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Method of rapid insert backing

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-11-01
ACTIVE BURS MOLD & DESIGN
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]Thus, the next step has been to build up the back surface of the reflex skin. The thickness of the backing preferably is approximately 0.50 of an inch thick. The backing adds rigidity to the reflex insert tool so as to stabilize the insert tool when it is mounted into a mold. Thus, in order to build up the back surface of the reflex skin so as to have sufficient thickness, large electroformed tanks are utilized that are filled with an electroforming bath consisting of nickel, cobalt, etc. This bath produces lower densities than the skin bath and is easier to machine. This building up process takes about 6-7 weeks as the electroforming process is a very gradual process.
[0007]Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved method of manufacturing a reflex insert tool which is less capital intensive, requires less manpower and plating time, less expensive machinery, substantially shortens the cycle time for making a reflex tool all the while maintaining photometric performance. It would also be preferred to utilize a cold spray technology during the backing process so as to reduce heat on the reflex skin so as to minimize heat damage and warp age.
[0008]According to one aspect of the present invention, it would be desirable to speed up the process for manufacturing a reflex insert tool by entirely eliminating the electroplating process that was traditionally used to build up the backing on the insert skin.
[0012]It will be appreciated that this process results in a reflex insert tool that can be used for making an assortment of optical parts. This novel process takes substantially less time than does conventional methods that were used in the past to make optical reflex insert tools. This novel process further utilizes less natural resources, less capital intensive machinery, and is safer to manufacture. This novel process increases the number of reflex inserts that can be manufactured while maximizing the use of existing electroforming tanks, and other resources. For example, because the electroforming tanks are not used for the electroforming the back surface of the skin, the tanks are now freed up for making new skins that can be in turn used to make more reflex inserts. The electroforming tanks are only needed for about two weeks in total for each reflex insert.

Problems solved by technology

However, this skin is of insufficient thickness, lacks rigidity, and therefore is unreliable to be used as an insert tool.
Thus, the problem with utilizing the traditional electroforming process and their associated tanks of metal, is that the electroforming process is time consuming and labor intensive.
Moreover, the traditional electroforming process is extremely capital intensive as it requires large tanks of liquid electroformable metal that can be a caustic substance.
These huge tanks consume large amounts of energy, require several people to operate and to manage, and the backing portion of the electroforming process takes six to seven weeks to complete.

Method used

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Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0025]With respect to FIG. 1, an optical pin 10 has an elongated steel shaft with a precisely machined prism 12 on one end thereof. The prism 12 is specially configured to take on an optical surface configuration which in turn, is imparted onto an electroformed skin.

[0026]FIG. 2 illustrates a bundle 14 of optical pins 10 that are arranged together in a predetermined configuration. The configuration illustrated is exemplary in nature and it will be appreciated that the bundles can be arranged in a variety of profiles as desired. The bundle of pins 14 are arranged so as to have the respective prisms adjacent to one another.

[0027]FIG. 3 illustrates the bundle of pins 14 secured within a two-piece clamp 16. The clamp has a first half 18 and second half 20. The clamp 16 is shown with a cut-away section with the bundle 14 of pins shown positioned within an opening 22 located in the center of the clamp 16. The clamp 16 has a back surface 24 and a front surface 26. The clamp 16 is made pref...

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Abstract

Manufacturing a reflex insert tool includes the steps of assembling optical pins in a bundle, and inserting same into a mold clamp assembly. The mold clamp assembly is placed into a vat, wherein an electroformed skin is developed which in turn is removed from the bath. A cold spraying technique is utilized applying a build up of material on the back surface of the electroformed skin. The back surface of the reflex insert is then machined and through wire EDM, configured to a desired shape and thereafter ready for insertion into a tool for injection molding plastic parts therefrom.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 796,002, filed 28 Apr. 2006. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention pertains to a method of making a reflex insert tool which in turn is utilized to make an optical plastic part, such as a head lamp, or a tail lamp.BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0003]Automobiles routinely have optical components, such as a rear tail light lens, that are manufactured during an injection molding process. Often these plastic parts have reflective elements or prisms built into their surface, in order to aid in the reflectivity of the lens. During the injection molding process, these prisms become part of the tool's surface which results in the negative of the prisms being projected onto an interior surface of the completed plastic part. The present invention focuses on a method of making a re...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): C25D1/00
CPCC25D1/10C25D1/00
Inventor KENNEY, DANIEL R.
Owner ACTIVE BURS MOLD & DESIGN
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