A conformal micro- or nanopatterned nanoimprint lithography (NIL) master and methods of making and using same is disclosed. A conformal foil or film master with a patterned surface is provided for imprinting a substantially uniform pattern on a non-flat substrate. The conformal foil or film master may be mounted to a soft backing, which may be mounted to a rigid backing, to form conformal master structure. When pressed against a non-flat substrate, the conformal foil or film master substantially conforms to the contours and/or topology of the non-flat substrate to provide a substantially uniform pattern thereon.

A method is disclosed for continuously manufacturing a composite hollow structure. The method may include continuously coating fibers with a matrix, and revolving matrix-coated fibers about a non-fiber axis. The method may also include diverting the matrix-coated fibers radially outward away from the non-fiber axis, and curing the matrix-coated fibers.

The invention is directed to straight, consistent body scores on plastic corrugated boxes and a process for making the body scores.

Provided are an apparatus and a method of controlling a stiffness of a soft material hardened from a liquid state having viscosity into a solid state. The apparatus of controlling a stiffness of a soft material includes: a soft material accommodating means including a chamber corresponding to a space in which the soft material having fluidity before being hardened is accommodated and a wall structure surrounding the chamber; and a stimulus means applying a stimulus to the soft material to generate a flow in the soft material, wherein a flow is applied to the soft material to control the stiffness in the soft material and control stiffnesses to be different from each other in each region of the soft material.

A method for manufacturing a fine hollow protruding article (1) according to the invention involves: a protrusion forming step of bringing a projecting mold part (11) that includes a heating means into contact from one surface (2D) side of a base sheet (2) including a thermoplastic resin, and, while softening, with heat, a contact section (TP) in the base sheet (2) where the projecting mold part (11) contacts the base sheet (2), inserting the projecting mold part (11) into the base sheet (2), to form a protrusion (3) that protrudes from the other surface (2U) side of the base sheet (2); a cooling step of cooling the protrusion (3) in a state where the projecting mold part (11) is inserted in an interior of the protrusion (3); and a release step of withdrawing the projecting mold part (11) from the interior of the protrusion (3) after the cooling step, to form the fine hollow protruding article (1).

A method of forming micro-channels in a plastic surface using a pressing device includes structuring a micro-channel forming tool for the pressing device to include a press end including a press surface that extends along a plane and a micro-channel detail positioned on the press end and extending beyond the plane of the press surface. The micro-channel detail includes a non-critical portion and a critical portion supported by the non-critical portion. The press end of the micro-channel forming tool is driven into the plastic surface at a predetermined force using a pressing device. Ultrasonic vibrations are applied to the micro-channel forming tool for a predetermined amount of time to melt portions of the plastic surface in contact with the pressing surface. The ultrasonic vibrations are removed after the predetermined amount of time has elapsed and the press end is retracted from the plastic surface.

A method of fastening a second object to a fiber composite part including a structure of fibers embedded in a matrix material includes: providing the fiber composite part including an attachment surface, with a portion of the structure of fibers being exposed at the attachment surface; providing the second object; placing the second object relative to the fiber composite part, with a resin in a flowable state between the attachment surface and the connector; pressing the second object and the fiber composite part against each other and causing mechanical vibration to act on the second object or the fiber composite part or both, thereby causing the resin to infiltrate the exposed structure of fibers and activating the resin to cross-link; whereby the resin, after cross-linking, secures the second object to the fiber composite part.

A system is disclosed for additively manufacturing a composite structure. The system may include a head configured to discharge a continuous reinforcement that is at least partially coated with a matrix, and a housing trailing from the head and configured to at least partially enclose the continuous reinforcement after discharge. The system may also include a heat source disposed at least partially inside the oven, and a support configured to move the head during discharging.

A corrugated plastic box and a method for manufacturing a corrugated plastic box from a blank are provided. The method includes the steps of forming rounded edge seals on the perimeter edges of the blank, pre-sealing portions of the blank to form a plurality of areas in which major and minor flap slots and a glue tab are desired, ultrasonically scoring the blank to form a plurality of flap score lines, and cutting the blank through the plurality of pre-sealed flap slots and glue tab, leaving a sealed edge.

A method of bonding a first object to a second object, including the steps of: providing a profile body having a first profile body portion; providing the first object, wherein the first object has thermoplastic material; providing the second object, wherein the profile body is separate from and attachable to the second object or wherein the second object includes the profile body; embedding the profile body in the first object such that the first profile body portion is within the thermoplastic material of the first object. Embedding the profile body in the first object is caused by mechanical energy impinging on the first object and/or on the second object while the first object and the second object are pressed against each other.