Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a formed article comprising forming an upper surface of a glass material that has been positioned on a forming surface of a mold to obtain the formed article by heating the glass material to a temperature permitting deformation to bring a lower surface of the glass material into tight contact with the forming surface. Glass having upper and lower surfaces being spherical in shape is employed as the glass material, a mold having a forming surface being a free-form surface other than a spherical surface is employed as the mold, the upper surface of the glass material is formed into a roughly offset surface relative to the forming surface of the mold. The present invention permits the manufacturing of formed articles of desired shape with high precision by hot sag molding method. The present invention also permits the easy and simple determination of the surface shapes of molds and glass materials employed in hot sag molding method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a formed article forming an upper surface of a forming material comprised of a thermosoftening substance into a desired shape by positioning the forming material on a forming surface of a mold and heating the forming material to a temperature permitting deformation to bring a lower surface of the forming material into tight contact with the forming surface. As the mold, a mold having, on a forming surface thereof, a plurality of irregularities with a maximum height Rmax ranging from 0.1 to 100 micrometers and an average spacing S between local peaks ranging from 0.01 to 1.00 mm is employed. The present invention further relates to a mold and method of manufacturing the same. According to the present invention, a formed article with a desired shape can be manufactured with high precision and high productivity by hot sag forming method without the occurrence of the fusion between the forming material and the mold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a formed article forming an upper surface of a forming material comprised of a thermosoftening substance into a desired shape by positioning the forming material on a forming surface of a mold and heating the forming material to a temperature permitting deformation to bring a lower surface of the forming material into tight contact with the forming surface. The forming is conducted while an exposed portion on the forming surface side of the mold upon which the forming material has been positioned is covered with a covering member. The present invention further relates to a covering member and a forming apparatus. According to the present invention, formed articles with a desired shape can be formed with high accuracy by preventing the contamination of upper surface of forming materials by foreign matter during forming.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a formed article comprising forming an upper surface of a forming material comprised of a thermosoftening substance into a desired shape by positioning the forming material on a forming surface of a mold and heating the forming material to a temperature permitting deformation to bring an entire surface of a lower surface of the forming material into tight contact with the forming surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a formed article comprising forming an upper surface of a forming material comprised of a thermosoftening substance into a desired shape by positioning the forming material on a forming surface of a mold and heating the forming material to a temperature permitting deformation to bring an entire surface of a lower surface of the forming material into tight contact with the forming surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a formed article forming an upper surface of a forming material comprised of a thermosoftening substance into a desired shape by positioning the forming material on a forming surface of a mold and heating the forming material to a temperature permitting deformation to bring a lower surface of the forming material into tight contact with the forming surface. The forming is conducted while an exposed portion on the forming surface side of the mold upon which the forming material has been positioned is covered with a covering member. The present invention further relates to a covering member and a forming apparatus. According to the present invention, formed articles with a desired shape can be formed with high accuracy by preventing the contamination of upper surface of forming materials by foreign matter during forming.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a formed article forming an upper surface of a forming material comprised of a thermosoftening substance into a desired shape by positioning the forming material on a forming surface of a mold and heating the forming material to a temperature permitting deformation to bring a lower surface of the forming material into tight contact with the forming surface. As the mold, a mold having, on a forming surface thereof, a plurality of irregularities with a maximum height Rmax ranging from 0.1 to 100 micrometers and an average spacing S between local peaks ranging from 0.01 to 1.00 mm is employed. The present invention further relates to a mold and method of manufacturing the same. According to the present invention, a formed article with a desired shape can be manufactured with high precision and high productivity by hot sag forming method without the occurrence of the fusion between the forming material and the mold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a formed article comprising forming an upper surface of a glass material that has been positioned on a forming surface of a mold to obtain the formed article by heating the glass material to a temperature permitting deformation to bring a lower surface of the glass material into tight contact with the forming surface. Glass having upper and lower surfaces being spherical in shape is employed as the glass material, a mold having a forming surface being a free-form surface other than a spherical surface is employed as the mold, the upper surface of the glass material is formed into a roughly offset surface relative to the forming surface of the mold. The present invention permits the manufacturing of formed articles of desired shape with high precision by hot sag molding method. The present invention also permits the easy and simple determination of the surface shapes of molds and glass materials employed in hot sag molding method.