The present invention relates to a method for self-repairing an object, wherein the object (O) comprises a matrix of a material in a continuous solid form, with optically resonant particles dispersed there within, and that has been made by fusing together particles and/or particulates of the material in a non-continuous solid form with heat transferred from the optically resonant particles that has been generated thereby when optically resonating induced by their exposure to building electromagnetic radiation. The method comprises exposing a damaged region (D) of the object (O) to repairing electromagnetic radiation (R) to be absorbed by the optically resonant particles that are dispersed therein to optically resonate to generate heat to fuse together portions of the matrix in thermal contact therewith. The system is adapted to implement the method of the invention.

In a three-dimensional printing method example, a build material is applied. A first liquid functional material is applied on at least a portion of the build material. The first liquid functional material includes ferromagnetic nanoparticles that are selected from the group consisting of an iron oxide, a ferrite, a combination of the iron oxide and a ferromagnetic metal oxide, and combinations thereof. The build material is exposed to electromagnetic radiation having a frequency ranging from about 5 kHz to about 300 GHz to sinter the portion of the build material in contact with the first liquid functional material.

A method for molding a part is disclosed wherein a molding material has a minimum viscosity. A substrate that is responsive to a magnetic or electric field is introduced to the molding material. The substrate is moved by a magnetic or electric field to form channels in the molding material. The molding material is cured during or after the channels are formed.

A curing process includes providing a hybrid material comprising a conductive filler in contact with a thermosetting resin. In addition, the curing process includes passing an electric current through the hybrid material to provide Joule heating until a temperature of the hybrid material reaches a temperature above a curing temperature of the thermosetting resin.

A resin sheet production method includes a preparation step of preparing a resin molding sheet including a base and a thermally expansive layer that is formed on one main surface of the base, the thermally expansive layer including a thermally expandable material; a heat conversion layer forming step of forming a heat conversion layer that converts electromagnetic waves to heat on at least one of the first main surface of the resin molding sheet or a second main surface on a side opposite to the first main surface; a pre-heating step of heating the resin molding sheet on which the heat conversion layer is formed to a temperature that is lower than an expansion starting temperature at which the thermally expandable material starts to expand; and a main heating step of irradiating the heat conversion layer of the resin molding sheet that is heated in the pre-heating step with the electromagnetic waves to cause the heat conversion layer to distend, thereby causing the base to deform and forming a shaped object on the resin molding sheet.

The invention relates to a method for creating a surface structure on a mold, wherein first structural elements are created using a laser structuring process in a first step, and second structural elements, which are smaller than the first structural elements, are created using an anodic oxidation process in another step following the laser structuring process. The invention further relates to a mold of said type and finally to a plastic film or a plastic component having a surface structure as well as to a method for the production thereof.

A device for shaping a blank for forming a thermoplastic structural part, the blank comprising reinforcing fibres embedded in a thermoplastic matrix, said shaping device comprising a support member for supporting a blank along a longitudinal axis, at least one heating member, at least one inclination member configured to modify the inclination of at least one part of the longitudinal portion of the blank at an angle of inclination that can be parameterised with respect to the horizontal plane in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a movement system from upstream to downstream along the longitudinal axis of the heating member and of the inclination member relative to the support member so as to successively modify the inclination of a part of each longitudinal portion of the blank.

In a shaping device, a conveyor conveys a formable sheet that distends due to being irradiated with electromagnetic waves. An irradiator irradiates the electromagnetic waves on the formable sheet being conveyed by the conveyor. A focus point adjuster adjusts a position of a focus point of the electromagnetic waves irradiated by the irradiator. The focus point adjuster adjusts the position of the focus point in accordance with a degree of definition of an unevenness to be caused to form on the formable sheet due to distension of the formable sheet.

A forming apparatus is equipped with (i) a conveyance unit configured to convey a formation sheet, that expands due to irradiation with electromagnetic waves, along a conveyance path in a state in which tension for causing bending in accordance with a conveyance path that is convexly bent is applied, and (ii) an irradiation unit configured to irradiate with the electromagnetic waves the formation sheet during conveyance by the conveyance unit in the state in which the tension is applied.

In a shaping device, a sheet that distends due to being irradiated with electromagnetic waves is placed a conveyor belt. An irradiator irradiates the sheet placed on and conveyed by the conveyor belt with electromagnetic waves. At least one heater heats the conveyor belt.