Manufacture of waterproof joints for watches

Abstract

To provide a method for producing a timepiece component.SOLUTION: A first portion 11 includes a first reference surface 110 having a tolerance. In a first step, a first material is selected to produce the first portion by additive manufacturing, and a base 50 is prepared. In a second step, a base surface 150 is etched in the base, the base surface is the negative shape of the first reference surface, and the base is arranged on additive manufacturing means. In a third step, the first portion of the component is grown by additive manufacturing in contact with the entire base surface. In a fourth step, the development of the first portion is verified against a predetermined set value, and the third additive manufacturing step is repeated iteratively until the desired level of development is reached.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing a timepiece component by additive manufacturing, the timepiece component comprising at least a first part including a first reference surface having a first shape with tolerances in terms of size and / or flatness and / or cylindricity and / or surface finish.

[0002] The present invention relates to the water resistance of timepiece parts and subassemblies, and more particularly to the manufacture of waterproof joints for timepieces. [Background technology]

[0003] Waterproof joints, particularly thermoplastic seals for the watch industry, are currently manufactured by injection molding or extrusion followed by machining, or by other methods that require machining steps. These seals must meet very strict tolerance standards. These seals may be found in watch crystals, case backs, crowns, and other elements, particularly those of wristwatches, where water resistance or good adhesion is required.

[0004] New approaches such as additive manufacturing or 3D printing allow for original designs and the production of new types of assemblies, including water-resistant seals. However, meeting the precision standards for these seals, especially in terms of tolerances, is very difficult. The most critical dimension is the seal thickness. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to develop a method that guarantees tight tolerances in both the dimensions and surface finish of the waterproof joints of a watch, while allowing small-scale serial production without investing in expensive tooling.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a method for producing a timepiece component by additive manufacturing, the timepiece component comprising at least a first part including a first reference surface having a first shape with tolerances in terms of size and / or flatness and / or cylindricity and / or surface finish.

[0007] According to the invention, in a first step, at least one first material is provided, said material being suitable for manufacturing at least said first part of said component by additive manufacturing, a base is provided, said base being manufactured from a base material suitable for supporting the growth of said first material and selected to allow a subsequent separation of said first part (11) and said base (50) without tearing, and in a second step, said base is machined, in which a first base surface is obtained, which is the negative shape of said first reference surface. , etched with a base shape complying with tolerances equal to or stricter than the tolerances of the first shape of the first reference surface in terms of dimensions and / or flatness and / or cylindricity and / or surface finish, respectively, the base is placed on an additive manufacturing tool, and in a third step at least the first portion of the component is grown by additive manufacturing in contact with the entire first base surface, and in a fourth step the growth of the first portion is verified against a first predetermined set value, and the third and fourth steps of additive manufacturing with the first material added are repeated iteratively until it is detected and confirmed that the first part has grown to reach or exceed the first predetermined set value, and the additive manufacturing with the first material added is stopped when the first portion has grown to reach or exceed the first predetermined set value. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] The objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, which is given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] 5A-5C are flow charts showing the various steps in the manufacture of a timepiece component according to the invention, in various alternative embodiments of the method; [Figure 2]1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a base filled with first ridges of a first material deposited by additive manufacturing, in particular three-dimensional printing, after etching of the first base surface using the method of the present invention to a tolerance tighter than that of the resulting part. [Figure 3] 2 shows the part manufactured according to FIG. 2 after it has been removed from the base. [Figure 4] Similar to FIG. 2, this shows an alternative embodiment in which a first ridge of a first material and a second ridge of a second material are grown sequentially in an etch on a first base surface, the second ridge being located above the top surface of the base. [Figure 5] Similar to FIG. 4, grinding of a second ridge on the top surface of the base is shown. [Figure 6] 3 shows the component manufactured according to FIG. 5 after it has been removed from the base. [Figure 7] Similar to FIG. 4, this shows an alternative embodiment in which a first ridge of a first material and a second ridge of a second material are grown sequentially in an etch in the first base surface, and a third ridge of another second material is also grown, which forms a rigid structural portion of the component. [Figure 8] 6 shows the component manufactured according to FIG. 7 after it has been removed from the base. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In order to overcome the poor quality of the waterproof joints, in particular the thermoplastic seals, the present invention proposes an improved additive manufacturing process that is better suited to meeting the quality standards for thermoplastic watch seals, in particular compared to manufacturing methods using three-dimensional printing on supports that cannot always meet all dimensional and surface finish tolerances.

[0010] First, the present invention creates a custom print bed mat for each joint, including etching the underside of the seal to be produced, using a laser or similar method.

[0011] This etching can then be filled by additive manufacturing, including but not limited to 3D printing, to achieve a precision shape with the same quality as an injection-molded seal. This allows for an accurate reproduction of the lower part of the seal. The upper part can be manufactured with standard printing quality. This part may represent the other half of the seal, as well as another watch component that is fixed directly to the least precise part of the seal without compromising water resistance.

[0012] Those skilled in the art can use three-dimensional printing to produce very precise seals, and such seals can even form a direct part of other custom watch components.

[0013] Three-dimensional printing can be done using a suitable printer with custom leveling options. Depending on the complexity / depth of the etch, the printer nozzle can be modified and adapted for optimal printing.

[0014] The present invention therefore relates to a method for manufacturing a timepiece component 10 by additive manufacturing, said component comprising at least a first part 11. This first part comprises a first reference surface 110 having a first shape acceptable in terms of dimensions and / or flatness and / or cylindricity and / or surface finish.

[0015] According to the invention, in a first step 100, at least one first material is provided, which material is suitable for producing at least a first portion 11 of a component 10 by additive manufacturing.

[0016] A base 50 capable of supporting growth of the first material is also provided, the base 50 being made from a base material selected to allow subsequent separation of the first portion 11 and the base 50 without tearing.

[0017] In a second step 200, the base 50 is machined, during which a first base surface, which is the negative shape of the first reference surface 110, is etched with a base shape complying with tolerances in terms of size and / or flatness and / or cylindricity and / or surface finish, respectively, that are equal to or tighter than the tolerances of the first shape of the first reference surface 110.

[0018] The base 50 is placed on an additive manufacturing tool, in particular a three-dimensional printing tool.

[0019] In a third step 300, at least a first portion 11 of the component 10 contacting the entire first base surface 150 is grown by additive manufacturing.

[0020] In a fourth step 400, the growth of the first portion 11 is verified against a first predetermined set value, and the third step 300 and the fourth step 400 of additive manufacturing with the addition of the first material are repeated iteratively until it is detected and confirmed that the first portion 11 has grown to reach or exceed the first predetermined set value, and the additive manufacturing with the addition of the first material is stopped when the first portion 11 has grown to reach or exceed the first predetermined set value.

[0021] More specifically, when the first portion 11 grows to reach or exceed a first predetermined set value, the additive manufacturing of the first portion 11 with the addition of the first material is stopped and the first portion 11 is separated from the base 50.

[0022] More specifically, after additive manufacturing of the first portion 11 with the addition of the first material is stopped when the first portion 11 has grown to reach or exceed a first predetermined set value, the first portion 11 is ground at the top surface 500 included in the base 50.

[0023] More specifically, after additive manufacturing of the first portion 11 with the first material is stopped when the growth of the first portion 11 reaches or exceeds a first predetermined set point, additive manufacturing of the component 10 continues in a fifth step 500 by adding the first material and / or at least one second material to produce the entire component 10. In a sixth step 600, the growth of the component 10 is verified against a second predetermined set point, and the fifth and sixth steps 500 and 600 of additive manufacturing with the first material and / or at least one second material are repeated iteratively until it is detected and confirmed that the component 10 has grown to reach or exceed the second predetermined set point, and additive manufacturing with the first material and / or at least one second material is stopped when the component 10 has grown to reach or exceed the second predetermined set point.

[0024] More specifically, when the component 10 has grown to reach or exceed a second predetermined set value, the additive manufacturing of the component 10 with the first material and / or at least one second material is stopped and the component 10 is separated from the base 50.

[0025] More particularly, the component 10 is produced by additive manufacturing with the addition of at least one second material, the second material being selected to be different from the first material.

[0026] More particularly, the component 10 is produced by additive manufacturing, in which at least one second material is added to the first portion 11 .

[0027] More specifically, the material selected as the first material may form a first portion 11 that forms a first waterproof joint.

[0028] More specifically, the component 10 is manufactured by additive manufacturing with the addition of at least one second material, the material selected as the second material being capable of forming a second portion 12 of the component 10, the second portion 12 forming a second waterproof joint.

[0029] More specifically, the material selected as the second material is capable of forming a second ridge 20 that constitutes a second waterproof joint having resistance properties that complement the resistance properties of the first waterproof joint.

[0030] More specifically, component 10 is manufactured by additive manufacturing with the addition of at least one second material, with elastomeric materials being selected as the first and second materials, which have different Shore hardnesses in the final state of first portion 11 and the remaining portions of component 10, respectively, after the additive manufacturing operation with the addition of the first and second materials.

[0031] More specifically, component 10 is manufactured by additive manufacturing with the addition of at least one second material, where the material selected as at least the second material is capable of forming optical contrast with the first material.

[0032] More specifically, at least the material selected as the first material can form the first protrusions that emit fluorescence or phosphorescence.

[0033] More specifically, component 10 is manufactured by additive manufacturing with the addition of at least one second material, and the material selected as at least the second material is capable of forming transparent and / or colored second protrusions.

[0034] More specifically, additive manufacturing is performed by three-dimensional printing.

[0035] More particularly, component 10 is manufactured for use as a watertight joint.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a timepiece component (10) by additive manufacturing, said timepiece component comprising at least a first part (11) including a first reference surface (110) having a first shape with tolerances in terms of size and / or flatness and / or cylindricity and / or surface finish, In a first step (100), at least one first material is provided, said first material being suitable for manufacturing at least said first part (11) of said component (10) by additive manufacturing, and a base (50) is provided, said base being made from a base material suitable for supporting the growth of said first material and selected to allow a subsequent separation of said first part (11) and said base (50) without tearing, In a second step (200), the base (50) is machined, in which a first base surface (150), which is the negative shape of the first reference surface (110), is etched with a base shape complying with tolerances equal to or stricter than the tolerances of the first shape of the first reference surface (110), respectively in terms of size and / or flatness and / or cylindricity and / or surface finish, and the base is placed on an additive manufacturing tool; In a third step (300), at least the first portion (11) of the component (10) is grown by additive manufacturing in contact with the entire first base surface (150), In a fourth step (400), the growth of the first portion (11) is verified against a first predetermined set value, and the third and fourth steps (300) of additive manufacturing with the first material are repeated iteratively until it is detected and confirmed that the first portion (11) has grown to reach or exceed the first predetermined set value, and the additive manufacturing with the first material is stopped when the first portion (11) has grown to reach or exceed the first predetermined set value; after stopping additive manufacturing of the first portion (11) with the addition of the first material when the first portion (11) has grown to reach or exceed the first predetermined set value; In a fifth step (500), additive manufacturing of the component (10) continues by adding the first material and / or at least one second material to produce the entire component (10), In a sixth step (600), the growth of the component (10) is verified against a second predetermined set value, and the fifth and sixth steps (500) of additive manufacturing with the addition of the first material and / or the at least one second material are repeated iteratively until it is detected and confirmed that the component (10) has grown to reach or exceed the second predetermined set value, and when the component (10) has grown to reach or exceed the second predetermined set value, the additive manufacturing with the addition of the first material and / or the at least one second material is stopped.

2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the additive manufacturing of the component with the addition of the first material and / or the at least one second material is stopped when the component has grown to reach or exceed the second predetermined set point, and the component is separated from the base.

3. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the component (10) is manufactured by additive manufacturing with the addition of at least one second material, the second material being selected to be different from the first material.

4. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the component (10) is manufactured by additive manufacturing of the first part (11) with the at least one second material.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material selected as the first material is capable of forming the first portion that forms a first waterproof joint.

6. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the component (10) is manufactured by additive manufacturing with the addition of at least one second material, the second material selected being capable of forming a second portion (12) of the component (10), the second portion (12) forming a second watertight bond.

7. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the material selected as the second material is capable of forming the second portion (12) forming the second waterproof joint having resistance characteristics complementary to the resistance characteristics of the first waterproof joint.

8. said component (10) being manufactured by additive manufacturing with the addition of at least one second material; 2. The method of claim 1, wherein elastomeric materials are selected as the first material and the second material, and the first material and the second material have different Shore hardnesses in the final state of the first portion (11) and the remaining portion of the component (10), respectively, after an additive manufacturing operation that added the first material and the second material.

9. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the component (10) is manufactured by additive manufacturing with the addition of at least one second material, the second material selected being capable of forming a rigid structural part (13) of the component (10).

10. said component (10) being manufactured by additive manufacturing with the addition of at least one second material; The method of claim 1 , wherein at least the material selected for the second material is capable of forming an optical contrast with the first material.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least the material selected for the first material is capable of forming a first protuberance that fluoresces or phosphoresces.

12. said component (10) being manufactured by additive manufacturing with the addition of at least one second material; The method of claim 1 , wherein at least the material selected for the second material is capable of forming transparent and / or colored second ridges.

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

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the component (10) is manufactured for use as a watertight joint.

Images