Bevelled Stone Manufacturing with a Flared Peripheral Face
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current machining methods are complex and inefficient for producing a single stone with an at least partially flared peripheral wall capable of forming both a guiding element and a shock-absorbing setting in horological movements, which complicates the arrangement of elements and reduces shock resistance.
Innovation Solution
A method involving producing a precursor from powder material with a binder, pressing using top and bottom dies with a protruding rib to form a green body, sintering to create a stone with a peripheral face and groove, and machining to create a flared peripheral face, allowing for the stone to be inserted into a shock-absorbing bearing-block.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional machining methods are used to create a flared peripheral wall on a single stone, then the stone can form both guiding element and setting, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The groove is created in the green body before sintering, establishing the flared peripheral wall geometry in advance. This preliminary formation of the complex geometry avoids the need for complex post-sintering machining operations, resolving the contradiction between achieving versatile stone functionality and maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The manufacturing process utilizes parameter changes by forming the flared geometry through the groove design in the green body, which is then preserved through sintering. This approach changes the manufacturing paradigm from post-processing machining to pre-forming during green body creation, reducing overall process complexity while maintaining the stone's dual functionality
2Reliability
If multiple elements (domed stone, setting, endstone) are used in shock-absorbing bearing-block, then shock resistance is achieved, but the arrangement of elements becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functions of the domed stone and setting into a single integrated stone with a flared peripheral wall. The groove creates an internal setting structure that eliminates the need for separate setting and endstone components, maintaining shock resistance through the flared geometry while simplifying the overall element arrangement
Solution Approach 2:
The single stone with flared peripheral wall performs multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as both the guiding element (through the through-hole for pivot insertion) and the shock-absorbing setting (through the flared peripheral wall geometry). This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed while maintaining both guiding and shock-absorbing capabilities
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
This method enables the efficient manufacture of a bevelled stone with a flared peripheral face, enhancing shock resistance by simplifying the arrangement of elements and improving the absorption of lateral shocks within the bearing-block.
Implementation Method 1
producing a precursor from a mixture of at least one material in powder form with a binder
Implementation Method 2
sintering said green body so as to form a body of the future stone
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device for manufacturing a bevelled stone, particularly for a timepiece are disclosed. A precursor is produced from a mixture of at least one material in powder form with a binder. The method includes pressing the precursor so as to form a green body, using a top die and a bottom die comprising a protruding rib, sintering the green body so as to form a body of the future stone in at least one material, the body including a peripheral face and a bottom face provided with a groove, and machining the body including a substep of planning the peripheral face up to the groove, such that an inner wall of the groove forms at least a flared part of the peripheral face of the stone.