Method Of Manufacturing A Workpiece With Multiple Metal Layers

Abstract

A mold for making a workpiece is shown performing the steps of positioning a workpiece in a cavity of the mold, moving a first mold piece and a second mold piece towards a closed configuration with an extending wall of the first mold piece pressing into a peripheral portion of the workpiece so as to hold the workpiece between the first and second mold pieces, wherein a space is defined between the workpiece and a surface of the first mold piece in the closed configuration, the space receiving a molding material so as to form at least a second layer of the workpiece, and pressing the extending wall of the first mold piece into the peripheral portion of the workpiece to form a seal between the extending wall and the workpiece to prevent flow of a fluid through the seal. Moveable pieces for such a mold are shown.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 065,745, filed 29 Oct. 2013, now pending, which is a Division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 747,833, filed 23 Jan. 2013, now pending, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 651,980 filed on 15 Oct. 2012, which is itself a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 277,673 filed on 20 Oct. 2011, which claims priority in Chinese Patent Application No. 2011 0037281.4, filed 1 Feb. 2011, the contents of these applications being incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a workpiece, such as a plate, with multiple metal layers. For the purpose of this invention, where the context allows, the terms “metal” and “metals” shall also include “alloys of metal” and “alloys of metals” respectively. It should also be understood th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a mold with two movable parts that can hold a semi-finished workpiece and form a seal to prevent fluid flow. This is achieved by a wall member on the first mold piece that punches into the workpiece when the mold is closed.

Problems solved by technology

A conventional colorful plastic casing of an electronic product is easily broken and damaged by external impact, while a casing of a single metal layer may rust due to environmental factors, or subsequent surface treatment cannot be performed on the casing due to the limitation of material properties.

In the prior art, a casing for a consumer electronic apparatus which is formed of double metal layers or of a mechanical laminate of materials is usually prepared by vacuum evaporation or ion sputtering, which entails high manufacturing cost.

However, as such a prior art casing is not good for receiving surface treatment involving wet process, such as plating and anodizing, it is less corrosion resistant.

However, such solid-state welding processes may significantly increase the complexity and cost of the processing flow.

Existing methods do not allow a thin layer of metal to be injected onto and bonded / engaged with a layer of metal to form a workpiece with multiple metal layers.

In addition, as such products get compacter and slimmer, problems arise as regards post-treatment, such as trimming and computer numerical control (CNC) works, which are required for achieving the necessary features.

As such products get more and more compact and slim, problems arise as regards post-treatment (such as trimming) of such workpieces as covers, housings, casings and chassis, because such post-treatment will exert pressure on the workpieces, which may deform the workpieces.

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