Hotplate Field Laser Processing to Remove Projections for Flat Surface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing hob plates with a large number of projections result in a non-flat surface, requiring filling materials like silicones and resins, which limits design flexibility and increases production costs.

Innovation Solution

A method involving laser processing to partially remove projections and coatings from a base plate, primarily composed of glass or glass ceramic, allowing for a more efficient and cost-effective production process with enhanced design freedom and reduced material usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If filler materials like silicones and resins are introduced into the spaces between adjacent projections to produce a flat surface, then the surface flatness is improved, but the design freedom is limited and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface flatnessVSAvoiddesign freedom

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the protrusions from the base plate using laser processing instead of filling the spaces between them. This eliminates the need for filler materials and allows direct creation of the desired surface geometry, thereby maintaining design freedom while achieving flatness where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of adding filler materials to raise the low areas between projections (the conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by removing the protrusions themselves to create the flat surface. This inversion eliminates material addition steps and preserves design flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Manufacturing precision

If filler materials like silicones and resins are introduced into the spaces between adjacent projections to produce a flat surface, then the surface flatness is improved, but production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface flatnessVSAvoidproduction costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical process of injecting and curing filler materials with a laser-based ablation process. This substitution eliminates material costs, reduces production steps, and lowers overall manufacturing costs while achieving the same surface flatness objective.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Strength

If a large number of projections are present on the base plate to provide structural features, then the structural functionality is improved, but the surface flatness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural functionalityVSAvoidsurface flatness

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by selectively removing protrusions only in specific areas where a flat surface is required, while preserving protrusions in other areas where structural functionality is needed. This localized approach allows simultaneous achievement of both structural integrity and surface flatness in different regions of the same component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 approach enables the creation of hob plates with a flat surface, optimizing translucency and diffusivity, reducing production time and costs, while allowing for precise and targeted removal of material, thereby enhancing manufacturing efficiency and flexibility.

Implementation Method 1

a protrusion is at least partially removed by means of laser processing. The laser processing is specifically designed as laser ablation, wherein at least the protrusion is removed by means of laser ablation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Data Source

PatentEP3095547B1Method for producing a hotplate field and hotplate field

Publication Date: 2022.09.14 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH

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AI summary

The invention is based on a method for producing a hob plate (10) which is made from a base plate (12) which has at least one projection (14). In order to optimize a generic method, it is proposed that the projection (14) be at least partially removed by means of laser processing.