Abstract: A sponge sander configured for selective attachment to a dust-collection system includes a housing having a housing-interior surface defining a sponge cavity and a sponge seat configured for removably retaining a determinately-dimensioned sanding sponge. The sponge has an abrasive sanding surface, a back surface opposite the sanding surface and a sponge periphery defined between the sanding and back surfaces. The sponge is retained within the sponge cavity such that (i) the abrasive sanding surface can engage a work surface to be sanded, (ii) fluid-flow channels are maintained between the sanding sponge and the housing-interior surface and (iii) the spaces are in fluid communication with a fluid port defined in the housing so that when a negative pressure is applied across the fluid port by a vacuum system external to the housing, dust created by sanding is drawn into the fluid-flow channels and out of the housing through the fluid port.

Abstract: Disclosed is a slurry supply device including a nozzle configured to eject slurry, a slurry supply unit configured to receive the slurry from the nozzle and to discharge the slurry through at least one slurry hole, a receiving unit configured to allow the slurry supply unit to be mounted, inserted, seated, coupled, supported, or placed therein so as to enable discharge of the slurry from the slurry supply unit, the receiving unit being configured to receive a flowing material around the slurry supply unit and a slurry protection unit configured to enclose a space for passage of the slurry from an exit of the nozzle to an entrance of the slurry supply unit in conjunction with the flowing material.

Abstract: A high-pressure waterjet cutting system includes a pump operable to produce a flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid, a piston receiving the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid and reciprocating in response to a pressure differential produced by the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid, and an intensifier connected to the piston and operable to produce a high-pressure flow of water in response to reciprocation of the piston. A valve is positioned to receive the flow of hydraulic fluid and is movable between a first position in which the pressure differential is a first value and a second position in which the pressure differential is a second value less than the first value.

Abstract: A jet receiving receptacle is provided which is coupleable to a high-pressure fluid jet system opposite a nozzle thereof to receive a fluid jet discharged from the nozzle after it acts on a workpiece. The jet receiving receptacle may include an elongated inlet alignable with a direction of travel of the nozzle to receive the fluid jet in a deflected state. The jet receiving receptacle may further include a jet deflection device positioned downstream of the elongated inlet to redirect at least a portion of the fluid jet and a jet rebound device located upstream of the jet deflection device to be impinged on by the redirected portion of the fluid jet. The jet deflection device and jet rebound device may form, in combination with a housing, a device to trap the fluid jet. Fluid jet cutting systems incorporating a jet receiving receptacle and related methods are also provided.

Abstract: A coated abrasive product that includes a polymer binder comprising a co-polyester having a bisphenol moiety in the backbone of the co-polyester. The coated abrasive product is capable of finishing coated surfaces and repairing defects in coated surfaces, including surfaces coated with automotive primers, paints, clear coats, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A surface fine machining tool has a working medium carrier with a bottom side and a top side. Grooves extend from the top side to the bottom side completely through the working medium carrier and have a narrowed portion at the bottom side but do not narrow upwardly toward the top side. The working medium carrier is an injection-molded plastic part. Lamellas with a holding rim and a lamella body are inserted with the holding rim in the grooves. The lamella body extends downward away from the holding rim, passes through the narrowed portion, and extends away from the bottom side. The lamellas are uniformly distributed about the bottom side. The grooves have an open end at a carrier rim of the working medium carrier. The open end has a cross-section matching the groove cross-section. A cover is connected to the top side and covers grooves and holding rims.

Abstract: A hand tool with a latch structure includes a main body (10) and a latch unit (20) coupled to the main body (10), and the latch unit (20) includes a rod body (21) and an elastic element (22). The rod body (21) has a center hole (211) formed in an axial direction parallel to the rod body (21) and a through hole (213) formed in an axial direction perpendicular to the rod body (21) and communicated with the center hole (211). The elastic element (22) has a circular plate (221) and a tongue (222) formed by bending from an end of circular plate (221), and the circular plate (221) is clamped outside the rod body (21), and the tongue (222) passes through the through hole (213) into the center hole (211) to achieve the effects of an easy installation and a secured latch.

Abstract: A torque wrench for use in driving fasteners is provided. The wrench includes an electronics unit disposed within a housing engaged with the body of the wrench that is capable of sensing and measuring the torque applied to a fastener by the wrench and providing an output of the level of torque to the user. The data sensed by the electronics unit can be utilized to provide feedback to the user regarding the operation of the wrench, and to monitor the overall operation of the wrench for calibration purposes, among other functions. During use, the wrench can provide the user with visual, audible and tactile feedback regarding the operation of the device relative to stored maximum torque values stored in the electronics unit. The housing for the electronics unit can be formed to be a single use component of the tool or can be designed for multiple uses with a configuration that can be engaged with cradles forming the body of the wrench having various different configurations.

Abstract: A tool having segments forming a triangle wherein a connecting bolt segment moves the other two segments together, thus rotating a valve nut, is disclosed. The tool can be attached and easily operated without the disadvantage of having to apply physical strength in an awkward position. Different embodiments are provided that are adaptable to various valve body types.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed a hand tool for removing nails. The tool includes an elongated handle having opposite first and second ends with a blade projecting transversely from a side of the elongated handle at the first end thereof. The blade is sickle shaped and curved towards the second end. The blade has a front edge contiguous with the first end. The blade has a width which tapers from the elongated handle to a pointed tip opposite the elongated handle. Finally, a nail hooking notch is formed on a back edge of the blade opposite the front edge.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic lubricating pump (1) for a machine having a hydraulically actuated striking tool (4), such as a hydraulic hammer for example. The lubricating pump (1) is designed such that it can be connected to a pressure line (P) of the hydraulic circuit (2). The lubricating pump (1) has a drive piston (8), designed such that it can be driven by the hydraulic circuit, and a feed piston, connected to the drive piston in a motion-transmitting manner, of a feed pump (9), by means of which lubricant is fed to a lubricating point. The service life of the lubricating pump can be prolonged compared with conventional pumps if the drive piston (8) is designed to be double-acting with two drive chambers (8c, 8d) and a hydraulically operable changeover member (16) is provided which can be engaged in the hydraulic circuit and by means of which the drive chambers (8c, 8d) can be alternately and automatically connected to the pressure line (8) during operation.

Abstract: A foldable pocket field tool having a foldable pliers and a set of specialty field tool bits to enable the foldable pocket tool to be carried on a person and used on-the-go with the field tool having a set of tool bits tool bits extendable or retractable into a handle and with each of the tool bits operable for efficiently performing a unique service tasks that may occur when installing or servicing a field system such as an irrigation system. The tool bits may be arranged to provide a two-part handle for use in manipulating an adjacent tool bit about a central axis as the tool bit is supported by the foldable pocket tool.

Abstract: A hand-power tool includes at least one oscillation-damping device that has at least one damping spring and a damping mass. The hand-power tool also includes a drive mechanism and a mechanism housing. The mechanism housing has a housing cover which is provided for closing a chamber in which the drive mechanism lies, and the housing cover has at least one fixing mechanism that at least partially fixes the oscillation-damping device in at least one operating state.

Abstract: A ratchet wrench includes a telescopic handle that includes a shank, a tube and a positioning unit. The shank includes bores. The tube is movably supported on the shank and includes an aperture. The positioning unit includes a shell, a button, a spring and a ball. The shell is supported on the tube and includes a pocket. The button is movably inserted in the pocket and includes a shallow recess and a deep recess. A first portion of the ball enters one of the bores via the aperture when a second portion of the ball is placed in the shallow recess as the button is kept in an upper position by the spring. The button can be pushed to allow the second portion of the ball to enter the deep recess so that the first portion of the ball can escape from any of the bores.

Abstract: An industrial grade, field-usable Mobile Work Station, comprising a rolling cabinet having lockable internal storage, which is fitted with precision-adjustable, tubular rails on one or more sides to which special compound clamp-vice assemblies may be mounted at a plurality of locations to engagingly retain work pieces and hand and power tools, and which includes tool holders and an under-chassis rack for retaining a battery to power tools. An exemplary MWS is shown in which the X, Y and Z axes of pipe rails may be micro-adjusted to be in precise orthogonal relationship so that precision work may be accomplished in the field, even where the surface is not level. Leveling jacks are provided at one end of the cabinet to permit precise horizontal leveling of the cabinet pipe rails in both X and Y axes. Power tools include saws, grinders, welding spinners, benders, vices, anvils, drills, and the like.

Abstract: A hand tool organizer adapted to be mounted on a wall or door and configured to retain a plurality of tools via profile recesses, where each slidably received tool matches a corresponding recess. The organizer is further provided with side-pivoting doors and slide-out drawers.

Abstract: A work hanging apparatus includes a hanger line continuously conveying hangers each having a hook, a robot that has a hand with which a work having a hole is held and transfers the held work to a hanging location set in the hanger line, a controller controlling a movement of the hand to catch the hook of one of the hangers with the hole of the held work at the hanging location, a hole deviation detector that detects a positional deviation of the hole of the work, an attitude deviation detector that detects an attitudinal deviation of the hanger, and a corrector that corrects the movement of the hand according to the positional and attitudinal deviations.

Abstract: A medical robotic system (10) for performing medical procedures comprises a robot manipulator (14) for robotically assisted handling of a medical instrument, in particular a laparoscopic surgery instrument (18). The robot manipulator (14) comprises a base (24); a manipulator arm (26) with an essentially vertical part (27) supported by the base and with an essentially horizontal part (29) supported by the vertical part (27); a manipulator wrist (28) supported by the manipulator arm (26); and an effector unit (30) supported by the manipulator wrist and configured for holding a medical instrument. The manipulator arm (26) has a cylindrical PRP kinematic configuration for positioning the manipulator wrist.

Abstract: A wire-driven robot includes pairs of arm parts including shoulder joints, elbow joints, and wrist joints to move with a motion of a wearer; a shoulder wire connected with the pair of shoulder joints; a shoulder driving unit applying a rotational force to the shoulder joints by winding or unwinding the shoulder wire in link with the motion of the wearer; an elbow wire connected with the pair of elbow joints; an elbow driving unit applying a rotational force to the elbow joints by winding or unwinding the elbow wire in link with the motion of the wearer; a wrist wire connected to the pair of wrist joints; and a wrist driving unit applying a rotational force to the wrist joints by winding or unwinding the wrist wire in link with the motion of the wearer.

Abstract: A wireless transmission device for use in a robot arm is disclosed to include a rotating unit including a first winding and a second winding relatively rotatably arranged in a coaxial manner, and two receiver-transmitter units respectively electrically connected to the first winding and the first winding for receiving a composite signal and then generating a power signal and a control signal. Thus, the receiver-transmitter units can transmit power and data in two ways by means of an electromagnetic coupling between the first winding and the second winding, having the advantages of simple structure and no need for wiring, and allowing the robot arm using the wireless transmission device to be freely rotated through 360 degrees.

Abstract: Robots have the capacity to perform a broad range of useful tasks, such as factory automation, cleaning, delivery, assistive care, environmental monitoring and entertainment. Enabling a robot to perform a new task in a new environment typically requires a large amount of new software to be written, often by a team of experts. It would be valuable if future technology could empower people, who may have limited or no understanding of software coding, to train robots to perform custom tasks. Some implementations of the present invention provide methods and systems that respond to users' corrective commands to generate and refine a policy for determining appropriate actions based on sensor-data input. Upon completion of learning, the system can generate control commands by deriving them from the sensory data. Using the learned control policy, the robot can behave autonomously.

Abstract: A robot system includes: a robot including a hand configured to hold a thin plate-shaped workpiece and an arm configured to move the hand; and a robot controller configured to control the robot. The robot controller controls the robot to perform a transfer of the workpiece at a predetermined workpiece transfer position in such a way that the hand is moved in a horizontal direction while being moved in a vertical direction after the hand has reached the workpiece transfer position.

Abstract: The invention is a modular and autonomously reconfigurable manipulator system, which introduces a new dimension to the versatility of robot manipulation for diverse tasks. The hardware component is a redundant mechanism which can lock any number of its joints at any relative position to form a particular configuration with a certain number of degrees of freedom and specific values for 5 kinematic, dynamic and control parameters, optimum for a given task to be performed. The process of identifying the optimum configuration for a given task and implementing it on the manipulator is done autonomously through the system software. Therefore, no manual interaction is required to form a new configuration most suitable for a given task. The kinematic, dynamic and control parameters of the system can vary continuously enabling the manipulator to form virtually an infinite number of configurations.

Abstract: A machine for aligning items in a pattern and a method of using the machine. The machine includes a robotic assembly having four spaced apart joints. The joints including a base joint which is mounted to a stationary surface and a wrist joint onto which an effector is secured. A suction cup is mounted on the effector and is connected to a vacuum source. The suction cup is capable to picking up, positioning and releasing a new item relative to a first laid item and a second laid item. The first and second laid items each have an upper surface and each is aligned perpendicular to one another. The machine further includes three edge sensors and three height sensor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for minimal haptic implementation are disclosed. For example, one disclosed system includes: an actuator; and a control-circuit in communication with the actuator, the control circuit configured to: receive a 2-bit signal including a first bit indicating a power state and a second bit indicating an actuation state; and transmit a power signal based on the two bit signal, the power signal configured to cause the actuator to operate at the actuation state at a fixed power.

Abstract: Provided is an excellent robot device capable of preferably detecting difference between dirt and a scratch on a lens of a camera and difference between dirt and a scratch on a hand. A robot device 100 detects a site in which there is the dirt or the scratch using an image of the hand taken by a camera 305 as a reference image. Further, this determines whether the detected dirt or scratch is due to the lens of the camera 305 or the hand by moving the hand. The robot device 100 performs cleaning work assuming that the dirt is detected, and then this detects the difference between the dirt and the scratch depending on whether the dirt is removed.

Abstract: A robot hand includes a finger unit that is in contact with an object. The finger unit includes: a first member in which a tip portion and a base portion connected to the tip portion are formed as a single member; and a second member that covers a surface of the first member.

Abstract: A knife (1) and a knife housing (2, 4). The knife comprises the housing (2, 4), which includes a blade slider (20) which is mounted to the housing (2, 4) and is reciprocable by means of an actuating device (6) between a safety position and a cutting position, and a return element (30) for applying a return force to the blade slider (20) in the direction of the safety position. The knife further comprises a blade (10) arranged on the blade slider (20). In this arrangement the blade (10) is mounted rotatably to the blade slider (20).

Abstract: Shears for cutting hair or other material can include a handle assembly. The handle assembly can have a first handle and a second handle. The handle assembly can be connected to a blade assembly via a joint assembly. The joint assembly can be configured to bias the blade assembly to an opened configuration. The joint assembly can connect the blades to the handle assembly such that, as the second handle is moved away from the first handle in a first direction, the second blade is moved away from the first blade in the same first direction.

Abstract: A hand guard strap which mounts to and is held onto the handle of a tool, such as a knife, by sliding onto the handle at distal and proximal ends, the hand guard being held in a secured position by means of spring tension in the strap.

Abstract: A trimming apparatus trims by cutter blades running from one end of a sheet bundle to the other end thereof, includes a bed surface for the sheet bundle, cutter blades for cutting the sheet bundle supported on the bed surface, a drive device for running the cutting blades from one end of the sheet bundle to the other end thereof, a support member having a support face, and a shift device for moving the support member between a working position for the support member supporting cut sheet dust pieces and a retreating position not to hinder the cut sheet dust pieces from dropping. The shift device displaces the support face from the working position to a retreating position after the cutter blades move at a predetermined distance toward the other end of the sheet bundle from one end thereof.

Abstract: A fluid proximity sensor for surface measurements having a measurement chamber (210) with a measurement nozzle (205), a reference chamber (220) with a reference nozzle (225), and a diaphragm (215) forming an interface between the reference chamber and the measurement chamber. A shroud (280) that encloses the measurement nozzle and reference nozzle provides a peripheral gap (295) between the shroud and a work surface (290) being measured. By connecting either a partial vacuum supply or a partial fluid supply to the shroud, the internal shroud pressure can be raised or lowered and thus the gain-frequency operating regime of the proximity sensor optimized. Movement of the diaphragm in response to differential pressure changes can be sensed by optical, capacitive or inductive means (275).

Abstract: A vehicle interior panel includes a decorative covering with a non-visible tear seam that forms a deployment opening through the covering during airbag deployment. The tear seam is formed by mechanical piercing of a skin layer of the covering from the decorative side. The skin layer is formed from a self-healing material, allowing a piercing tool to form microholes that are smaller than the effective piercing diameter of the tool without the need for subsequent processes intended to otherwise hide the formed tear seam. Tear seams formed in this manner can offer larger processing windows, lower manufacturing and equipment cost, and/or shorter cycle times when compared to other methods such as laser scoring. Tear seam function may also be improved and/or more predictable.

Abstract: A power tool is provided with an indicator with a light source for generating a marking. A holding device is secured on the power tool by positive fit. The indicator is releasably secured on the holding device, wherein the holding device is secured to a grip pipe. The holding device has a geometry that is matched to the geometry of the grip pipe such that the holding device is securable in only one position on the grip pipe.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a log positioning system configured to transport a log through one or more chipper/profiler modules to produce a cant with four chipped/profiled sides. In some embodiments, a log processing system may include an infeed, a positioning feed module downstream of the infeed, and one or more chipper/profiler modules disposed proximal to the positioning feed module. The positioning feed module may include a sharp chain coupled to one or more pairs of vertical positioning rolls. The positioning feed module may be selectively skewed, slewed, and/or tilted to match the vertical and angular orientation of the infeed.

Abstract: A stock guide assembly for use with a work table to guide movement of stock along the work table in a feed direction includes a body. The body includes a portion lying in a plane parallel to the feed direction when used to guide movement of the stock. An adjustment mechanism is associated with the body for attaching the body to the work table and permitting the body to be adjusted on the table along an x-axis and a y-axis. A roller assembly is mounted on the body. The roller assembly includes a roller mounted for rotation relative to the body. The roller is positioned at a skew angle relative to the body portion plane and to the feed direction when used to guide movement of the stock. A second stock guide assembly substantially similar to the first stock guide assembly can be provided for use with the work table.

Abstract: A method is described here for the layerwise construction of models, wherein, in a building region, a particulate material is applied layerwise and selectively cured. These steps are repeated until a desired model is obtained. The material comprises in this case a particulate building material and a spray-dried alkali metal silicate solution. Selective activation of the curing proceeds using a water-comprising solution.

Abstract: An unseasoned substrate support assembly includes a ceramic body and a thermally conductive base bonded to a lower surface of the ceramic body. The substrate support assembly further includes an upper surface of the ceramic body having a first portion proximate to a center of the upper surface of the ceramic body and having a first roughness profile and a second portion distal from the center of the upper surface of the ceramic body and having a second roughness profile with a lower roughness than the first roughness profile, wherein areas of the first and second portions are based on radial distances from the center of the ceramic body.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are presented. An apparatus comprises a composite structure, a plurality of cavities extending into the composite structure, and a plurality of mandrels located within the plurality of cavities. The composite structure comprises a thermoplastic material that is consolidated. The plurality of mandrels comprises a first material that is configured to generate heat in response to a magnetic field.

Abstract: A spoke casting device for integrally cast-molding a spoke of an airless tire includes a casting mold including upper and lower molds which relatively moves between mold closed and mold open states in tire axial direction, a positioning device which concentrically positions a hub and a tread ring with respect to the cast mold, and a demolding device which pushes out an airless tire from the lower mold in the open state. The cast mold concentrically holds the ring and hub between the upper and lower molds and forms a cavity for casting a spoke made of a polymer material between the ring and hub held in the closed state, and the positioning device includes a first positioning device including an outer peripheral surface contact portion such that the contact portion makes contact with outer peripheral surface of the ring and positions the ring with respect to the cast mold.

Abstract: A method of making an absorbent core for use in an absorbent article. The method comprising the steps of: a. providing a first absorbent fibrous web material; b. providing a second absorbent fibrous web material; c. providing a pair of rolls forming a nip through which the first and second absorbent fibrous web materials can be processed, the pair of rolls being selected from the processes consisting of, ring rolling, SELF, micro-SELF, and rotary knife aperturing; d. deforming portions of the first absorbent fibrous web material by processing through the pair of rolls; e. deforming portions of the second absorbent fibrous web material by processing through the pair of rolls; and f. combining the first and second absorbent fibrous web materials to form the absorbent core.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a headlight lens for a vehicle headlight, wherein a blank is molded from transparent plastic material by means of an injection molding process, and wherein the blank is subsequently blank-molded by means of a final contour mold to form the headlight lens.

Abstract: A device for locating a first aerospace component relative to a second aerospace component, comprising a bladder with a flexible membrane which defines a fluid receiving space such that, when a hardenable hydraulic fluid is injected into the bladder, said membrane is urged to deform into abutment with said first and second aerospace components to locate said components relative to each other when the hydraulic fluid hardens.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a terminal block for a telecommunication cable is disclosed, which includes: positioning at least one electrical connector in a mold, the at least one electrical connector comprising a first end adapted to receive a first electrical wire and a second end adapted to receive a second electrical wire; connecting at least one insulated electrical wire to the first end of each of the at least one electrical connectors; and injecting a dielectric material by a force of greater than 1 g into the mold containing the at least one electrical connector and the at least one electrical wire, wherein the dielectric material surrounds at least the first end of the electrical connector and the at least one electrical wire.

Abstract: A carrier for providing at least one cleaning element to a mold cavity is disclosed. The carrier includes a main body having a first surface including one or more openings of one or more blind holes having a depth (D) for carrying the at least one cleaning element and a second surface being substantially parallel to the first surface. The main body includes at least two partial bodies which are arranged adjacent to each other in the direction of the one or more blind holes so that at least one partial body comprises one or more through-holes as part of the one or more blind holes and one partial body comprising the second surface of the main body comprises the blind end of the one or more blind-holes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a preform (300) suitable for subsequent blow-molding into a final-shaped container. The preform comprises a neck portion (302); a gate portion (306); and a body portion (304) extending between said neck portion and said gate portion; the gate portion including an upwardly-bound region (324) defined between the inner and outer walls thereof, substantially whole of the upwardly-bound region extending in a direction towards the neck portion (302).

Abstract: Apparatus for actuation of split locking nuts of a two platen injection molding machine. Each split locking nut has opposed mating nut halves movable in translation relative to a strain rod therebetween to selectably engage the strain rod. Mating nut halves of two split locking nuts are interconnected by connecting rods to define a pair of split nuts: a master split locking nut driven by an actuator; and a slave split locking nut to which motion is transferred by the connecting rods. Motion of a driven nut half of each master split locking nut is coupled to the opposed mating nut half by at least one coupling mechanism, each comprising a pivot arm and two pivot links interposed between the pivot arm and the opposed mating nut halves whereby translation of a driven nut half is coupled to effect equal and opposite translation of the opposed mating nut half.

Abstract: A device for operating a machine equipped with a handling device, particularly an injection molding machine, includes a first stationary operating device secured to the machine, and a second mobile operating device. The operating devices can be designed to be touch screen. The stationary operating device is designed for operating both the machine and the handling device and the mobile operating device is likewise designed for operating both the handling device and the machine. Each operating device is fully equipped for comprehensive configuration or programming and for operating the machine and the handling device. The screen of the mobile operating device is smaller than the screen of the stationary operating device, and predefinable regions of a screen page of the screen of the stationary operating device can be shown successively on the screen of the mobile operating device.

Abstract: A hot runner injection molding apparatus (10) includes hot runner nozzles (20), a movable frame (30) that can be displaced between at least two positions relative to a plurality of mold cavities (24), each cavity having a mold gate (27). Valve pins (32) associated with the hot runner nozzles (20) are individually coupled to the movable frame (30) by a decouplable connector (36, 60). Disengagement devices (40) associated with the valve pins are activated to decouple any associated valve pin (32) from the movable frame (30). A control system (52) is used to activate the disengagement devices (40). In some instances a blocking element (42) is also activated to lock any valve pin at the mold gate or close to the mold gate. Control system (52) is further used to operate the blocking element (42). Disengagement devices (40) and the blocking elements (42) can be the same or different.

Abstract: A structured film of a semi-crystalline polyolefin and a beta-nucleating agent is disclosed. The structured film has a backing and upstanding posts attached to the backing. At least a portion of the film typically includes beta-spherulites. In some embodiments, the backing is microporous while the upstanding posts have lower porosity. A method of making a structured film is also disclosed. The method includes extruding a melt of a polyolefin and a beta-nucleating agent in the presence of a tool to provide the structured film having upstanding posts on a backing and cooling at least a portion of the structured film to a temperature sufficient to form beta-spherulites. In some embodiments, the method further includes stretching the structured film containing beta-spherulites to provide micropores in the backing.