Thus the portion of the blank is heated and the blank is shaped.

The blank encases portions of one or more radio-opaque features, wherein the one or more radio-opaque features are embedded within the blank and extend at least between the external surfaces of the blank.

The plasma is generated outside the parison and introduced into the parison.

The die is closed about the blank to deform the blank into a part.

The glass blank is then polished.

The assembly can include a blank and a support coupled to the blank to facilitate machining of the blank.

Folding of the blank (100) and a receptacle (150) formed of the blank (100) are also disclosed.

The blank is particularly suitable for books.

The blank is detached from the mould (3).

Two marks are ablated in the blank.

The green compact thus obtained is subsequently sintered.

The guide is affixed to the structural blank by injection molding and over molding the guide onto the structural blank.

The first cavity may receive a peripheral margin of the blank and the second cavity may receive the remainder of the blank.

The tip of the blank is subsequently hardened.

A recess at which the formed blank can be joined to a further part is made in the blank.