Methods and systems are provided for color printing. A three-dimensional object can be printed onto an article using the methods and systems. The three-dimensional object can include a lower color graphic layer printed onto an article, one or more transparent structural layers printed onto the lower color graphic layer, and an upper color graphic layer printed onto an uppermost layer of the one or more transparent structural layers. The upper color graphic layer and the lower color graphic layer collectively visually depict a color graphic image.

A needle-point pen apparatus and methods for administering a medication. The needle-point pen apparatus can include a barrel, a needle movably disposed within an inner channel of the barrel, the needle having a tip and an elongate shaft. A driving unit is coupled to the needle and provides a driving actuation to the needle. The driving actuation causes the needle to reciprocate within the barrel between one or more extended and retracted positions. The needle being designed to at least partially insert the medication into living tissue. A medication reservoir supplies the medication to the needle for at least partial insertion into the tissue. A computing device controls the needle actuation and the supply of the medication to the needle for controlling administration of the medication at multiple different computer-controlled depths and/or locations of the tissue.

A 3D shoe upper fabrication method includes the steps of (A) preparing a shoe upper fabric, (B) preparing a non-woven fabric containing 2030 wt % low melting staple fiber and 7080 wt % general fiber, (C) bonding two pieces of woven fabric to opposing top and bottom surfaces of the non-woven fabric to form a sandwich middle material and cutting the sandwich middle material into a predetermined shape, (D) bonding the shoe upper fabric to the middle material to form a substrate, (E) preparing a mold, (F) putting the substrate in the mold and then heating and pressurizing the mold to mold the substrate into a 3D shoe upper, and (G) opening the mold and removing the 3D shoe upper thus formed.

A 3D shoe upper fabrication method includes the steps of (A) preparing a shoe upper fabric, (B) preparing a non-woven fabric containing 2030 wt % low melting staple fiber and 7080 wt % general fiber, (C) bonding two pieces of woven fabric to opposing top and bottom surfaces of the non-woven fabric to form a sandwich middle material and cutting the sandwich middle material into a predetermined shape, (D) bonding the shoe upper fabric to the middle material to form a substrate, (E) preparing a mold, (F) putting the substrate in the mold and then heating and pressurizing the mold to mold the substrate into a 3D shoe upper, and (G) opening the mold and removing the 3D shoe upper thus formed.

Methods and systems are provided for color printing. For example, a method of printing is provided, including printing a three-dimensional object onto a substrate using a printing device. The method includes receiving color graphic design information at the printing device and receiving the substrate at the printing device. The color graphic design information represents a color graphic. The method further includes printing a lower color graphic layer of the three-dimensional object onto the substrate using the color graphic design information and printing a transparent structural layer of the three-dimensional object onto the lower color graphic layer. The method further includes printing an upper color graphic layer of the three-dimensional object onto the transparent structural layer using the color graphic design information. A combination of the upper color graphic layer and the lower color graphic layer visually matches the color graphic.

A three-dimensional out sole having a pattern having improved quality and durability has a dye permeated into the surface of the outsole. A depth to which the dye penetrating the micropores is 0.08 mm to 0.12 mm. The dye is permeated into the microspores through vacuum suction. The dye is digitally printed on a thermoplastic sheet. The thermoplastic sheet on which the dye is printed is heated to be softened with flexibility. The softened sheet having flexibility is closely attached to a surface of the shoe outsole having the three-dimensional shape through vacuum adsorption and then is permeated therein.

A three-dimensional out sole having a pattern having improved quality and durability has a dye permeated into the surface of the outsole. A depth to which the dye penetrating the micropores is 0.08 mm to 0.12 mm. The dye is permeated into the microspores through vacuum suction. The dye is digitally printed on a thermoplastic sheet. The thermoplastic sheet on which the dye is printed is heated to be softened with flexibility. The softened sheet having flexibility is closely attached to a surface of the shoe outsole having the three-dimensional shape through vacuum adsorption and then is permeated therein.

A footwear insole shape is generated by supplying a core reinforced filament having a matrix material impregnating reinforcing strands aligned along the filament, as well as a fill material separately from the core reinforced filament and depositing at least one shell of fill material within an insole shape upon a print bed. The core reinforced filament is deposited to fuse to the fill material within a first reinforcing region formed with respect to the insole shape. A cutter upstream of the nozzle tip cuts the core reinforced filament, and a remainder of the core reinforced filament is deposited to complete the first reinforcing region. A nozzle tip applies pressure to continuously compact the core reinforced filament toward the insole shape as the core reinforced filament is fused to the fill material.

Needle-point pen apparatuses and methods for marking and/or creating articles and objects. Other uses for the needle-point pen are also disclosed herein. Further needle, ink, and carriage control improvements are further discussed as well as marking and manufacturing processes. Further control, characterization and design parameters, components, and processes are disclosed. Methods for designing and manufacturing articles as well as collaboration between artists and article designers, including distributed and remote collaboration, are disclosed. New marking techniques, computer control, software, hardware and interactive techniques are further disclosed. And, designs and use of the needle-point pens are further described and illustrated.

This application discloses methods of printing a three-dimensional object on a base using a printing device. One method includes printing a color layer of the three-dimensional object onto a region of the base. The color layer has a color thickness corresponding to a selected color intensity of a color. The method also includes determining a structural thickness for a structural layer of the three-dimensional object by calculating a difference between the color thickness and a target thickness of the three-dimensional object. The target thickness is greater than the color thickness. The method further includes printing the structural layer having the structural thickness directly onto the color layer.