Rotating plating fixture
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorsDavid L. Westergren, Timothy J. Nance, Jonathan Koonce, Haley M. Steffen, Cassie Rork, Casey J. Martin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotating plating fixture changes an orientation of the substrate throughout a plating cycle. The plating fixture changes the orientation by precisely controlling a rotation speed and position of the substrate. A stepper motor changes the orientation in response to control signals from a controller. The plating fixture includes a stepper motor fixed to a hanger, a shaft coupled to the stepper motor, a pinion gear coupled to the shaft such that rotation of the shaft by the stepper motor causes rotation of the pinion gear, and a bevel gear meshing with the pinion gear.
Claims15
A plating fixture comprising:
- a hanger;
- a stepper motor fixed to the hanger;
- a shaft coupled to the stepper motor;
- wherein the stepper motor is configured to rotate the shaft;
- one or more pillow block bearings fixed to the hanger;
- wherein the one or more pillow block bearings constrain the shaft to rotate relative to the one or more pillow block bearings;
- a pinion gear coupled to the shaft such that rotation of the shaft by the stepper motor causes rotation of the pinion gear;
- wherein the stepper motor, the shaft, and the pinion gear share a common axis of rotation;
- and
- a bevel gear coupled to and configured to rotate relative to the hanger;
- wherein the bevel gear is disposed perpendicular to the pinion gear;
- wherein the bevel gear meshes with the pinion gear.
A plating system comprising:
- a plating bath holding a plating fluid;
- a substrate;
- an anode;
- a rectifier;
- wherein the rectifier is electrically coupled to the substrate and the anode;
- a plating fixture comprising:
- a hanger;
- a stepper motor fixed to the hanger;
- a shaft coupled to the stepper motor;
- wherein the stepper motor is configured to rotate the shaft;
- one or more pillow block bearings fixed to the hanger;
- wherein the one or more pillow block bearings constrain the shaft to rotate relative to the one or more pillow block bearings;
- a pinion gear coupled to the shaft such that rotation of the shaft by the stepper motor causes rotation of the pinion gear;
- wherein the stepper motor, the shaft, and the pinion gear share a common axis of rotation;
- and
- a bevel gear coupled to and configured to rotate relative to the hanger;
- wherein the bevel gear is disposed perpendicular to the pinion gear;
- wherein the bevel gear meshes with the pinion gear;
- wherein the bevel gear, the anode and the substrate are disposed within the plating fluid;
- wherein the stepper motor is disposed above the plating fluid;
- and
- a controller;
- wherein the controller causes the stepper motor to rotate the bevel gear and the substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.