Timepiece Oscillator Manufacturing via Layer Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for manufacturing watch oscillators, such as monolithic regulators, face challenges in producing flexible blades with high aspect ratios and reduced thickness, limiting design possibilities and increasing production costs due to the need for clean room etching and restricted geometry.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the assembly of planar layers to form a multilayer structure, which is then deployed to create a three-dimensional structure with flexible blades fixed to rigid masses, allowing for the production of flexible blades with high aspect ratios and reduced dimensions, enabling lower oscillation frequencies and increased design flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If monolithic regulator is manufactured using traditional etching methods, then the structure is simple and production process is straightforward, but the flexible blade cannot achieve high aspect ratios greater than 25 and reduced thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The regulator is divided into separate components: flexible blades, rigid masses, and connecting elements are manufactured as distinct parts and then assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, enabling flexible blades to achieve high aspect ratios without being constrained by monolithic manufacturing limitations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from two-dimensional planar etching to three-dimensional assembly by stacking multiple layers (first layer with flexible blade, second layer with rigid mass) and connecting them vertically. This dimensional change enables the creation of high aspect ratio structures that cannot be achieved through planar processing alone.
2Manufacturing precision
If clean room etching is used to manufacture monolithic regulator, then manufacturing precision can be maintained, but additional production costs are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the manufacturing process into separate steps for different components, the invention allows flexible blades to be formed using precision etching only where necessary (first layer), while rigid masses (second layer) can be manufactured using less expensive methods, thereby reducing overall production costs while maintaining critical precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible blade is pre-formed in the first layer with the required high aspect ratio geometry before assembly. This preliminary formation eliminates the need for subsequent complex clean room etching operations to create the final three-dimensional structure, reducing production costs while maintaining manufacturing precision for critical dimensions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If same material is used for flexible blades and rigid masses in monolithic regulator, then manufacturing process is simplified, but design possibilities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The regulator is segmented into flexible blades and rigid masses as separate components that can be manufactured from different materials. This segmentation enables independent material selection optimized for each component's functional requirements, thereby increasing design versatility without significantly increasing assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite construction by assembling different materials (flexible blade material and rigid mass material) into a unified regulator structure. This composite approach allows optimization of each material's properties for its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity through the connection mechanism.
4Reliability
If flexible blade thickness is reduced to achieve lower oscillation frequencies, then oscillation frequency can be reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention moves from planar thickness control to three-dimensional layer stacking, where the flexible blade's effective thickness is determined by the spacing and configuration of stacked layers rather than a single etched thickness. This dimensional transition enables precise thickness control through layer positioning, reducing the difficulty of manufacturing ultra-thin blades with high precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for manufacturing a mechanism (100) comprises the steps consisting of: i) assembling planar layers (10; 56; 58; 60; 64) together to form a substantially planar multilayer structure (68); ii) deploying the multilayer structure in a direction (Z) substantially normal to the planar layers (10; 56; 58; 60; 64). At least one first layer (60) of said layers (10; 56; 58; 60; 64) forms a flexible blade (62) in the mechanism (100). The blade (62) is attached, in the mechanism (100), to a mass (92). The mass (92) is more rigid than the blade (62). The blade (62) is attached to the mass (92) during a step that follows the step ii). This method can be implemented, in particular, for manufacturing all or part of a mechanism such as a timepiece movement.