Lead screw coating method

Abstract

The lead screw coating method comprises the steps that a lead screw is etched, so that a rough net-shaped structure is formed on the surface of the lead screw; a metal alloy coating is formed on the net-shaped structure through sputtering, and the metal alloy coating comprises at least one of chromium, nickel and titanium; and depositing to form a diamond-like carbon layer on the metal alloy coating by using a physical vapor deposition technology. The method can improve the wear resistance of the lead screw, effectively prolong the service life of the lead screw and ensure the accuracy of the stroke of the lead screw.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of lead screw manufacturing, and in particular to a coating method for a lead screw. Background Art

[0002] The lead screw is an important component in the industry. It is driven by a motor to rotate and move the robot arm to the specified position, which will cause friction. In particular, as the use time increases, the channel inside the lead screw will cause wear, which directly affects the accuracy of the lead screw's stroke. The traditional improvement method is to chrome-plate its surface, but this method can only improve wear to a certain extent and still cannot meet current requirements.

[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a coating method for a lead screw to overcome the above defects. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved coating method for a lead screw, so as to improve the wear resistance of the lead screw, effectively extend the service life of the lead screw and ensure the accuracy of the lead screw stroke.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the coating method of the lead screw of the present invention comprises the following steps:

[0006] Etching the lead screw to form a rough mesh structure on the surface of the lead screw;

[0007] sputtering to form a metal alloy coating on the mesh structure, wherein the metal alloy coating includes at least one of chromium, nickel, and titanium; and

[0008] A diamond-like carbon layer is deposited on the metal alloy coating by utilizing physical vapor deposition technology.

[0009] Compared with the prior art, the present invention first etches a rough mesh structure on the surface of the lead screw, which is conducive to the subsequent metal alloy coating to better adhere to its surface. The metal alloy coating is formed on the mesh structure by sputtering, and finally a diamond-like carbon (DLC) layer is deposited on the metal alloy coating using physical vapor deposition technology. The DLC coating is deposited on the metal alloy coating using physical vapor deposition technology (PVD), which has the advantages of high hardness, excellent anti-friction performance, chemical stability, etc., and can effectively solve the problem of inaccurate stroke caused by lead screw wear, and effectively extend the service life of the lead screw.

[0010] Preferably, the etching includes: introducing argon gas and oxygen gas into the chamber, adjusting the vacuum degree of the chamber to 3-4 Pa, and performing radio frequency glow treatment on the lead screw to form the mesh structure.

[0011] Preferably, the radio frequency glow treatment includes: controlling the cathode frequency to be 100-120 KHz, the anode frequency to be 27.12-28.55 MHz, and the duration of the radio frequency glow treatment to be 50-80 seconds.

[0012] Preferably, the flow rate of the oxygen gas is 100-120 sccm, and the flow rate of the argon gas is 800-900 sccm.

[0013] Preferably, the etching chamber temperature is 60-65°C.

[0014] Preferably, the metal alloy coating is formed by ion sputtering: argon gas is introduced into the chamber, and the vacuum degree in the chamber is adjusted to (5-8)×10 -2 Pa, the control voltage is 2.5-3.5KV, and the current is 15-20A.

[0015] Preferably, the ion sputtering time is 20-25 minutes.

[0016] Preferably, the thickness of the metal alloy coating is 8-10 μm.

[0017] Preferably, depositing the diamond-like carbon layer comprises: introducing hydrocarbon gas into the chamber, maintaining the vacuum degree in the chamber at (5-8)×10 -2 Pa, the working voltage applied to the ion beam is greater than 2KV, the working current is 15-30A, and the deposition time is 60-80 minutes.

[0018] Preferably, the thickness of the diamond-like carbon layer is 25-30 μm. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The coating method of the lead screw of the present invention is further described below in conjunction with the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited thereby. The method of the present invention aims to provide a coating method of the lead screw, improve the wear resistance of the lead screw, effectively extend the service life of the lead screw and ensure the accuracy of the lead screw stroke.

[0020] In one embodiment of the coating method of the lead screw of the present invention, the following steps are included:

[0021] Etching the lead screw to form a rough mesh structure on the surface of the lead screw;

[0022] sputtering to form a metal alloy coating on the mesh structure, wherein the metal alloy coating includes at least one of chromium, nickel, and titanium; and

[0023] A diamond-like carbon layer is deposited on the metal alloy coating by utilizing physical vapor deposition technology.

[0024] The present invention first etches a rough mesh structure on the surface of the lead screw, which is conducive to the subsequent metal alloy coating to better adhere to its surface. The metal alloy coating is formed on the mesh structure by sputtering, and finally a diamond-like carbon (DLC) layer is deposited on the metal alloy coating using physical vapor deposition technology. The DLC coating is deposited on the metal alloy coating using physical vapor deposition technology (PVD), which has the advantages of high hardness, excellent anti-friction performance, chemical stability, etc., and can effectively solve the problem of inaccurate stroke caused by lead screw wear, and effectively extend the service life of the lead screw.

[0025] Specifically, in one embodiment, etching is used for pre-cleaning, and the lead screw is placed in an etcher for etching. Specifically, argon and oxygen are introduced into the chamber, the vacuum degree of the chamber is adjusted to 3-4Pa, and the lead screw is subjected to RF glow treatment to form a mesh structure on the surface. Preferably, the flow rate of oxygen is controlled to be 100-120sccm, and the flow rate of argon is 800-900sccm. In addition, to ensure the etching effect, the chamber temperature is preferably 60-65°C. Under this environment, the RF glow treatment includes: controlling the cathode frequency to be 100-120KHz, the anode frequency to be 27.12-28.55MHz, and the RF glow treatment time to be 50-80 seconds. This step can fully remove and decompose the residue on the surface of the lead screw, and form an uneven mesh structure on its surface, so that the coating in the next step can be well attached to its surface.

[0026] Next, a metal alloy coating is formed on the mesh structure by sputtering. Specifically, in a vacuum coating machine, a metal alloy is selected as a target material, and the metal alloy is bombarded by the electron gun of the sputtering coating machine, and finally a layer of metal alloy coating is plated on the mesh structure surface of the lead screw. Preferably, the metal alloy coating includes at least one of chromium, nickel, and titanium. As an embodiment, the metal weight parts of the metal alloy coating include 80 parts of chromium, 5 parts of nickel, and 15 parts of titanium. Specifically, during ion sputtering, argon gas is introduced into the chamber, and the vacuum degree in the chamber is adjusted to (5-8)×10 -2 Pa, the control voltage is 2.5-3.5KV, the current is 15-20A, and the ion sputtering time is 20-25 minutes to form a metal alloy coating with a thickness of 8-10μm. The metal alloy coating serves as a transition layer for the subsequent deposition of a diamond-like carbon layer.

[0027] Finally, a diamond-like carbon layer is deposited on the metal alloy coating using physical vapor deposition technology. Specifically, a hydrocarbon gas, such as methane, is introduced into the chamber to maintain a vacuum degree in the chamber at (5-8)×10 -2Pa, the working voltage applied to the ion beam is greater than 2KV, and the working current is 15-30 A. A pulse bias voltage greater than 200V is applied to the workpiece, and the deposition time is 60-80 minutes, thereby forming a diamond-like carbon layer with a thickness of 25-30 μm.

[0028] After the above steps, a diamond-like carbon layer is formed on the outer surface of the lead screw, thereby extending the service life of the lead screw from the original maintenance once every six months to once every 1.5 years, greatly reducing maintenance costs.

[0029] In summary, the present invention first etches a rough mesh structure on the surface of the lead screw, which is conducive to the subsequent metal alloy coating to better adhere to its surface. The metal alloy coating is formed on the mesh structure by sputtering, and finally a diamond-like carbon layer is deposited on the metal alloy coating using physical vapor deposition technology. The diamond-like carbon layer is deposited on the metal alloy coating using physical vapor deposition technology, which has the advantages of high hardness, excellent anti-friction performance, chemical stability, etc., and can effectively solve the problem of inaccurate stroke caused by lead screw wear, and effectively extend the service life of the lead screw.

[0030] The above disclosure is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which certainly cannot be used to limit the scope of rights of the present invention. Therefore, equivalent changes made according to the scope of the patent application of the present invention are still within the scope covered by the present invention.

Claims

1. A coating method for a lead screw, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: Etching the lead screw to form a rough mesh structure on the surface of the lead screw; sputtering to form a metal alloy coating on the mesh structure, wherein the metal alloy coating includes at least one of chromium, nickel, and titanium; as well as A diamond-like carbon layer is deposited on the metal alloy coating by utilizing physical vapor deposition technology.

2. The coating method for a lead screw according to claim 1, characterized in that: The etching comprises: introducing argon gas and oxygen into the chamber, adjusting the vacuum degree of the chamber to 3-4 Pa, and performing radio frequency glow treatment on the lead screw to form the mesh structure.

3. The coating method for a lead screw according to claim 2, characterized in that: The radio frequency glow treatment includes: controlling the cathode frequency to be 100-120 KHz, the anode frequency to be 27.12-28.55 MHz, and the duration of the radio frequency glow treatment to be 50-80 seconds.

4. The coating method for a lead screw according to claim 2, characterized in that: The flow rate of the oxygen gas is 100-120 sccm, and the flow rate of the argon gas is 800-900 sccm.

5. The coating method for a lead screw according to claim 1, characterized in that: The temperature of the etching chamber is 60-65°C.

6. The coating method for a lead screw according to claim 1, characterized in that: The metal alloy coating is formed by ion sputtering: argon gas is introduced into the chamber, and the vacuum degree in the chamber is adjusted to (5-8)×10 -2 Pa, the control voltage is 2.5-3.5KV, and the current is 15-20A.

7. The coating method for a lead screw according to claim 6, characterized in that: The ion sputtering time is 20-25 minutes.

8. The coating method for a lead screw as claimed in claim 6, wherein the thickness of the metal alloy coating is 8-10 μm.

9. The coating method for a lead screw according to claim 1, characterized in that: Depositing the diamond-like carbon layer comprises: introducing hydrocarbon gas into the chamber, maintaining the vacuum degree in the chamber at (5-8)×10 -2 Pa, the working voltage applied to the ion beam is greater than 2KV, the working current is 15-30A, and the deposition time is 60-80 minutes.

10. The coating method for a lead screw according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thickness of the diamond-like carbon layer is 25-30 μm.