Blade Edge Formation with Bulk Metallic Glass Drawing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of blades using bulk metallic glass (BMG) faces challenges such as heat loss during the process, making it difficult to precisely adjust the mold space and pressing force, and achieving a sharp, linear edge shape.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method involving an arm module with a pressing unit, a molding module with a heating system, and a drawing module with adjustable tools to heat, mold, and pull the BMG in specific directions, allowing for precise edge formation and temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If BMG is used to manufacture blades, then superior strength, hardness, and wear resistance are achieved, but heat loss occurs during manufacturing making it difficult to precisely adjust mold space and pressing force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the temperature of the BMG material during the drawing process. By maintaining the BMG in a supercooled state (specific temperature range above glass transition temperature), the material exhibits enhanced ductility and formability, allowing precise mold space adjustment and pressing force control without compromising the final strength properties of the blade
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary action by pre-heating the BMG material to its supercooled state before the actual molding operation. This preliminary thermal treatment prepares the material with optimal mechanical properties for forming, enabling precise control of mold space and pressing force during subsequent manufacturing steps
2Strength
If BMG is used to manufacture blades, then superior strength, hardness, and wear resistance are achieved, but it is difficult to sharply manufacture an edge to have a linear shape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by controlling temperature during the drawing process. By maintaining BMG in the supercooled state during edge formation, the material becomes sufficiently ductile to allow drawing tools to create sharp, linear edges through pulling and shaping operations, which would be impossible at room temperature due to the material's brittleness
3Device complexity
If traditional molding methods are used, then manufacturing process is simple, but heat loss makes it difficult to precisely control pressing force and temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control through a control unit that monitors and adjusts the pressing force applied by the drawing tools. The control unit receives information about the force required to draw the BMG material and automatically adjusts the pressing force to maintain optimal values, ensuring precise control while compensating for heat loss and material property variations during the manufacturing process
4Device complexity
If traditional molding methods are used, then manufacturing process is simple, but heat loss makes it difficult to precisely control temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback control for temperature management by monitoring the thermal state of the BMG material during processing. The control unit adjusts heating parameters in real-time to maintain the material at the required supercooled temperature, compensating for heat loss to the environment and ensuring precise temperature control throughout the manufacturing process
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 the precise adjustment of pressing force and temperature, resulting in the production of blades with sharp, linear edges and enhanced productivity, while maintaining the BMG in a supercooled state for effective edge formation.
Implementation Method 1
a first cartridge heater configured to transmit heat to the molding die
Implementation Method 2
a second cartridge heater configured to transmit heat to the clamping unit
Implementation Method 3
a pressing unit configured to press the heated BMG to be molded into a blade
Implementation Method 4
a pair of drawing tools configured to pull the heated end portion of the blade in two directions to form an edge of the blade
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for manufacturing a blade is provided. The apparatus for manufacturing a blade includes: an arm module including a pressing unit pivoting around a first shaft; a molding module including a molding die pressed by the pressing unit and molding bulk metallic glass (BMG) to a blade; and a drawing module pulling an end portion of the BMG exposed to the outside of the molding die to form an edge of the blade, wherein the drawing module includes a pair of drawing tools pulling one end portion of the BMG in two directions.