A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal device, comprising the following steps in the order named:
- providing an LCD sandwich having gap with a prescribed volume, and an uncured epoxy sealant;
- temporarily attaching a vacuum reservoir to the LCD sandwich, the vacuum reservoir having an internal volume substantially larger than the volume of the gap, the vacuum reservoir maintaining the LCD sandwich in alignment;
- placing the LCD sandwich and vacuum reservoir into a bag;
- evacuating the bag so that the bag conforms to the LCD sandwich and the vacuum reservoir, and applies uniform pressure to the LCD sandwich;
- sealing the bag to maintain a vacuum in the bag;
- heating the bag for a time and temperature sufficient to cause the gap in the LCD sandwich to decrease to a desired final gap and to cure the epoxy sealant;
- removing the vacuum reservoir from the LCD sandwich.