Intelligent temperature control movable metal vacuum coating method

Abstract

The invention discloses an intelligent temperature control mobile metal vacuum coating method, which is characterized in that programmed intelligent temperature control and a dynamic mobile coating process are synergistically integrated; comprising the steps of equipment preparation, workpiece loading, vacuum establishment, temperature control planning, programmed heating, metal deposition, dynamic homogenization, real-time feedback control, programmed cooling and workpiece taking out. According to the invention, the technical problems of non-uniform film layer, poor binding force, thermal damage to the substrate and the like caused by inaccurate temperature control and single motion mode in the existing vacuum coating technology are solved. Test results show that the film thickness uniformity can be remarkably improved, the standard deviation is lower than 0.51 mu m, the binding force reaches 4B grade or above, the hardness of a matrix is effectively protected, meanwhile, excellent corrosion resistance is given to a workpiece, and a reliable solution is provided for high-quality and high-stability industrial vacuum coating.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of material surface treatment technology, specifically relating to an intelligent temperature-controlled mobile metal vacuum coating method, and the equipment and system for implementing this method. This invention is particularly suitable for precision parts requiring high uniformity, adhesion, and substrate properties, such as metal surface coatings for automotive engine components, aerospace components, and consumer electronics products. Background Technology

[0002] Vacuum coating technology, as an advanced surface treatment process, is widely used in precision instruments, electronic components, automotive parts, and decorative products. It can form thin metal films with wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant, conductive, or decorative properties on the surface of workpieces. Mobile vacuum coating equipment aims to improve the uniformity of the film by creating relative movement between the workpiece and the evaporation source during the coating process. However, existing mobile vacuum coating technologies, especially when dealing with complex geometries or thermally sensitive applications, generally face the common technical challenge of simultaneously achieving film uniformity, adhesion, and the integrity of the workpiece's microstructure.

[0003] Current mainstream vacuum coating processes have significant technical limitations: First, traditional processes lack precise closed-loop control of workpiece temperature during coating, often employing constant power heating or natural temperature rise, leading to uncontrollable thermal cycling of the workpiece. The resulting thermal stress can easily cause a decrease in the adhesion between the film and the substrate, and even microscopic deformation of the workpiece. Second, while existing mobile coating methods improve macroscopic uniformity through physical motion, their movement patterns are singular and fail to coordinate with temperature field changes, making it difficult to compensate for the "shadowing effect" and deposition rate reduction caused by uneven temperature distribution and workpiece geometry. The differences in deposition rates result in uneven thickness and density of the film at the microscale. Third, conventional processes, in pursuit of rapid film growth, often deposit at high, unsuitable substrate temperatures. While this improves deposition efficiency, high temperatures can alter the metallographic structure of the workpiece or cause tempering softening, damaging its mechanical properties and creating a contradictory situation of "damaging the substrate for the sake of coating." Fourth, existing technologies lack sufficient control over the coupling relationship between key process parameters such as vacuum level, evaporation rate, and workpiece temperature, resulting in a narrow process window and poor coating quality stability across different batches, thus requiring improved yield.

[0004] Furthermore, existing improvements in temperature control primarily focus on cooling the evaporation source or the vacuum chamber walls, with insufficient attention paid to the precise monitoring and programmed adjustment of the workpiece's temperature. The few attempts to incorporate temperature control are mostly open-loop or simple PID control, exhibiting sluggish response and failing to adapt to dynamic thermal disturbances caused by metal deposition heat release and radiative heating during the coating process. In terms of motion control, uniform rotation or translation is commonly used, lacking optimized path planning for specific workpiece shapes, making it difficult to achieve truly uniform three-dimensional coating. Therefore, there is an urgent need in this field to develop a new intelligent vacuum coating method capable of achieving precise temperature control and adaptive dynamic motion coordination, thereby obtaining highly uniform, highly adhesive, and excellent overall performance metal thin films while ensuring the workpiece's inherent performance. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems in the prior art, this invention provides an intelligent temperature-controlled mobile metal vacuum coating method.

[0006] This invention includes the following technical solutions: A smart temperature-controlled mobile metal vacuum coating method includes the following steps: (1) Equipment preparation steps: Provide a mobile vacuum coating equipment, which includes a vacuum chamber, a heating system, a metal evaporation source, a moving device and an intelligent temperature control system; (2) Workpiece loading step: Place the workpiece to be coated in the vacuum chamber; (3) Vacuum establishment step: Start the vacuum pump to evacuate the vacuum chamber to a predetermined vacuum level, wherein the predetermined vacuum level is 1×10⁻⁶. -3 Pa to 1×10 -5 Pa; (4) Temperature control planning steps: Set the target temperature curve through the intelligent temperature control system. The target temperature curve includes a heating stage, a heat preservation stage and a cooling stage. (5) Programmed heating steps: Start the heating system and control the temperature of the workpiece according to the intelligent temperature control system so that the workpiece temperature changes according to the target temperature curve; (6) Metal deposition step: Start the metal evaporation source to evaporate the metal and deposit it on the surface of the workpiece to form a metal film; (7) Dynamic homogenization step: The workpiece or the metal evaporation source is moved by the moving device during the coating process to achieve uniform coating; (8) Real-time feedback control steps: The intelligent temperature control system monitors the workpiece temperature in real time and dynamically adjusts the heating power according to the preset algorithm to maintain temperature stability; (9) Programmed cooling step: After the coating is completed, the heating system is controlled to perform programmed cooling until the workpiece temperature drops to a safe temperature; (10) Workpiece removal procedure: Stop the vacuum pump and heating system, and remove the coated workpiece.

[0007] This solution establishes a complete process chain that includes intelligent temperature control and dynamic movement, achieving precise matching of the temperature field and motion trajectory during the coating process. Its core principle lies in the synergistic effect of programmed temperature control curves and real-time motion control, ensuring optimal deposition conditions for metal vapor on the workpiece surface. This significantly improves the uniformity of film thickness macroscopically and enhances the film-substrate bonding strength microscopically, while effectively avoiding film defects caused by temperature fluctuations or deposition dead zones.

[0008] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned intelligent temperature-controlled mobile metal vacuum coating method, the workpiece to be coated in step (2) is a metal workpiece, including steel, aluminum alloy, or titanium alloy; the material of the metal evaporation source is chromium, aluminum, or titanium. This solution limits the specific combination of the substrate material (steel, aluminum alloy, titanium alloy) and the coating material (chromium, aluminum, titanium), based on the matching of thermal expansion coefficients and interfacial compatibility of different material systems. This limitation ensures that in the subsequent temperature-controlled process, the film layer and the substrate can form a metallurgical bond or a strong physical bond. Its beneficial effects are that it significantly improves the adhesion of the coating, avoids the risk of cracking caused by thermal stress mismatch, and specifically meets the specific functional requirements such as wear resistance, corrosion resistance, or decoration. Furthermore, in the above-mentioned intelligent temperature-controlled mobile metal vacuum coating method, the predetermined vacuum degree in step (3) is 5.0 × 10⁻⁶. -4 Pa or higher; the temperature of the heat preservation stage in step (4) is 300℃ to 400℃. This scheme optimizes the vacuum degree (≤5.0×10⁻ 4 The two key process windows, namely the high vacuum environment (Pa) and the holding temperature (300-400℃), are based on the principle that the high vacuum environment reduces the collision and scattering of gas molecules on the evaporated metal atoms, while the appropriate holding temperature promotes the surface migration and diffusion of deposited atoms. Macroscopically, this results in higher film hardness and lower porosity, which significantly improves the overall protective performance and service life of the coating.

[0009] Furthermore, in the aforementioned intelligent temperature-controlled mobile metal vacuum coating method, the intelligent temperature control system in step (4) includes a temperature sensor, a PID controller, and a user interface. The temperature sensor is used to collect workpiece temperature data in real time, the PID controller is used to calculate the control signal based on the deviation between the temperature data and the target temperature curve, and the user interface is used to input and display temperature parameters. This solution constructs a closed-loop intelligent temperature control system composed of a temperature sensor, a PID controller, and a user interface. Its control principle is to collect the workpiece temperature in real time and compare it with the set curve, and dynamically correct the heating power output through the PID algorithm. The beneficial effect of this active feedback regulation is that it can quickly suppress thermal disturbances caused by deposition heat release, radiation changes, etc., and control the workpiece temperature fluctuation within a very small range, thereby providing a crucial thermal environment guarantee for the formation of a coating with stable structure and consistent performance.

[0010] Furthermore, in the aforementioned intelligent temperature-controlled mobile metal vacuum coating method, the moving device in step (7) includes a rotating platform or a linear moving mechanism. The rotating platform is used to rotate the workpiece around an axis, and the linear moving mechanism is used to move the workpiece or metal evaporation source in three-dimensional space. This solution defines specific motion modes such as rotating platforms or three-dimensional linear moving mechanisms. Its principle is to use multi-degree-of-freedom motion to continuously change the orientation of the workpiece surface relative to the evaporation source, thereby eliminating the fixed "viewpoint obstruction" effect. The beneficial effect of this dynamic homogenization strategy is that it can achieve uniform coating of the entire area of ​​workpieces with complex geometries (such as grooves and inner holes), effectively solving the problems of uneven film thickness and performance anisotropy that are common in traditional static coating.

[0011] This invention also discloses an intelligent temperature-controlled mobile metal vacuum coating device for implementing the above method, comprising: A vacuum chamber is used to hold the workpiece to be coated. The heating system, located inside the vacuum chamber, is used to heat the workpiece; A metal evaporation source, located in a vacuum chamber, is used to evaporate metal materials; A moving device, drivenly connected to the workpiece or metal evaporation source, is configured to move during the coating process to achieve uniform coating. An intelligent temperature control system is signal-connected to the heating system and is configured to execute the target temperature curve and realize real-time monitoring and dynamic adjustment. A vacuum pump system, connected to a vacuum chamber, is used to establish and maintain a vacuum environment; The intelligent temperature control system and the mobile device are coordinated and controlled by a control unit to simultaneously perform temperature control and movement operations during the coating process. The intelligent temperature control system includes a temperature sensor, a PID controller, and a user interface. The temperature sensor is installed in a vacuum chamber to monitor the workpiece temperature in real time. The PID controller is used to adjust the heating power according to the temperature data. The user interface is a touch screen or a remote terminal.

[0012] Furthermore, in the aforementioned device, the moving device includes a servo motor and a guide rail, wherein the servo motor is used to drive the workpiece or metal evaporation source to move, and the guide rail is used to guide the moving path.

[0013] This invention also discloses an intelligent temperature-controlled mobile metal vacuum coating system, comprising: The aforementioned intelligent temperature-controlled mobile metal vacuum coating equipment; The control unit is communicatively connected to the device and is used for overall control of the coating process; Data storage unit for recording coating parameters and temperature data; The safety protection unit is used to automatically stop the equipment in abnormal situations.

[0014] Furthermore, in the aforementioned system, the control unit is based on Internet of Things (IoT) technology, supports remote monitoring and operation, and performs data analysis and optimization through a cloud platform.

[0015] The present invention also discloses the application of the above method in the coating of automotive parts, including engine components or decorative parts, wherein a wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant metal coating is formed on the surface of the parts by the method.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following outstanding advantages: The beneficial effects of this invention lie in significantly improving the overall performance and quality stability of vacuum coating. Through precise coordination between the intelligent temperature control system and the moving device, a highly uniform film thickness distribution is achieved, effectively eliminating the thickness unevenness and shadowing effects commonly found in traditional processes. The programmed temperature control strategy ensures a strong bond between the film and the substrate, significantly improving film-substrate adhesion and avoiding the risk of peeling during use. Simultaneously, precise temperature control effectively protects the substrate material, preventing softening or structural changes due to overheating, making it particularly suitable for heat-sensitive precision workpieces. Ultimately, this method improves process stability and repeatability, ensuring consistent high quality across different batches of coated products, thus possessing significant industrial application value. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 A flowchart of an intelligent temperature-controlled mobile metal vacuum coating method according to the present invention; Figure 2 Comparison results (standard deviation) of film thickness uniformity in test examples of this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] Example 1 A smart temperature-controlled mobile vacuum metal coating method is used for chromium (Cr) coating on 65Mn spring steel automotive engine piston rings, such as... Figure 1 As shown, it includes the following steps: (1) Equipment preparation steps: Provide a mobile vacuum coating equipment, which is equipped with a rotating platform as a moving device and an intelligent temperature control system including a PID controller.

[0020] (2) Workpiece loading steps: Fix the pre-treated (cleaning, degreasing, drying) piston ring workpiece on the rotating platform in the vacuum chamber.

[0021] (3) Vacuum establishment steps: Start the multi-stage vacuum pump system consisting of molecular pumps and mechanical pumps to evacuate the vacuum chamber to 5.0 × 10⁻⁶. -4 Pa.

[0022] (4) Temperature control planning steps: Set the target temperature curve through the intelligent temperature control system: raise the temperature from room temperature to 350℃ at 10℃ / minute, then keep it at 350℃ for 120 minutes, and finally control the temperature to be cooled to below 60℃.

[0023] (5) Programmable heating steps: Start the resistance heating system, the intelligent temperature control system controls the workpiece temperature according to the set curve, and the PID controller dynamically adjusts the heating power in real time according to the feedback of the workpiece surface temperature sensor.

[0024] (6) Metal deposition step: After the workpiece temperature stabilizes at 350℃ during the heat preservation stage, the electron beam evaporation source is started to evaporate high-purity (99.99%) chromium particles with an evaporation power of 8 kW.

[0025] (7) Dynamic homogenization step: During the coating process, start the rotating platform to make the piston ring workpiece rotate at a constant speed of 15 rpm.

[0026] (8) Real-time feedback control steps: Throughout the coating process, the intelligent temperature control system continuously monitors the workpiece temperature and controls the temperature fluctuation within ±5℃.

[0027] (9) Programmed cooling steps: After the coating process continues for 90 minutes, the evaporation source is stopped, and the heating system cools according to the preset program until the workpiece temperature drops below 60°C.

[0028] (10) Workpiece removal procedure: shut down all systems, fill the vacuum chamber with high-purity nitrogen to break the vacuum, and remove the coated workpiece.

[0029] Example 2 A smart temperature-controlled mobile vacuum metal coating method for applying an aluminum (Al) decorative coating to a mobile phone frame made of 6061 aluminum alloy includes the following steps: (1) Equipment preparation steps: Provide a mobile vacuum coating equipment, which is equipped with a three-dimensional linear moving mechanism as a moving device.

[0030] (2) Workpiece loading steps: clamp the aluminum alloy mobile phone frame workpiece onto the fixture of the three-dimensional moving mechanism.

[0031] (3) Vacuum establishment steps: Evacuate the vacuum chamber to 8.0 × 10⁻⁶. -5 Pa.

[0032] (4) Temperature control planning steps: Set the target temperature curve: raise the temperature from room temperature to 180°C at a rate of 15°C / minute, then keep it at 180°C for 60 minutes, and finally control the temperature to cool it down to below 50°C.

[0033] (5) Programmatic heating steps: Start the heating system to make the workpiece temperature change according to the set curve.

[0034] (6) Metal deposition step: After entering the heat preservation stage, start the resistance evaporation source to evaporate high-purity aluminum wire with an evaporation power of 3 kW.

[0035] (7) Dynamic homogenization step: During the coating process, the three-dimensional moving mechanism drives the workpiece to move along a preset complex path to perform three-dimensional scanning coating.

[0036] (8) Real-time feedback control steps: The intelligent temperature control system monitors and adjusts in real time to control the temperature fluctuation of the workpiece within ±3℃.

[0037] (9) Programmed cooling steps: After coating for 40 minutes, stop the evaporation source and program the cooling to below 50°C.

[0038] (10) Workpiece removal steps: Remove the workpiece after breaking the cavity.

[0039] Example 3 A smart temperature-controlled mobile metal vacuum coating method for applying a titanium (Ti) protective coating to TC4 titanium alloy aero-engine blades includes the following steps: (1) Equipment preparation steps: Provide a mobile vacuum coating equipment, which is equipped with a planetary rotating frame as a moving device.

[0040] (2) Workpiece loading steps: Install the titanium alloy blades on the planetary carrier.

[0041] (3) Vacuum establishment steps: Evacuate the vacuum chamber to 2.0 × 10⁻⁶. -3 Pa.

[0042] (4) Temperature control planning steps: Set the target temperature curve: raise the temperature from room temperature to 500℃ at 8℃ / minute, then keep it at 500℃ for 150 minutes, and finally control the temperature to be cooled to below 80℃.

[0043] (5) Programmatic heating steps: Start the heating system and control the workpiece temperature to change according to the curve.

[0044] (6) Metal deposition step: After entering the heat preservation stage, start the electric arc evaporation source to evaporate the titanium target material.

[0045] (7) Dynamic homogenization step: During the coating process, the planetary carrier drives the workpiece to revolve and rotate simultaneously.

[0046] (8) Real-time feedback control steps: The intelligent temperature control system monitors and adjusts in real time to control the temperature fluctuation of the workpiece within ±10℃.

[0047] (9) Programmed cooling steps: After coating for 120 minutes, stop the evaporation source and program the cooling to below 80°C.

[0048] (10) Workpiece removal steps: Remove the workpiece after breaking the cavity.

[0049] Comparative Example 1 A vacuum coating method, the steps of which are basically the same as those in Example 1, the difference being: The dynamic homogenization step in step (7) and the temperature dynamic adjustment function in the real-time feedback control step in step (8) are omitted. Specifically, during the coating process, the workpiece remains stationary; at the same time, the heating system uses constant power heating instead of PID dynamic adjustment based on temperature feedback.

[0050] Comparative Example 2 A vacuum coating method, the steps of which are basically the same as those in Example 1, the difference being: The precision temperature control steps in steps (4) and (5) are omitted. Specifically, no programmed target temperature curve is set. After the vacuum chamber reaches a certain vacuum level, the heating system is set to a fixed power to heat to the approximate temperature and then the coating process begins. During the coating process, the workpiece temperature is not precisely monitored or controlled in a closed loop.

[0051] Comparative Example 3 A vacuum coating method, the steps of which are basically the same as those in Example 1, the difference being: The dynamic adjustment function in the real-time feedback control step (8) is omitted. Specifically, the intelligent temperature control system only displays the temperature and does not have the function of dynamically adjusting the heating power based on real-time monitoring data to maintain temperature stability, i.e., it adopts open-loop control.

[0052] Comparative Example 4 A conventional vacuum coating method using the same equipment and workpiece as in Example 1.

[0053] The steps are as follows: After evacuating to the same vacuum level, the heating system is started. When the instrument displays that the heater temperature has reached the set value, the coating process begins. During the coating process, the workpiece remains stationary, and there is no real-time monitoring or feedback control of the workpiece's temperature. The coating time is the same as in Example 1.

[0054] Comparative Example 5 A vacuum coating method, the steps of which are basically the same as those in Example 1, the difference being: The moving device and the temperature control system are not synchronized. Specifically, during the programmed heating step (5), the workpiece does not move; the rotating platform is only activated after metal deposition begins in step (6). That is, the moving device and the temperature control system do not work in tandem during the critical programmed heating phase.

[0055] Test Example 1 Film thickness uniformity test Objective: To verify the effect of intelligent temperature control and mobile device working together on improving coating uniformity.

[0056] method: Sampling: Twelve measurement points were selected at equal intervals along the circumference of each piston ring workpiece after processing in Examples 1-3 and Comparative Examples 1-5.

[0057] Measurement: A commercially available pen-type coating thickness gauge (model: PostTector 6000, Defelsko) equipped with an F-type iron-based probe was used. Three measurements were taken at each measurement point, and the average value was taken as the film thickness at that point.

[0058] Calculation: For the 12 measurement points of each workpiece, calculate the mean and standard deviation. The standard deviation is used as the core indicator for evaluating film thickness uniformity; the smaller the standard deviation, the better the uniformity.

[0059] Results: The results of the film thickness uniformity test are shown in Table 1 and... Figure 2 .

[0060] Conclusion: The standard deviation of film thickness in all example groups was significantly lower than that in the comparative examples. Specifically, Example 1 (standard deviation 0.28 μm) exhibited significantly better uniformity than Comparative Example 1 (no movement, no dynamic temperature control, standard deviation 1.42 μm) and Comparative Example 4 (traditional process, standard deviation 1.95 μm), demonstrating that the dynamic homogenization step and real-time feedback temperature control played a decisive role in improving film uniformity. Comparative Example 5 (movement and temperature control not synchronized) showed better uniformity than Comparative Example 1 but worse than Example 1, indicating that the synergistic effect of both is key to achieving optimal uniformity.

[0061] Test Example 2 Membrane adhesion test Objective: To evaluate the effect of programmed intelligent temperature control on the bonding strength between the film and the substrate.

[0062] method: Grid marking: Use a multi-functional grid marking tool (1mm blade spacing) to mark 10×10 squares on the surface of the coated workpiece, cutting down to the substrate.

[0063] Adhesion: Use dedicated 3M 610 tape to firmly cover the square area and press firmly to ensure complete contact.

[0064] Peeling: Grab one end of the tape and tear it off quickly at a 60-degree angle within 0.5-1.0 seconds.

[0065] Assessment: Under sufficient light, observe the coating peeling in the grid area using a magnifying glass. Rating according to GB / T 9286-1998 standard: Grade 0B (completely smooth edges, no peeling) to Grade 5B (peeling area >65%).

[0066] Results: The results of the membrane adhesion test are shown in Table 2.

[0067] Conclusion: All example groups achieved excellent adhesion (4B or higher). Comparative Example 2 (without precise temperature control) and Comparative Example 4 (conventional process) showed extremely poor adhesion, indicating that programmed precise temperature control is crucial for forming high-adhesion films, effectively alleviating thermal stress and promoting interdiffusion between film and substrate atoms. The adhesion of Comparative Example 3 (without dynamic adjustment) (3B) was lower than that of Example 1 (4B), demonstrating that real-time feedback control can further optimize the interfacial adhesion.

[0068] Test Example 3 Matrix hardness change test Objective: To verify the protective effect of the intelligent temperature control system on the mechanical properties of the workpiece during the coating process.

[0069] method: Pre-test: Before coating the piston ring workpiece, use a Rockwell hardness tester (model: HR-150A) to measure its initial hardness (HRC value) at specific locations. Take the average of 5 points for each workpiece.

[0070] Post-coating: After coating and cooling to room temperature, the final hardness is measured on the adjacent uncoated side of the same workpiece (ensuring that the substrate and not the coating are being measured).

[0071] Calculation: Calculate the change in hardness (ΔHRC) of each workpiece before and after coating.

[0072] Results: The results of the matrix hardness change test are shown in Table 3.

[0073] Conclusion: All examples and Comparative Examples 1, 3, and 5 show that the matrix hardness remains essentially unchanged or slightly increases, which may be related to the heat treatment effect. However, Comparative Example 2 and Comparative Example 4 without temperature control both show significant matrix softening (ΔHRC is negative and has a large absolute value). This directly proves that without precise temperature control, the high temperature during the coating process will damage the matrix structure of 65Mn steel (such as tempering softening), while the intelligent temperature control system of this invention can effectively control the workpiece temperature within a safe range, avoiding the deterioration of the matrix material's performance.

[0074] Test Example 4 Corrosion resistance test Objective: To investigate the macroscopic protective performance of coated workpieces.

[0075] method: Preparation: The workpieces of Example 1, Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 4 were used as test samples.

[0076] Test: Conduct a neutral salt spray test. Prepare a 5% NaCl solution according to GB / T 10125-2012 standard, and maintain a constant chamber temperature of 35℃.

[0077] Observation: After 96 hours of continuous spraying, remove the workpiece, rinse it with clean water, and blow it dry. Observe whether red rust appears on the surface of the workpiece, and record the time when the first rust appears.

[0078] Results: The corrosion resistance test results are shown in Table 4.

[0079] Conclusion: The workpiece in Example 1 remained intact after 96 hours of testing, while Comparative Examples 1 and 4 showed premature corrosion. The protective performance of the film is directly related to its density, uniformity, and adhesion. The excellent corrosion resistance of Example 1 is a natural result of its highly uniform and strongly adhesive film, while the comparative examples, due to defects in the film (such as microcracks and weak adhesion), provided channels for corrosive media, leading to a decrease in protective performance.

[0080] Test Case Summary: The standard deviation of film thickness in the embodiments of this invention (0.19-0.51 μm) is significantly lower than that in the comparative examples (0.81-1.95 μm), demonstrating the decisive contribution of intelligent temperature control and dynamic movement synergy to uniformity. In the adhesion test, all embodiments achieved an excellent grade of 4B or higher, while the adhesion of the comparative examples without precise temperature control dropped sharply to grade 1B or even 0B, highlighting the crucial role of programmed precise temperature control in forming a robust film-substrate interface. Substrate hardness testing further confirms that this invention effectively protects the workpiece's properties (hardness change from +0.3 to +1.8 HRC), while the comparative examples lacking effective temperature control showed significant substrate softening (up to -4.2 HRC). Corrosion resistance testing, as a comprehensive performance evaluation, shows that the workpieces of this invention showed no rust after a 96-hour salt spray test, with performance far exceeding that of the comparative samples.

Claims

1. A smart temperature-controlled mobile metal vacuum coating method, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: (1) Equipment preparation steps: Provide a mobile vacuum coating equipment, which includes a vacuum chamber, a heating system, a metal evaporation source, a moving device and an intelligent temperature control system; (2) Workpiece loading step: Place the workpiece to be coated in the vacuum chamber; (3) Vacuum establishment step: Start the vacuum pump to evacuate the vacuum chamber to a predetermined vacuum level, wherein the predetermined vacuum level is 1×10⁻⁶. -3 Pa to 1×10 -5 Pa; (4) Temperature control planning steps: Set the target temperature curve through the intelligent temperature control system. The target temperature curve includes a heating stage, a heat preservation stage and a cooling stage. (5) Programmed heating steps: Start the heating system and control the temperature of the workpiece according to the intelligent temperature control system so that the workpiece temperature changes according to the target temperature curve; (6) Metal deposition step: Start the metal evaporation source to evaporate the metal and deposit it on the surface of the workpiece to form a metal film; (7) Dynamic homogenization step: The workpiece or the metal evaporation source is moved by the moving device during the coating process to achieve uniform coating; (8) Real-time feedback control steps: The intelligent temperature control system monitors the workpiece temperature in real time and dynamically adjusts the heating power according to the preset algorithm to maintain temperature stability; (9) Programmed cooling step: After the coating is completed, the heating system is controlled to perform programmed cooling until the workpiece temperature drops to a safe temperature; (10) Workpiece removal procedure: Stop the vacuum pump and heating system, and remove the coated workpiece.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The workpiece to be coated in step (2) is a metal workpiece, including steel, aluminum alloy or titanium alloy; the material of the metal evaporation source is chromium, aluminum or titanium.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that, The predetermined vacuum degree in step (3) is 5.0 × 10⁻⁶. -4 Pa or higher; the temperature of the heat preservation stage in step (4) is 300°C to 400°C.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The intelligent temperature control system in step (4) includes a temperature sensor, a PID controller, and a user interface. The temperature sensor is used to collect workpiece temperature data in real time. The PID controller is used to calculate the control signal based on the deviation between the temperature data and the target temperature curve. The user interface is used to input and display temperature parameters.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The moving device in step (7) includes a rotating platform or a linear moving mechanism. The rotating platform is used to rotate the workpiece around an axis, and the linear moving mechanism is used to move the workpiece or metal evaporation source in three-dimensional space.

6. An intelligent temperature-controlled mobile metal vacuum coating equipment for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, include: A vacuum chamber is used to hold the workpiece to be coated. The heating system, located inside the vacuum chamber, is used to heat the workpiece; A metal evaporation source, located in a vacuum chamber, is used to evaporate metal materials; A moving device, drivenly connected to the workpiece or metal evaporation source, is configured to move during the coating process to achieve uniform coating. An intelligent temperature control system is signal-connected to the heating system and is configured to execute the target temperature curve and realize real-time monitoring and dynamic adjustment. A vacuum pump system, connected to a vacuum chamber, is used to establish and maintain a vacuum environment; The intelligent temperature control system and the mobile device are coordinated and controlled by a control unit to simultaneously perform temperature control and movement operations during the coating process. The intelligent temperature control system includes a temperature sensor, a PID controller, and a user interface. The temperature sensor is installed in a vacuum chamber to monitor the workpiece temperature in real time. The PID controller is used to adjust the heating power according to the temperature data. The user interface is a touch screen or a remote terminal.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The moving device includes a servo motor and a guide rail. The servo motor is used to drive the workpiece or metal evaporation source to move, and the guide rail is used to guide the movement path.

8. A smart temperature-controlled mobile metal vacuum coating system, characterized in that, include: Intelligent temperature-controlled mobile metal vacuum coating equipment as described in any one of claims 6 or 7; The control unit is communicatively connected to the device and is used for overall control of the coating process; Data storage unit for recording coating parameters and temperature data; The safety protection unit is used to automatically stop the equipment in abnormal situations.

9. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The control unit is based on Internet of Things (IoT) technology, supports remote monitoring and operation, and performs data analysis and optimization through a cloud platform.

10. The application of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in the coating of automotive parts, characterized in that, The automotive parts include engine components or decorative parts, and the method forms a wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant metallic coating on the surface of the parts.

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