Superplastic forming of micro components
AssigneeThe Curators of the University of Missouri
InventorRajiv S. Mishra
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for forming a miniaturized shaped component. Bulk superplastic material is contacted with a flat rotating surface of a rotating tool to frictionally heat the bulk superplastic material with the bulk superplastic material positioned between the flat rotating surface of the tool and a microfabricated tool die. The bulk superplastic material is forced into the microfabricated die once the bulk superplastic material is heated to a temperature between a glass transition temperature and a crystallization temperature.
Claims29
A method for forming a miniaturized shaped component comprising:
- frictionally heating bulk superplastic material with heat generated by frictional contact with a flat rotating surface of a rotating tool, with the bulk superplastic material positioned between the flat rotating surface of the tool and a microfabricated tool die;
- and
- forcing the bulk superplastic material into the microfabricated die once the bulk superplastic material is heated to a temperature between a glass transition temperature and a crystallization temperature of the bulk superplastic material by moving the tool and die closer to each other with the bulk superplastic material therebetween to produce a miniaturized shaped component conforming to a shape of the microfabricated tool die.
A method for forming a miniaturized shaped component comprising:
- frictionally heating bulk superplastic material with heat generated by frictional contact with a flat rotating surface of a rotating tool, with the bulk superplastic material positioned between the flat rotating surface of the tool and a microfabricated tool die;
- and
- monitoring the temperature of the bulk superplastic material;
- forcing the bulk superplastic material into the microfabricated die once the bulk superplastic material is heated to a temperature between a glass transition temperature and a crystallization temperature of the bulk superplastic material by moving the tool and die closer to each other with the bulk superplastic material therebetween to produce a miniaturized shaped component conforming to a shape of the microfabricated tool die;
- and
- heat treating the miniaturized shaped component to impart nanocrystalline structure thereto.
A method for extruding a miniaturized cross-section component comprising:
- frictionally heat the bulk superplastic material with heat generated by frictional contact with a flat rotating surface of a rotating tool, with the bulk superplastic material positioned between the flat rotating surface of the tool and a microfabricated extrusion die;
- and
- forcing the bulk superplastic material into the microfabricated extrusion die once the bulk superplastic material is heated to a superplastic temperature range to produce an extrusion with a miniaturized cross section.
A method for forming a component of miniaturized cross section comprising:
- heating bulk superplastic material by contacting an encapsulating material which encapsulates the bulk superplastic material with a flat rotating surface of a rotating tool to frictionally heat the encapsulating material and thereby heat the bulk superplastic material, with the bulk superplastic material and encapsulating material positioned between the flat rotating surface of the tool and a microfabricated die;
- and
- forcing the bulk superplastic material into the microfabricated die once the bulk superplastic material is heated to a temperature between a glass transition temperature and a crystallization temperature of the bulk superplastic material by moving the tool and die closer to each other with the bulk superplastic material therebetween and with the encapsulating material transmitting pressure from the tool to the bulk superplastic material to produce a shaped component of miniaturized cross section conforming to a shape of the microfabricated die.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.