Ultrasonic near field hot glass transportation and forming

A method for shaping a material into a final form shape using acoustic waves, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a softened, viscous, or viscoelastic material, or a material having a preform shape;
• b. providing a support structure having a rigid surface, and a vibration generator operatively connected to the rigid surface;
• c. generating and transmitting acoustic waves from the vibration generator to the rigid surface, at a frequency and an amplitude sufficient to vibrate the rigid surface and thereby create a gas squeeze film adjacent the rigid surface, the gas squeeze film having a pressure greater than ambient air pressure;
• and
• d. levitating the material with the pressure generated by the gas squeeze film such that the material does not contact the rigid surface;
• wherein the gas squeeze film and load forces acting on the material are sufficient to change the material to a final form shape.