A thermoforming trim tool which comprises a punch side and a die side. The punch side moves to the die side in order to trim molded articles from a heated thermoforming sheet that is disposed therebetween. While the punch side of the tool comprises a plurality of punches, the die side of the tool comprises a plurality of dies, and both the punches and the dies are engaged with upper mount plates. Each of the upper mount plates is engaged with a lower mount plate via one or more location keys. Each of the location keys is configured to provide that the upper mount plates are shifted a pre-determined distance relative to the lower mount plate, thereby providing trim centers which are adjusted to account for pre-determined shrinkage in the sheet.

A method for producing an optical coupling element made of elastomer includes filling a free-flowing elastomer formulation or its constituents into a mold so as to produce a flat sheet whose thickness is adapted to a thickness of the optical coupling element that is to be produced. The elastomer formulation or its constituents is cured to form an inherently stable elastomer. Individual optical coupling elements are cut out of the flat sheet.

A device for sealing sample tubes comprises a tool assembly configured to interface with a rack (10) holding a plurality of sample storage tubes (20), the tool assembly holding a plurality of punches (322) and a die plate (324) including a plurality of cutting holes, with each of the plurality of cutting holes accepting one of the plurality of punches (322). The tool assembly receives a foil sheet (131) between the punches (322) and the die plate (324). The device includes an actuator enabling linear movement of the tool assembly. Linear movement of the tool assembly towards the rack (10) engages the die plate (324) against the rack (10) and punches the punches (322) through the cutting holes of the die plate (324) to punch a plurality of sealing sections from the foil sheet (131) and to press and seal each of the sealing sections against a top end of each of the plurality of sample storage tubes (20) in the rack (10).

A method for forming an article includes providing a sheet of material, optionally conditioning the sheet with a surface of a roller, forming the sheet to provide a web, and separating an article from the web to provide the article. An apparatus adapted to form the article from a sheet is provided.

There is provided a laminate in which when the protective plate breaks due to an impact, not only the scattering of large broken pieces but the scattering of powdery fine broken pieces can be suppressed. A laminate including an adherend and an adjacent layer, wherein the adherend has a first major surface, a second major surface being a back surface of the first major surface, and a lateral surface connecting an edge of the first major surface and an edge of the second major surface, at least the first major surface and the lateral surface of the adherend are covered with the adjacent layer, the adjacent layer has at least a plastic film and a hard coat layer containing a cured product of a curable resin composition in this order from the adherend side, and a softening point F1 of the plastic film and a softening point F2 of the hard coat layer satisfy a relationship of F1<F2.

A system includes an orientation determination system comprising a camera where the camera is configured to capture an image of an orientation feature of a physical dental model of a dental arch of a customer with material thermoformed thereon. The orientation determination system is configured to identify an offset of the physical dental model with respect to a fixture plate during positioning or before or after the physical dental model is positioned on the fixture plate by determining an actual orientation of the physical dental model based on the orientation feature. The system also includes a laser trimming system configured to cut the material along a trim line based on the identified offset while the fixture plate is moved about at least two axes to produce a dental aligner specific to the customer and being configured to reposition one or more teeth of the customer.

A method for thermoforming an article includes extruding a sheet of material, conditioning the sheet with a roller, thermoforming the sheet to provide a web, and cutting the web to provide the article.

A method for manufacturing a microprojection unit (10) according to the invention involves: a microprojection tool forming step of forming a microprojection tool (1) by bringing a projecting mold part (11) into contact from one surface (2D) side of a base sheet (2A) including a thermoplastic resin, and thus forming a protrusion (3) that protrudes from another surface (2U) side, and withdrawing the projecting mold part (11) from the interior of the protrusion (3); a joining step of joining the one surface (2D) side of the base sheet (2A), in which the microprojection tool (1) has been formed, and a tip end of a base component (4); and a cutting step of cutting the base sheet (2A), to which the base component (4) has been joined, along a contour (4L) of the base component (4) at a position more inward than the base component's contour (4L) in a planar view of the base sheet (2A) as viewed from the microprojection tool (1) side, to manufacture a microprojection unit (10).

A molding-forming method, a molding mold, and a molding production apparatus with which efficient burrs removal is possible without requiring a large apparatus. A molding production method includes, in addition to a molding being formed inside a mold, burrs formed around the molding are separated from the molding. After formation of the molding, air is blown inside the mold on at least a portion of the burrs formed around the molding to cool the same, a projecting member is projected toward the cooled burrs, and the burrs are separated from the molding. After pressing the burrs toward the projecting member by the air blowing, the burr is pressed toward the mold surface facing the projecting member by projection of the projecting member to separate the burr from the molding.

Disclosed are a pouch film shaping apparatus including a preheating lamp configured to preheat a metal barrier layer of a pouch film in order to increase stretching force of the pouch film and a pouch film shaping method.