Timing Belt Outer Profile Bonding Using 3D-Printed Polyurethane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for manufacturing timing belts with a multifunctional profiled outer face are inefficient, as they are either excessively slow due to individual 3D printing, costly due to pre-fabricated parts, or lack stability in attachment, reducing delivery time and belt strength.
Innovation Solution
A method involving prefabricated polyurethane timing belts with 3D-printed profiled parts, where the parts are heated and vulcanized onto the belt using a heat lamp, allowing precise positioning and permanent attachment, enabling the integration of metal parts and reducing assembly time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If 3D printing is used to construct profiled parts directly on the timing belt, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but production speed deteriorates due to individual printing of successive profiled parts
Solution Approach 1:
The profiled parts are pre-manufactured separately using 3D printing technology before being attached to the timing belt. This allows the printing process to be performed in advance rather than during belt assembly, significantly reducing production time while maintaining the flexibility to produce different profiled part geometries as needed
2Loss of time
If pre-fabricated profiled parts are manufactured by moulding or machining, then delivery time is reduced, but manufacturing cost increases considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the manufacturing parameter from traditional moulding or machining to 3D printing. This enables rapid prototyping and small-batch production of profiled parts without requiring expensive moulds or complex machining setups, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining quick delivery times
3Ease of manufacture
If adhesives are used to fix profiled parts to the belt, then attachment process is simplified, but stability of parts deteriorates throughout the lifetime of the timing belt
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses composite materials consisting of vulcanizing compounds that chemically bond with both the profiled parts and the timing belt. This creates a permanent, stable attachment that maintains reliability throughout the entire lifetime of the timing belt, unlike simple adhesives that may degrade over time
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
This method reduces production time, increases manufacturing efficiency, ensures permanent fixing of profiled parts, and enhances the belt's versatility and control, suitable for applications requiring precise positioning, such as the automotive sector.
Implementation Method 1
heating the surfaces of the profiled parts and of the timing belt to be joined with a heat lamp
Implementation Method 2
positioning them in contact with each other to be permanently connected to one another by vulcanisation
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of manufacturing a timing belt with a multi-functional profiled outer face, comprising: manufacturing profiled parts by 3D printing with polyurethane, and selecting a polyurethane timing belt with a hardness between 65 and 95 Shore and a thickness between 3 and 15 millimetres. In both cases, the surfaces of the profiled parts to be joined and the timing belt are heated with a heat lamp with a range of 450°C, placed at distances from each of said surfaces between 3 millimetres for the hardest polyurethane (95 Shore) and 5 millimetres for the one with the lowest hardness (65 Shore), and for a variable time depending on the thickness and hardness of the profiled parts and the timing belt. The profiled parts are arranged and pressed onto the timing belt until their mutual joining.