the hardcoated polycarbonate film by irradiating the film with UV rays; e) molding the hardcoated polycarbonate film to produce a three-dimensional molded part comprising the hardcoated polycarbonate film; f) activating the selectively catalyzed hardcoated polycarbonate film; and g) plating a metal layer on the catalyzed portions of the hardcoated polycarbonate film, wherein the plated metal only deposits on the catalyzed portions of the hardcoated polycarbonate film.

The present invention concerns a method for the partial dyeing, in particular for the colour laser engraving, of plastic components, in particular thermoplastic plastic components, more particularly thermoplastic plastic components, comprising a layer construction as well as the resulting partially dyed, preferably colour laser engraved plastic components, in particular thermoplastic plastic components.

A method is for producing an ornamental design (O) in a clearcoat layer (K). The ornamental design (O) is produced by a selective matting of the clearcoat layer (K) by working the clearcoat layer (K) by a laser. The working of the clearcoat layer may be performed by a UV laser. Additionally, the working of the clearcoat layer K may be performed by electromagnetic waves at a wavelength of about 355 nm. Furthermore, the working of the clearcoat layer K may be performed by a laser operating at a frequency of about 23 500 Hz. Still further, the working of the clearcoat layer (K) may be performed by a laser operating with a pulse duration of about 2 s. The working of the clearcoat layer (K) may be performed by a laser operating with a line spacing of about 0.03 mm

Disclosed herein is a colored metal that includes a metal substrate containing a first metal, an oxidation degree control pattern positioned on the metal substrate, and increasing or decreasing a degree of oxidation of the first metal over time, and a coating film positioned on the metal substrate where the oxidation degree control pattern is positioned, wherein a first region of the metal substrate where the oxidation degree control pattern is present thereon and a second region of the metal substrate where the oxidation degree control pattern is not present thereon exhibit different colors due to a difference in degree of oxidation over time.

Method of manufacturing a watch component (10) for a timepiece, wherein it comprises a first stage of manufacturing a watch component (10) comprising a first surface (1), in which there is arranged at least one recess (20), that is to say a surface recessed from the first surface (1), and wherein it comprises a second finishing stage the watch component, leading to a change in the surface condition, more particularly the roughness, more particularly measured by the parameters Ra and/or Str, and/or the gloss, of the first surface (1) but not of the at least one recess (20) or of a portion exclusively of this at least one recess (20).

Embodiments are directed to laser-based processes for forming features on the surface of a part. The feature may include a geometric element, a color element, and/or a surface finish element. In some cases, the laser-formed features are formed as a pattern of textured features that produce an aesthetic and/or tactile effect on the surface of the part. In some cases, the texture features may be sufficiently small that they may not be discerned by the unaided human eye. Also, in some cases, a multiple laser-based processes are combined to form a single feature or a finished part having a specific aesthetic and/or tactile effect.