Method for making a covering

A method for making a covering for complex structures comprising the steps of:

• providing a first layer made of a flexible material having a first and a second surface facing respectively opposite sides, by providing a net having a plurality of through openings;
• providing a second layer made of a substantially rigid material having a first surface and a second surface facing respectively opposite sides;
• fixing, said first surface of said second layer to said second surface of said first layer, by applying a glue or a similar adhesion substance onto said first surface of said second layer, and arranging said first layer onto said second layer so that the second surface of said first layer engages the glue placed on said first surface of said second layer;
• providing a third layer made of a substantially rigid material having a first surface and a second surface facing respectively opposite sides;
• fixing said first surface of said third layer to said first surface of said first layer, by applying a glue or a similar adhesion substance onto said first surface of said third layer, and by arranging said third layer onto said first layer on the opposite side with respect to said second layer so that the glue applied on the first surface of said third layer engages the first surface of said first layer;
• pressing said first layer, second layer, and third layer against each other;
• the arrangement of said first layer on said second layer and said third layer on said first layer causing embedding of said net of said first layer in said glue applied on said second and third layers, such that the glue applied on said second and third layers passes through said net of said first layer and fills the through openings of the latter so as to directly join said second layer to said third layer at said through openings;
• designing a three-dimensional shape of the covering and determining number and orientations of grooves on the second and on the third layers to allow the covering to take, in a mounting step, an established three-dimensional shape, the established three-dimensional shape being established by creating a structural virtual three-dimensional model or by importing a previously existing structural virtual three-dimensional model or by generating a structural virtual three-dimensional model from detection of a real three-dimensional shape, the determination of the number and the orientations of the grooves being performed through a step of processing the established virtual three-dimensional model, the determination step comprising execution and display of a preview of the structural configuration of the covering corresponding to the established final shape;
• storing the final three-dimensional model corresponding to the covering to be obtained;
• processing the shape of said final three-dimensional model for obtaining, in a plane, on the second and the third layers, the grooves required for obtaining the three-dimensional shape of the latter;
• determining a list of controls for controlling a numeric control machine, provided for obtaining, in a plane, on the second layer and the third layer of said covering, V-shaped grooves in order to obtain the determined three-dimensional shape;
• obtaining, by removing material in said second layer at least one groove, so as to define adjacent rigid structural portions, the making of each groove being performed by obtaining a cavity having a substantially V-shaped profile, the vertex of which is arranged close to or at said first layer;
• obtaining, by removing material, in said third layer at least one groove corresponding to the respective groove of said second layer, so as to define adjacent rigid structural portions, each corresponding to a respective rigid structural portion of said second layer, the obtaining of each groove being performed by forming a cavity having a substantially V-shaped profile, with a vertex arranged close to or at said first layer;
• and
• using a resulting covering to cover complex surfaces or structures, as a furnishing element, as a self-supporting wall, or as a support structure.