Automotive Part Coating Uses Flow Stops on Inclined Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to create a clear, sharp separation edge between different surface materials on inclined surfaces of automotive vehicle parts due to coating material bleeding and overflowing, leading to uneven thickness and subsequent removal issues.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the creation of a flow-stopping structure at the borderline location before coating, which can be integrated into the raw part during fabrication or formed separately, to prevent bleeding and overflowing of coating materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If coating material is applied to an inclined surface, then the surface can be coated with different materials for design purposes, but the coating material runs down the slope due to gravity, causing varying thickness and inability to form a clear separation edge
Solution Approach 1:
A flow-stopping structure is created at the location where the separation edge is to be formed before the coating step. This preliminary structure prevents the coating material from running down the inclined surface, enabling precise formation of a clear separation edge between different surface materials while maintaining the ability to apply different materials for design purposes
2Adaptability or versatility
If complete coating with first material is performed and then removed with laser to create separation, then different surface materials can be achieved, but coating residues remain or too much laser energy is applied causing stresses or burning
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of coating the entire surface and then removing material, a flow-stopping structure is created beforehand to prevent coating material from reaching areas where the second material should be located. This eliminates the need for laser removal, avoiding coating residues and laser-induced stresses or burning while still achieving different surface materials
3Manufacturing precision
If flow-stopping structure is created during raw part fabrication, then the structure is integrated and precise separation is achieved, but additional manufacturing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The flow-stopping structure is integrated into the raw automotive vehicle part during fabrication, merging the flow-stopping function with the structural component. This approach achieves precise separation edges while minimizing additional manufacturing steps by combining multiple functions into a single integrated structure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise formation of a clear, sharp separation edge between different surface materials on inclined surfaces, ensuring uniform coating thickness and avoiding material stresses or damage.
Implementation Method 1
downhill-slope forces act on the coating material, which is typically some type of liquid, the coating material starts running down the slope
Data Source
Figure 1~5
AI summary
Provided is method for producing an automotive vehicle part (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) which automotive vehicle part (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) has at least one inclined surface (11, 21, 31, 41, 46, 51), wherein the surface material of a surface area that is either located adjacent to the upper part of said at least one inclined surface (11, 21, 31, 41, 46, 51) or that forms at least an upper part of said at least one inclined surface (11, 21, 31, 41, 46, 51) is a first material (13, 23, 33, 43, 53), and wherein the surface material of a surface area that is either located adjacent to the lower part of said at least one inclined surface (11, 21, 31, 41, 46, 51) or that forms the lower part of said at least one inclined surface (11, 21, 31, 41, 46, 51) is a second material (15, 25, 35, 45, 55) which is different from the first material (13, 23, 33, 43, 53), wherein the first material (13, 23, 33, 43, 53) and the second material (15, 25, 35, 45, 55) are in contact with each other in such a way that a clear, sharp separation edge or borderline is formed between said first material (13, 23, 33, 43, 53) and said second material (15, 25, 35, 45, 55), wherein the method comprises the step of creating a flow-stopping structure (12, 22, 32, 42a, 42b, 52, 56) at the location where the clear, sharp separation edge is to be formed, wherein this formation is performed prior to a coating step during which the first material (13, 23, 33, 43, 53) is applied.