Glass and Sapphire Openings via Laser Filamentation Etching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for machining openings in glass or sapphire timepiece components result in high scrap rates, mechanical stress concentration, and poor resistance to impacts and bending, due to oversized chips and inefficient processes.
Innovation Solution
A method combining laser filamentation to create the desired geometry in glass or sapphire components, followed by chemical etching in an alkaline solution to separate the component from the scrap, achieving precise contours and high productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional piercing or opening methods are used on glass or sapphire timepiece components, then the component can be processed, but high scrap rates occur due to oversized chips and mechanical stress concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the opening-making process into two distinct stages: first creating a pilot opening (pre-hole) and then expanding it to the final dimensions. This segmentation allows the glass or sapphire to be opened gradually, reducing mechanical stress concentration and preventing oversized chip formation that leads to high scrap rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary action by first creating a pilot opening before making the final opening. This preliminary pilot hole serves as a guide and stress distributor, enabling the subsequent final opening to be made with reduced mechanical stress and lower risk of creating defective oversized chips.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional machining methods are used to make openings in glass or sapphire, then openings can be created, but mechanical stress concentrates causing poor resistance to impacts and bending
Solution Approach 1:
The two-stage opening process segments the material removal, allowing stress to be distributed gradually rather than concentrated in a single operation. The pilot opening creates a stress pathway that prevents stress concentration at the opening edges, thereby improving impact and bending resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the processing parameters by using different opening methods for the pilot and final openings. The pilot opening uses parameters optimized for precision and stress distribution, while the final opening uses parameters optimized for achieving the desired dimensions, resulting in both ease of manufacture and improved strength.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional opening methods are used, then openings can be made, but productivity is reduced due to inefficient processes and high scrap rates
Solution Approach 1:
The preliminary pilot opening acts as a guide for the final opening process, ensuring high precision while enabling faster final opening execution. This preliminary action reduces the need for rework and minimizes scrap, thereby improving overall productivity despite the additional step.
Solution Approach 2:
By optimizing parameters for each stage (pilot opening and final opening) separately, the process achieves high precision in both stages. The parameter optimization ensures that each stage contributes to overall productivity by minimizing defects and rework.
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 achieves high productivity and significantly enhanced mechanical strength, with parts exhibiting superior resistance to bending and impact tests compared to traditional techniques, and allows for the deposition of solar cells on the glass components.
Implementation Method 1
a geometry is created by laser filamentation in a glass or sapphire blank
Implementation Method 2
the component is separated from the scrap by chemical etching
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing an opening in a glass or sapphire timepiece component, according to which, in a first step, a glass or sapphire blank is produced or supplied, in a second step, a geometry of the opening is defined and the opening is cut in the form of a hole or contour by a laser filamentation method, and in a third step, the timepiece component containing the opening is separated from the scrap resulting from the filamentation method by chemical etching. The invention further relates to a watch having a glass or sapphire timepiece component with at least one opening made using this method.