Laser Additive Manufacturing of One-Piece Timepiece Parts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional manufacturing methods for timepiece parts face challenges such as alignment issues, deformation due to excessive force, and limitations in dimensions, which affect the mechanical robustness and assembly of small-sized components.
Innovation Solution
A manufacturing method using laser light to create one-piece mechanical timepiece parts from crystalline, composite, or amorphous materials, with power and geometry modulation to form specific volumes and surfaces, allowing for maximum dimensions and improved robustness without misalignment or deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional machining methods are used to manufacture timepiece parts, then assembly is possible, but alignment precision and mechanical strength are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate parts (pinion and axis) into a single integrated component manufactured by laser additive manufacturing. This eliminates the need for assembly operations, ensuring perfect alignment between previously separate components while reducing assembly complexity to zero.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser additive manufacturing process enables complex geometries to be built layer by layer, effectively segmenting the manufacturing process into controlled deposition steps. This allows precise control over the geometry and alignment of features like gear teeth and shafts within the single integrated part.
2Productivity
If excessive force is applied during machining of small parts, then material removal is achieved, but part deformation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical machining processes with laser additive manufacturing. Instead of using cutting tools that apply mechanical force to remove material, the laser process deposits material layer by layer, eliminating the deformation caused by excessive machining forces while maintaining dimensional accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser additive manufacturing process uses controlled thermal parameters (laser power, scanning speed, hatching distance) to melt and deposit material. By optimizing these parameters, the process achieves high dimensional accuracy without the mechanical forces that cause deformation in traditional machining.
3Adaptability or versatility
If parts are assembled from multiple components, then functionality is achieved, but mechanical resistance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components into a single monolithic structure manufactured by laser additive manufacturing. This eliminates weak assembly joints and maintains full mechanical strength throughout the entire component, including critical areas like gear teeth and shaft connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser additive manufacturing process can utilize composite materials with enhanced mechanical properties. The layer-by-layer deposition creates a dense microstructure with optimized grain orientation, resulting in superior mechanical resistance compared to conventionally assembled parts.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional machining is used for small timepiece parts, then manufacturing is possible, but part dimensions are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The laser additive manufacturing process builds parts in the vertical dimension layer by layer, rather than removing material horizontally as in conventional machining. This approach is not limited by part size and can manufacture both small timepiece components and larger structures with equal precision, breaking the dimensional constraints of traditional machining.
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 production of symmetrical, robust one-piece timepiece parts with optimized dimensions, eliminating assembly limitations and ensuring precise alignment and enhanced mechanical properties.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting a first power, geometry and time modulation of said laser light; and exposing at least a first portion of said at least one one-piece workpiece to said first modulation of said laser light so as to form at least a first volume
Data Source
AI summary
A one-piece mechanical timepiece part formed by a gear for timepiece mechanisms, a wheel for timepiece mechanisms and/or a pinion for timepiece mechanisms, and its related method. The method for manufacturing the one-piece mechanical timepiece part by laser light includes the steps of providing a one-piece material part, oscillating and/or rotating the rotary element and forming the one-piece mechanical timepiece part by power and time modulation of the laser light.