Methods and apparatus for forming microscopic features on a film layer
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorWeidong Song
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for forming microscopic features on a film layer are disclosed. An example method includes using a surface of a tool to contact a thermoplastic film coupled to an outer surface of a structure. The surface of the tool defines a first microscopic pattern. The example method also includes heating the thermoplastic film by moving the surface of the tool on the thermoplastic film to create friction between the tool and the thermoplastic film and urging the heated thermoplastic film into the first microscopic pattern of the surface of the tool to form a second microscopic pattern in the thermoplastic film.
Claims11
A method comprising:
- using a surface of a tool to contact a thermoplastic film coupled to an outer surface of a structure, the surface of the tool defining a first microscopic pattern;
- rotating the surface of the tool on the thermoplastic film at a rotational speed sufficient to create friction between the tool and the thermoplastic film to heat the thermoplastic film to malleability;
- and
- urging the heated thermoplastic film into the first microscopic pattern of the surface of the tool to form a second microscopic pattern in the thermoplastic film.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.