Multicolour Ceramic Bezel with Laser-Ablated Relief Decoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for manufacturing ceramic or cermet horological components with multiple colors face challenges such as significant shrinkage during sintering, leading to disengagement at material junctions and non-uniform color distribution, especially when using bi-injection or multi-injection techniques.
Innovation Solution
A multi-material injection method involving an insert with a relief or hollow structure to create a hooking surface on the first material, followed by machining the second material to form a decoration, thereby reducing shrinkage and ensuring uniform color integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multi-injection method is used to manufacture ceramic or cermet components with different colors, then color variety is improved, but shrinkage differences lead to disengagement at material junctions
Solution Approach 1:
The insert with relief structure is placed in the mold cavity before injection, creating a hooking surface on the first injected material that will mechanically interlock with the second material. This preliminary structural preparation ensures that when shrinkage occurs during sintering, the interlocked geometry maintains the bond between differently colored materials, preventing disengagement at junctions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If bi-injection method is used to create different colors, then color variety is improved, but uniform color distribution in the mass becomes difficult to obtain
Solution Approach 1:
The decoration elements are extracted from the bulk material and formed as surface features through laser ablation of the second material. This separates the color application (injection) from the decoration formation (machining), allowing uniform color distribution in the injected mass while creating precise decorative patterns on the surface without compromising color homogeneity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical assembly by brazing or gluing is used to mount decoration elements, then decoration flexibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The decoration elements are merged with the main component by forming them as integral parts through multi-injection and subsequent laser ablation. The hooking surface created by the insert provides mechanical interlocking, while the laser ablation creates precise decorative patterns. This combines what would otherwise be separate assembly steps (mounting decorations) into a single integrated manufacturing process, eliminating brazing or gluing operations.
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
The method produces a one-piece article with uniform color distribution and seamless integration of decorations, eliminating mechanical assembly complexities and ensuring consistent aesthetic appearance.
Implementation Method 1
an insert having a relief or hollow structure intended to imprint, on the first injected material, a hooking surface for the second injected material
Implementation Method 2
sintering the green body to form a movement-blank
Implementation Method 3
a significant shrinkage, which can amount to 30%, is observed during sintering
Implementation Method 4
Machining, by laser ablation, at least the second material to make the decoration in said second material
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a multicolour cermet and/or ceramic article, and in particular a bezel of a timepiece, made by a method for injecting at least two materials of distinct colours, said article comprising a relief decoration of a colour different from the rest of the article, said decoration being made by laser ablation after injection of the two materials.