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US 12,124,223 B2Granted
Method of fabricating a timepiece component and component obtained from this method
AssigneeNivarox-FAR S.A.
InventorsPierre Cusin, Alex Gandelhman, Michel Musy, Clare Golfier
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Abstract
A method for fabricating a metallic timepiece component, wherein the method includes the steps of forming, via a UV-LIGA type process combined with hot stamping, a multi-level photosensitive resin mould and electroplating a layer of at least one metal from at least two conductive layers to form a block that substantially reaches the upper surface of the photosensitive resin.
Claims17
A method for the fabrication of at least one timepiece component comprising the following steps:
- a) providing a substrate (1), depositing thereon a first electrically conductive layer (2) and applying a first photosensitive resin layer (3);
- b) hot stamping the first photosensitive resin layer (3) using a stamp, pressing the stamp (8) down to the substrate, in order to shape the first photosensitive resin layer and define a first level of the timepiece component;
- c) irradiating the first shaped photosensitive resin layer (3) through a mask (4) defining at least a first level of the timepiece component and dissolving the non-irradiated areas (3b) of the photosensitive resin layer (3) to reveal, in places, the first electrically conductive layer (2);
- d) applying a second photosensitive resin layer (6) covering the structure resulting from step c), then irradiating the second photosensitive resin layer (6) through a mask (4″) defining a second level of the timepiece component and dissolving the non-irradiated areas (6b) of the second photosensitive resin layer (6) to form a mould comprising a first and a second level;
- e) depositing by electroforming a metallic layer (7) in the mould from the first electrically conductive layer (2) to form the timepiece component, the metallic layer (7) substantially reaching the upper surface of the second photosensitive resin layer (6);
- f) successively removing the substrate, the first electrically conductive layer, the first photosensitive resin layer (3) and the second photosensitive resin layer (6) to release the timepiece component,
- wherein, in step b) a surface of the first photosensitive resin layer (3) is formed as one of beveled and chamfered, and
- in step e) a surface of the timepiece component is formed as the one of beveled and chamfered against the surface of the first photosensitive resin layer (3),
- wherein the method includes a step d′), after step c), which consists in locally depositing a second electrically conductive layer (5) on the irradiated layers (3a) of the first photosensitive resin layer (3), and
- wherein a second surface of the first photosensitive resin layer (3) is formed as curved and is extended from the second electrically conductive layer (5) to the first electrically conductive layer (2).
7 more elements
A method for the fabrication of at least one timepiece component comprising the following steps:
- a′) providing a substrate (1), depositing thereon a first electrically conductive layer (2) and applying a first photosensitive resin (3) layer;
- b′) irradiating the first photosensitive resin layer (3) through a mask (4) defining at least a first level of the timepiece component and dissolving the non-irradiated areas (3b) of the first photosensitive resin layer (3) to reveal, in places, the first electrically conductive layer (2);
- c′) applying a second photosensitive resin layer (6) covering the structure resulting from step b′),
- d′) hot stamping the second photosensitive resin layer (6) using a stamp to shape the second photosensitive resin layer and define a second level of the timepiece component;
- e′) irradiating the second shaped photosensitive resin layer (6) through a mask (4″) defining a second level of the timepiece component and dissolving the non-irradiated areas (6b) of the second photosensitive resin layer (6) to form a mould comprising a first and a second level;
- f) depositing a metallic layer (7) by electroforming in the mould from the first electrically conductive layer (2) to form the timepiece component, the metallic layer (7) substantially reaching the upper surface of the second photosensitive resin layer (6);
- g′) successively removing the substrate, the first electrically conductive layer, the first photosensitive resin layer (3) and the second photosensitive resin layer (6) to release the timepiece component,
- wherein in step d′) a surface of the second photosensitive resin layer (6) is formed as at least one of beveled and chamfered, and
- wherein in step f′) a surface of the timepiece component is formed as the one of beveled and chamfered against the surface of the second photosensitive resin layer (6),
- wherein the method includes a step d″), after step c′), which consists in locally depositing a second electrically conductive layer (5) on irradiated layers (3a) of the first photosensitive resin layer (3), and
- wherein a second surface of the first photosensitive resin layer (3) is formed as curved and is extended from the second electrically conductive layer (5) to the first electrically conductive layer (2).
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.