Method and apparatus for bending a sheet of material into a shaped article

摘要

A method for bending a sheet of material (100) into a shaped article includes providing the sheet of material (100). A reformable area (106) and a non-reformable area (108) of the sheet of material (100) are heated to a first temperature range corresponding to a first viscosity range. The reformable area (106) of the sheet of material (100) is subsequently heated to a second temperature range corresponding to a second viscosity range. The reformable area (106) of the sheet of material (100) is reformed into a selected shape by at least one of sagging the reformable area (106) of the sheet of material (100) and applying a force to the sheet of material (100) outside of or near a boundary of the reformable area (106).