Thermo-mechanical reforming method and system and mechanical reforming tool

A thermo-mechanical reforming method, comprising:

• (a) heating a reformable area and a non-reformable area of a sheet of glass material to a first temperature corresponding to a first viscosity;
• (b) subsequently locally heating the reformable area to a second temperature corresponding to a second viscosity, the second viscosity being lower than the first viscosity;
• and
• (c) forming a predetermined bend in the reformable area during step (b) with a mechanical reforming tool, wherein the mechanical reforming tool comprises:
• a pusher;
• linear-to-rotary motion guide comprising a pair of angled brackets coupled to the pusher and configured to receive a linear motion, convert the linear motion to a rotary motion, and impart the rotary motion to the pusher;
• and
• an actuator coupled to the linear-to-rotary motion guide, wherein the predetermined bend is formed by contacting the pusher with an edge of the reformable area and displacing the actuator along a linear path to thereby rotate the pusher along a circular path and apply a pushing force to the edge area of the reformable area that results in the predetermined bend in the reformable area.