Production of composite timepiece component with waterproof joint

Abstract

To produce bespoke waterproof joints, particularly seals, directly on timepiece components.SOLUTION: The invention relates to a method for producing a composite timepiece component 1000. In a first step, a base 50 and a first material are provided. In a second step, the base is positioned on additive manufacturing means. In a third step, a first raised portion 10 made of the first material is grown by additive manufacturing on one side of the base. In a fourth step, the development of the first raised portion is verified. The third and fourth steps are repeated iteratively until the first raised portion is seen and verified as having developed beyond a setpoint value. Additive manufacturing is stopped when the development exceeds the setpoint value. Optionally, a second raised portion 20 made of a second material is grown by additive manufacturing on one side of the base and / or on the first raised portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing composite watch components, and more particularly to a method for manufacturing composite watch components having a waterproof joint.

[0002] The present invention relates to the waterproofness of watch components and sub-assemblies.

Background Art

[0003] Watertight seals are typically manufactured by injection molding or extrusion molding, and then a machining process or other manufacturing process that requires machining steps is performed. These seals must meet very strict tolerance standards.

[0004] In watch manufacturing, waterproof joints exist at all interfaces between the external environment and the inside of the watch, particularly a wristwatch. Specifically, but not exclusively, seals are found at the crystal, back cover, crown, push buttons, bolts, bearing surfaces of other stationary or moving components, and more typically at all elements of a watch or wristwatch that require water resistance.

[0005] A watch component and the waterproof joint with which this watch component must come into operative contact are manufactured independently.

[0006] The waterproof joint, particularly the seal, is delicate to assemble, and this task is entrusted to qualified personnel. Often, since a pushing operation is required to assemble two non-waterproof and rigid watch components, there is a risk of damaging this joint during this pushing operation. The watch component and the waterproof joint can be integrated by adhesion or the like, but in this case, due to the difficulty of developing an adhesive that is suitable for both materials involved and stable over the operating temperature range, good long-term stability cannot be obtained.

Summary of the Invention

[0007] In order to avoid damage to the waterproof joint and to avoid machining operations that must be extremely precise in terms of dimensions and surface finish on the watch component, the present invention proposes to manufacture a custom waterproof joint, in particular a seal, directly on the watch component, and in particular to propose the manufacture of a custom seal manufactured, in particular printed, directly on the watch component.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for certain pressing and / or assembly steps, improve and guarantee waterproofness, and ensure durability by directly manufacturing joints, in particular seals, on components of watches, in particular wristwatches.

[0009] Conventional waterproof joint manufacturing techniques involving molding and / or turning have a limited range of shapes obtained and typically involve manufacturing joints made from only one material.

[0010] The present invention further proposes to manufacture joints or seals of any shape and directly manufacture them on the watch component, thereby expanding the range of special and unconventional seal shapes.

[0011] The present invention preferably uses a stereolithography process, in particular 3D (i.e., three-dimensional) printing, but is not limited to these.

[0012] For this purpose, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a composite watch component.

[0013] According to the present invention, in a first step, a base suitable for additive manufacturing and at least one first material are provided. In a second step, the base is prepared and positioned on an additive manufacturing means. In a third step, a first raised portion made from the at least one first material is grown by additive manufacturing on at least one side of the base. In a fourth step, the progression of the first raised portion is verified against a first predetermined set value. The third step of additive manufacturing with addition of the first material and the fourth step are repeatedly iterated until it is seen and verified that the first raised portion has progressed to reach or exceed the first predetermined set value. When the first raised portion has progressed to reach and exceed the first predetermined set value, the additive manufacturing with addition of the first material is stopped.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] The objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description given with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a composite timepiece component 1000.

[0017] In a first step 100, a base 50 and at least one first material 1 suitable for additive manufacturing are provided.

[0018] In a second step 200, the base 50 is prepared and positioned in an additive manufacturing means.

[0019] In a third step 300, a first raised portion 10 made of at least one first material 1 is grown on at least one side of the base 50 by additive manufacturing.

[0020] In a fourth step 400, the progress of the first raised portion 10 is verified against a first predetermined set value.

[0021] Furthermore, the third step 300 and the fourth step 400 of additive manufacturing involving the addition of the first material 1 are repeated until it is seen and verified that the first raised portion 10 has progressed up to or beyond the first predetermined set value, and the additive manufacturing involving the addition of the first material 1 is stopped when the first raised portion 10 has progressed up to or beyond the first predetermined set value.

[0022] Specifically, in the first step 100, or in one of the subsequent steps, at least one second material 2 different from the first material 1 is provided, and during the third step 300, or during the fifth step 500 after the first raised portion 10 has advanced to or beyond a first predetermined set value, a second raised portion 20 made of at least one second material 2 is grown by additive manufacturing on at least one side of the base 50 and / or on the first raised portion 10.

[0023] Specifically, in the first alternative embodiment, the second raised portion 20 is grown by additive manufacturing from the third step 300, and in the fourth step 400, or in the sixth step 600, the advancement of the second raised portion 20 is verified against a predetermined second set value, with the third step 300 of additive manufacturing involving the addition of the second material 2 or the fifth step 500 of additive manufacturing involving the addition of the second material 2 on the one hand, and the sixth step 600 being the verification step on the other hand, and this is repeatedly iterated until it is seen and verified that the second raised portion 20 has advanced to or beyond the predetermined second set value, and when the second raised portion 20 has advanced to or beyond the predetermined second set value, the additive manufacturing by the addition of the second material 2 is stopped.

[0024] Specifically, in the second alternative embodiment, the second raised portion 20 is grown by additive manufacturing during such a fifth step 500 after the first raised portion 10 has advanced to or beyond a first predetermined set value. Further, in the sixth step 600 following the fifth step 500, the advancement of the second raised portion 20 is verified against a second predetermined set value, and the fifth step 500 of additive manufacturing involving the addition of the second material 2 and the sixth step 600 are repeatedly iterated until it is seen and verified that the second raised portion 20 has advanced to or beyond the second predetermined set value, and when the second raised portion 20 has advanced to or beyond the second predetermined set value, the additive manufacturing by the addition of the second material 2 is stopped.

[0025] More specifically, the sixth step 600 is separate from the fourth step 400.

[0026] Specifically, in other alternative embodiments, in the third step 300 of additive manufacturing involving the addition of the first material 1, the first raised portions 10 made of at least one first material 1 are grown by additive manufacturing on at least two different sides of the base 50, i.e., in two separate steps, one on each side of the base 50.

[0027] Specifically, in other alternative embodiments, during the third step 300 or during the fifth step 500, the second raised portions 20 made of at least one second material 2 are grown by additive manufacturing on at least two different sides of the base 50, i.e., in two separate steps, one on each side of the base 50.

[0028] Specifically, in other alternative embodiments, during the third step 300 or during such fifth step 500, the second raised portions 20 made of at least one second material 2 are grown by additive manufacturing on at least a part of the first raised portions 10.

[0029] Specifically, the first material 1 is selected to form the first raised portions 10 that constitute the first waterproof joint.

[0030] Specifically, the second material 2 is selected to form the second raised portions 20 that constitute the second waterproof joint.

[0031] Specifically, the second material 2 is selected to form the second raised portions 20 that constitute the second waterproof joint having a resistance complementary to that of the first waterproof joint.

[0032] Specifically, a plurality of elastomer materials are selected for the first material 1 and the second material 2. These materials have different Shore hardnesses in the final states of the first raised portion 10 and the second raised portion 20 respectively after the additive manufacturing operation of adding the first material 1 and the second material 2 respectively.

[0033] Specifically, the materials selected for the first material 1 and for each at least one second material 2 can form a waterproof layer after the additive manufacturing operation of adding the first material 1 and the at least one second material 2 respectively.

[0034] Specifically, the first raised portion 10 and the second raised portion 20 are manufactured with geometrically different progressions compared to the base 50.

[0035] Specifically, the material selected for at least the first material 1 can form the first raised portion 10 that is optically contrasted with the base 50 for the display function of the timepiece component 1000.

[0036] Specifically, the material selected for at least the first material 1 can form the first raised portion 10 that is fluorescent or phosphorescent.

[0037] Specifically, the material selected for at least the first material 1 can form the first raised portion 10 that is transparent or colored.

[0038] Specifically, a transparent or translucent base 50 is selected.

[0039] Specifically, a crystal, a back cover, an intermediate part, a bezel or a crown is selected as the base 50.

[0040] Specifically, the additive manufacturing is performed by three-dimensional printing.

[0041] The present invention thus ensures the reproducibility of manufacturing and the management of manufacturing costs based on the production of custom waterproof joints, in particular seals, using additive manufacturing on watch components, in particular direct 3D printing.

[0042] A person skilled in the art will be able to apply this overprint seal system to different types of watch components, such as crowns, back covers, intermediate parts, cases for capsule wristwatches.

[0043] 3D printing can be carried out using a suitable printer equipped with custom leveling options. Depending on the complexity of the component, the printer nozzles can be modified and adapted for optimal printing.

[0044] This method is advantageous in that no defective products occur either during the manufacture of the waterproof joint or during the manufacture of a functional subassembly which is a composite watch component (comprising a basic watch component and at least one joint permanently applied to this basic component) manufactured by the method according to the invention. Therefore, this method does not result in material losses or waste of working time.

[0045] According to the invention, it is possible to manufacture joint shapes that are difficult and complex and impossible to achieve using other techniques.

[0046] The materials used according to this technique include all thermoplastic materials that cover the wide range of properties required for waterproof joints.

[0047] Waterproof joints manufactured using additional processes, in particular printing processes, offer a wide range of possibilities in terms of coloring, transparency, shape, phosphorescence, fluorescence, and even in terms of multi-material, multi-color, and the manufacture of other types of waterproof joints, enabling them to perform several functions such as sealing functions, display functions, and / or aesthetic and / or decorative functions.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a composite watch component (1000), comprising the steps of: In a first step (100) a base (50) suitable for additive manufacturing and at least one first material (1) are provided, in a second step (200) said base (50) is prepared and positioned on an additive manufacturing tool, in a third step (300) a first raised portion (10) made from said at least one first material (1) is grown by additive manufacturing on at least one side of said base (50), and in a fourth step (400) a first raised portion (10) is grown by additive manufacturing. The method, wherein the progress is verified against a first predetermined set value, and the third step (300) and the fourth step (400) of additive manufacturing with addition of the first material (1) are repeated iteratively until it is seen and verified that the first raised portion (10) has progressed to or beyond the first predetermined set value, and additive manufacturing with addition of the first material (1) is stopped when the first raised portion (10) has progressed to or beyond the first predetermined set value.

2. in said first step (100) or in one of the subsequent steps, at least one second material (2) different from said first material (1) is provided; During said third step (300) or during a fifth step (500) after said first raised portion (10) has progressed until it reaches or exceeds said first predetermined set value, a second raised portion (20) made from said at least one second material (2) is grown by additive manufacturing on at least one side of said base (50) and / or on said first raised portion (10). The method according to claim 1, characterized in that

3. the second raised portion (20) is grown by additive manufacturing from the third step (300); In the fourth step (400) or in the sixth step (600), the progression of the second raised portion (20) is verified against a predefined second set value, and the manufacturing step, which is the third step (300) of the additive manufacturing with the addition of the second material (2) or the fifth step (500) of the additive manufacturing with the addition of the second material (2), on the one hand, and the verification step, which is the sixth step (600), on the other hand, are repeated iteratively until it is seen and verified that the second raised portion (20) has progressed to or beyond the predefined second set value, and the additive manufacturing with the addition of the second material (2) is stopped when the second raised portion (20) has progressed to or beyond the predefined second set value. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that

4. said second raised portion (20) being grown by additive manufacturing during said fifth step (500) after said first raised portion (10) has progressed to or beyond said first predetermined set point; In a sixth step (600) following the fifth step (500), the progression of the second raised portion (20) is verified against a second predetermined set value, and the fifth step (500) and the sixth step (600) of additive manufacturing with addition of the second material (2) are repeated iteratively until it is seen and verified that the second raised portion (20) has progressed to or beyond the second predetermined set value, and when the second raised portion (20) has progressed to or beyond the second predetermined set value, the additive manufacturing with addition of the second material (2) is stopped. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that

5. The method of claim 3, characterized in that said sixth step (600) is separate from said fourth step (400).

6. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that in the third step (300) of additive manufacturing with addition of the first material (1), the first raised portion (10) made from the at least one first material (1) is grown by additive manufacturing on at least two different sides of the base (50), in two separate steps, one on each side of the base (50).

7. 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that during the third step (300) or during the fifth step (500), a second raised portion (20) made from the at least one second material (2) is grown by additive manufacturing on at least two different sides of the base (50), in two separate steps, one on each side of the base (50).

8. 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that during the third step (300) or during the fifth step (500), a second raised portion (20) made from the at least one second material (2) is grown on at least a part of the first raised portion (10) by additive manufacturing.

9. 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the first material (1) is selected to form the first raised portion (10) constituting a first waterproof joint.

10. 3. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the second material (2) is selected so as to form the second raised portion (20) constituting a second waterproof joint.

11. The method according to claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the second material (2) is selected to form the second raised portion (20) constituting the second waterproof joint having a resistance complementary to that of the first waterproof joint.

12. 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that elastomeric materials are selected for the first material (1) and the second material (2), which materials have different Shore hardnesses in the final state of the first raised portion (10) and the second raised portion (20), respectively, after an additive manufacturing operation of applying the first material (1) and the second material (2), respectively.

13. 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the materials selected for the first material (1) and for each of the at least one second material (2) are capable of forming a water-resistant layer after the additive manufacturing operation of applying the first material (1) and the at least one second material (2), respectively.

14. 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the first raised portion (10) and the second raised portion (20) are manufactured with a geometrically different progression compared to the base (50).

15. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the material selected for at least the first material (1) is capable of forming the first raised portion (10) which optically contrasts with the base (50) for the purpose of the display function of the timepiece component (1000).

16. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the material selected for at least the first material (1) is capable of making the first raised portion (10) fluorescent or phosphorescent.

17. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the material selected for at least the first material (1) is capable of forming the first raised portion (10) which is transparent and / or colored.

18. 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that a transparent or translucent base (50) is selected.

19. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the crystal, the back cover, the middle part, the bezel or the crown are selected as said base (50).

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the additive manufacturing is performed by three-dimensional printing.

21. A watch comprising a watch component according to the method of claim 1.

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