Provided are a method of producing a metal member, a method of producing a resin member, and a method of producing an exterior part of a vehicle, each using a laminated body including a paint substitute film that includes a thermoplastic resin film, a colored layer, and a semi-cured hard coat layer, in this order, and a protective film that is bonded to a surface of the semi-cured hard coat layer. (1) The method of producing a metal member uses a steel plate together with the laminated body, and includes: a molding step of performing thermocompression bonding on the laminated body and the heated steel plate and performing press-molding while curing the semi-cured hard coat layer. (2) The method of producing a resin member uses a molten resin together with the laminated body, and includes: inserting the laminated body into a mold; performing in-mold molding by performing injection-molding using the molten resin; and curing the semi-cured hard coat layer after the insertion into the mold and until the in-mold molding ends. (3) The method of producing an exterior part of a vehicle includes combining the metal member produced by the above-described method, and the resin member produced by the above-described method.

Provided are a method of producing a metal member, a method of producing a resin member, and a method of producing an exterior part of a vehicle, each using a laminated body including a paint substitute film that includes a thermoplastic resin film, a colored layer, and a semi-cured hard coat layer, in this order, and a protective film that is bonded to a surface of the semi-cured hard coat layer. (1) The method of producing a metal member uses a steel plate together with the laminated body, and includes: a molding step of performing thermocompression bonding on the laminated body and the heated steel plate and performing press-molding while curing the semi-cured hard coat layer. (2) The method of producing a resin member uses a molten resin together with the laminated body, and includes: inserting the laminated body into a mold; performing in-mold molding by performing injection-molding using the molten resin; and curing the semi-cured hard coat layer after the insertion into the mold and until the in-mold molding ends. (3) The method of producing an exterior part of a vehicle includes combining the metal member produced by the above-described method, and the resin member produced by the above-described method.

A system for holding a workpiece in position and exposing it to laser radiation, such that: the workpiece includes a bottom surface and a top surface that are electrically insulated from each other. The system includes an electrostatic charge generating device for generating electrostatic charges on the top surface; an electrically conductive support for forming, on the bottom surface, electrostatic charges of opposite sign to those generated on the top surface; and a laser device for machining or welding. The electrostatic charge generating device is arranged to be activated before or during the laser machining or welding, such that the workpiece is held in position relative to the electrically conductive support during the machining or welding thereof.

A system for holding a workpiece in position and exposing it to laser radiation, such that: the workpiece includes a bottom surface and a top surface that are electrically insulated from each other. The system includes an electrostatic charge generating device for generating electrostatic charges on the top surface; an electrically conductive support for forming, on the bottom surface, electrostatic charges of opposite sign to those generated on the top surface; and a laser device for machining or welding. The electrostatic charge generating device is arranged to be activated before or during the laser machining or welding, such that the workpiece is held in position relative to the electrically conductive support during the machining or welding thereof.

Provided among other things is a method of affixing a small, single chip to a plastic item, the chip having a top surface having length and width dimensions, and having a height, the method comprising: (1) vacuum adhering a top-oriented surface of the chip to a probe of outer dimensions comparable to or smaller than those of the length and width; (2) conveying heat to the chip via the probe such that a bottom-oriented surface of the chip is sufficiently hot to melt the plastic; (3) applying via the probe the chip to the plastic such that the chip embeds in the plastic; and (4) releasing the chip from the probe, wherein the largest of the length and width is about 500 microns or less, and height is no more than about the smallest of length and width.

A method for joining dissimilar materials includes forming a first recess and a second recess by irradiating a surface of a first member with laser light, the first recess and the second recess being cut into the surface obliquely at angles different from each other, and joining the second member to the surface of the first member with a part of the second member engaging with each of the first recess and the second recess by melting the part of the second member lower in melting point than the first member to cause the part of the second member to flow into each of the first recess and the second recess and solidifying the part of the second member.

A method of acupuncture needle packaging includes inserting an acupuncture needle body of an acupuncture needle including an acupuncture needle handle at an upper portion thereof into an acupuncture needle tube starting from the acupuncture needle handle; disposing the acupuncture needle in the acupuncture needle tube in a state in which the upper portion of the acupuncture needle handle is exposed to an exterior of the acupuncture needle tube; ascending the upper portion of the acupuncture needle handle exposed to the exterior using a pressing jig; irradiating a laser to an area where the acupuncture needle tube and the acupuncture needle handle abut each other; and coupling the acupuncture needle handle and the acupuncture needle tube by thermally deforming the area where the acupuncture needle tube and the acupuncture needle handle abut each other with a heat generated by the laser.

The invention concerns a method for joining a metal component and a polymer component, and a structure comprising said components. In the method, an extrusion die plate with a through hole is placed between the metal component and the polymer component. A probe is rotated and plunged across the thickness of the metal component and eventually through said through hole of the extrusion die plate, thereby extruding a part of the metal component through said through hole of the extrusion die plate into the polymer component. The probe has a rotation axis having an offset to the centre of the through hole during the rotating and plunging action.

The invention concerns a method for joining a metal component and a polymer component, and a structure comprising said components. In the method, an extrusion die plate with a through hole is placed between the metal component and the polymer component. A probe is rotated and plunged across the thickness of the metal component and eventually through said through hole of the extrusion die plate, thereby extruding a part of the metal component through said through hole of the extrusion die plate into the polymer component. The probe has a rotation axis having an offset to the centre of the through hole during the rotating and plunging action.

A method for manufacturing a composite member, in which a composite member having a high joining strength can be manufactured in an inexpensive and efficient way; and the composite member. A metal member and a resin-containing member are joined together by heating the metal member while pressing the resin-containing member against a metal porous film formed on a surface of the metal member. The porous film is formed by impacting the surface of the metal member with metal powder by the cold spray process.