A method for fabricating an external element or a timepiece dial from non-conductive material, by performing or repeating a basic cycle of making a base from a non-conductive, or ceramic, or glass. or sapphire substrate; dry coating the base with a first sacrificial protective metal layer; etching a decoration with an ultrashort pulse laser to a depth at least equal to the local thickness of the first layer; dry coating the decoration and the remaining part of the first layer with a second metal and/or coloured decorative treatment layer; chemically removing each first layer; and before or after chemical removal of each first layer, mechanically levelling on the upper level of the base the compound thus formed.

Systems, methods, and devices for producing appliances for expansion of the arch of a patient are provided. An arch expanding appliance comprises a force generating portion to apply an arch expansion force and a retention portion to hold the force generating portion on the teeth. The retention portion comprises a flexible portion and a stiff portion. The force generating portion applies a force to move teeth associated with the flexible portion, while the stiff portion resists movement of its associated teeth. The orthodontic appliances can be designed according to the specifications provided herein and manufactured using direct fabrication methods.

A method for producing pigments having a specified contour, comprises the steps of creating a pigment layer on a starting substrate; detaching from the starting substrate; and structuring the pigment layer into a plurality of the pigments; characterized by bringing into contact the pigment layer with an intermediate substrate, wherein the pigment layer adheres at least in sections to the intermediate substrate; and separating intermediate substrate and starting substrate.

A dental appliance having an integrally formed reservoir and/or an ornamental design integrated thereon. The ornamental design can be selected or customized by a patient. The design can be created by directing energy to the dental appliance to alter a material property of at least a portion of the appliance to create the design. Alternatively, a groove or recess can be formed on a surface of the appliance to either mechanically retain an ornamental design or the groove or recess can be filled with ink to form the design. The appliance, including the integrally formed reservoir, can be formed using direct fabrication techniques.

A method for manufacturing a timepiece component includes: forming a first processed surface having a predetermined pattern by irradiating a surface of a receiving plate with a femtosecond laser; and forming a second processed surface having a surface roughness smaller than that of the first processed surface by irradiating at least a part of the first processed surface with a nanosecond laser.

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a hollow glass article including a step of marking the hollow glass article thus formed by laser, the surface of the hollow glass article being at a temperature between 400° C. and 600° C. The marking step consists in making filiform decorations by producing at least one continuous and shiny groove on the surface of the hollow glass article.

This invention relates to a computer-implemented method of generating an article of manufacture. The method comprises the steps of receiving date and location data relating to a user event and thereafter accessing a star catalogue, determining the position of the stars relative to the date and location data, and projecting the star positions onto a two-dimensional (2D) plane. Once the star positions have been projected onto a 2D plane, the method comprises the steps of generating a computer-readable file for the star positions, providing the file to a laser engraving machine, and the laser-engraving machine engraving the article of manufacture according to the computer-readable file. The article of manufacture is preferably an item of jewellery such as a pendant. The method provides an efficient and cost-effective way of manufacturing a bespoke, high value item.

Provided is a container including a container body, and an image on the container body. The image includes a plurality of dented portions and non-dented portions. Each of the dented portions is formed of a plurality of processed portions. The plurality of processed portions are disposed linearly, contacting or overlapping each other along a first scanning direction. A width of each of the dented portions in a second scanning direction orthogonal to the first scanning direction changes cyclically along the first scanning direction. Each of the dented portions has bossed portions along the first scanning direction between adjoining ones of the processed portions.

A laser marking system comprises a laser energy source that generates a laser beam, a laser controller configured to focus the laser beam over a field of view greater than a size of laser-markable items, and a start-up target that includes laser-safe material and is located within the field of view. The laser controller is further configured to point the laser beam at the start-up target during a start-up phase of the laser energy source and focus the laser beam on one of the laser-markable items after the start-up phase.

Provided is a container including a container body and an image on the container body. The image includes a plurality of dented portions and non-dented portions. A visibility value of the image represented by Mathematical formula (1) below is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

Visibility value=b.sub.0.Math.L*.sub.0.Math.(1−exp(b.sub.1.Math.ΔL*))  Mathematical formula (1)

In Mathematical formula (1), L*.sub.0 represents a luminosity of the image. ΔL* represents a difference between the luminosity of the image and a luminosity of any other portion than the image, b.sub.0 represents a positive real number, and b.sub.1 represents a negative real number.