The invention relates to footwear and portions thereof having structural features and decorative designs thereon, and related systems and methods for manufacturing same. An exemplary method for providing a feature on a surface of an object includes positioning a laser proximate the surface of the object, directing a laser beam from the laser to the surface of the object to mark or engrave at least a portion of the surface of the object, and moving at least one of the laser and the object to create a pattern on the surface of the object, the pattern providing at least one of an aesthetic and a structural feature on the surface of the object.

The invention relates to footwear and portions thereof having structural features and decorative designs thereon, and related systems and methods for manufacturing same. An exemplary method for providing a feature on a surface of an object includes positioning a laser proximate the surface of the object, directing a laser beam from the laser to the surface of the object to mark or engrave at least a portion of the surface of the object, and moving at least one of the laser and the object to create a pattern on the surface of the object, the pattern providing at least one of an aesthetic and a structural feature on the surface of the object.

A computer-implemented method is provided for shaping an edge of a part to be cut from a workpiece using a material processing system comprising a processing head configured to deliver a processing stream. The method includes calculating a start point and an end point of a shaping path proximate to the edge of the part based on a desired edge profile and determining a set of operating parameters to controllably impinge the processing stream about the edge of the part to execute the shaping path from the start point to the end point. The method further includes positioning the processing head normal to a surface of the part and controllably impinging the processing stream at the edge of the part, by the processing head, to shape the desired edge profile.

A computer-implemented method is provided for shaping an edge of a part to be cut from a workpiece using a material processing system comprising a processing head configured to deliver a processing stream. The method includes calculating a start point and an end point of a shaping path proximate to the edge of the part based on a desired edge profile and determining a set of operating parameters to controllably impinge the processing stream about the edge of the part to execute the shaping path from the start point to the end point. The method further includes positioning the processing head normal to a surface of the part and controllably impinging the processing stream at the edge of the part, by the processing head, to shape the desired edge profile.

Types of metal component parts including a casing, a bezel, a buckle, parts for a watch band, etc. are made with the Metal Injection Molding (MIM) process. Each type of metal component part can be derived from an instance of a MIM blank corresponding to that particular type of metal component part formed from its corresponding injection molding tool. The MIM blank formed for the metal component part from the injection molding tool then has a portion of the MIM blank subtracted through a laser subtraction process to form an interim shape and geometry of the instance of the metal component part. The laser subtraction process is applied to the instance of the MIM blank for the metal component part when the instance of the MIM blank has not yet been sintered and hardened to a finished shape and geometry for that metal component part for the watch design.

Types of metal component parts including a casing, a bezel, a buckle, parts for a watch band, etc. are made with the Metal Injection Molding (MIM) process. Each type of metal component part can be derived from an instance of a MIM blank corresponding to that particular type of metal component part formed from its corresponding injection molding tool. The MIM blank formed for the metal component part from the injection molding tool then has a portion of the MIM blank subtracted through a laser subtraction process to form an interim shape and geometry of the instance of the metal component part. The laser subtraction process is applied to the instance of the MIM blank for the metal component part when the instance of the MIM blank has not yet been sintered and hardened to a finished shape and geometry for that metal component part for the watch design.

Methods of determining a polygon ablation pattern for use in mitigating one or more defects in an optical device are described. A method comprises identifying spatial coordinates of one or more defects areas in a first image of the optical device taken when tinted, defining a region of interest around at least one defect area of the one or more defect areas, and determining a polygon boundary around the at least one defect area in the region of interest to define the polygon ablation pattern.

Methods of determining a polygon ablation pattern for use in mitigating one or more defects in an optical device are described. A method comprises identifying spatial coordinates of one or more defects areas in a first image of the optical device taken when tinted, defining a region of interest around at least one defect area of the one or more defect areas, and determining a polygon boundary around the at least one defect area in the region of interest to define the polygon ablation pattern.

A feed mechanism moves a workpiece relative to a cylindrical machining region of laser light. A light receiver receives the laser light that has passed through without being used for machining the workpiece. An intensity detector detects light intensity of the laser light thus received. A controller detects the end of machining on the basis of the light intensity thus detected.

An apparatus for producing an optically variable film includes a laser configured to emit a beam, a telescoping lens section having a first lens and a second lens spaced apart by a first distance and an interferometer configured to direct the beam toward a workpiece. The laser may be operated at a predetermined power level and the first and second lenses are sized and spaced relative to one another to direct the beam onto the workpiece at about 200-230 dots per inch. The workpiece may include a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) layer configured to be ablated by the beam, forming a microstructure in the surface of the layer. The microstructure may be randomized and used to present non-chroma visual effects.