Sintering Press Tool With Flexible Membrane for Uniform Bonding Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing diffusion soldering or sintering devices face challenges in uniformly applying pressing force to electronic assemblies with components of varying heights, leading to local pressure peaks and requiring complex tool changes and maintenance access, resulting in significant downtime.
Innovation Solution
A diffusion soldering or sintering device with an evacuable process chamber featuring a lid that opens from the top, allowing easy access and a locking mechanism to maintain sealing during operation, combined with a press yoke and elastic films to distribute forces uniformly, and a press tool with a flexible membrane to compensate for component height differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single diffusion soldering or sintering fixture is used to manufacture several different types of assemblies, then device versatility is improved, but tool changeover time and downtime increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The fixture is divided into separable upper and lower portions that can be independently removed from the process chamber. The upper tool is detached from the lid and the lower tool from the base, allowing rapid replacement without chamber access for the entire fixture assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixture design allows dynamic reconfiguration where tools can be quickly swapped between different assembly types. The separable structure enables the fixture to adapt to different production requirements without permanent reconfiguration.
2Ease of operation
If access to the process chamber is required for tool changes and maintenance, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to significant downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The fixture is segmented into upper and lower tools that can be independently accessed and replaced. The upper tool connects to the lid and the lower tool to the base, allowing tool changes without disassembling the entire chamber structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The tools are extracted as separate removable components from the process chamber. The upper tool is taken out from the lid and the lower tool from the base, enabling maintenance and changes without full chamber access and minimizing production interruptions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pressing force is applied to assemblies with components of different heights, then manufacturing capability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to local pressure peaks
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible membrane is introduced as an intermediary between the pressing tool and the components. This membrane deforms to accommodate components of varying heights while distributing the pressing force uniformly across the bonding surface, preventing local pressure peaks.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane acts as a mediator between the rigid pressing tool and the irregularly shaped components. It transfers the pressing force while adapting to the component height variations, ensuring uniform pressure distribution for precise manufacturing.
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 simplified access to the process chamber for tool changes and maintenance, reduces downtime, and ensures uniform pressure application, enhancing production efficiency and component bonding quality.
Implementation Method 1
The sintering device (10) comprises an evacuable process chamber (20)
Implementation Method 2
The sintering of the electronic assemblies themselves is achieved by temperature control of the assemblies or their components
Implementation Method 3
the application of pressure by the upper and lower dies
Implementation Method 4
an elastic film, preferably a graphite film, is arranged between the press yoke and the upper tool and/or in the lower tool
Implementation Method 5
a press tool with a flexible membrane to compensate for component height differences
Implementation Method 6
In diffusion soldering, atoms of the solid base material mix with atoms of the liquid solder under pressure. This creates an alloy zone that forms a metallurgical bond between the base material and the solder
Implementation Method 7
a locking mechanism to maintain sealing during operation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The present invention relates to a sintering device or diffusion soldering device for connecting components of at least one electronic assembly by means of pressure sintering, comprising an evacuatable process chamber, in which a top die and a bottom die are arranged, between which the assembly is held and which can be displaced relative to one another in terms of their spacing in order to exert a pressing force, wherein the process chamber comprises a base body, which has an access opening in its top side, and a cover, which can be moved between a closed position, in which the access opening is closed by the cover, and an open position, wherein, when the cover is in the closed position, the top die is supported on the cover at least while the pressing force is being exerted. The invention also relates to a further sintering device and to a pressing tool.