Crystal-structure-processed mechanical devices and methods and systems for making
AssigneeSharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
InventorJohn W. Hartzell
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Abstract
Laser processing of various materials to create mechanical devices whose internal mechanical properties are provided in final useable form by adjustments made in internal crystalline structure.
Claims20
A method of forming, from a precursor material having selectively and controllably changeable crystalline-structure-related mechanical properties, a mechanical device possessing (a) a predetermined configuration, and therein (b) a set of such mechanical properties, that are desired for the performance by the completed device of a pre-chosen mechanical task, said method comprising
- placing a precursor body of such material in a processing zone,
- selecting a volumetric region with an appropriate spatial configuration in that body which is suitable (a) for the creation therefrom of the desired, predetermined device configuration and (b) for the establishment therein of the desired set of crystalline-structure-related mechanical properties,
- within the processing zone, subjecting the selected region to a controlled changing of the crystalline structure therein, and thus of the related mechanical properties, and
- by that process, achieving, in the selected region, the desired set of mechanical properties.
A method of making a task-specific, mechanical device at least partially out of a chosen material whose local mechanical properties are closely linked to local, internal crystalline structure, said method comprising
- determining an appropriate spatial configuration for the device,
- on the basis of said determining, deciding upon the appropriate distribution in such configuration of local mechanical properties needed for the finished device to be capable of performing the intended specific task, and
- applying suitable crystalline-structure-modifying processing to a body of the chosen material to achieve therein a processed region which possesses both the predetermined, appropriate spatial configuration forte device, and a distributed local crystalline-structure arrangement tat produces the decided-upon, distributed, local mechanical properties.
A mechanical device-building method comprising
- selecting a particular mechanical device to build for the purpose of performing a particular task,
- in relation to said selecting, determining for the selected device an appropriate spatial, three-dimensional configuration, and an internal mechanical properties characteristic within that configuration, suited for the selected particular task,
- choosing a material for the creation of the device, and
- selectively and controllably processing the internal crystalline structure within the chosen material, and within a region in that material matching the determined device configuration, thus to achieve within that region the desired, determined mechanical properties for the selected particular task.
An ambient-temperature method for creating, from a precursor material having selectively and controllably changeable crystalline-structure-related mechanical properties, a mechanical device possessing (a) a predetermined configuration, and therein (b) a set of such mechanical properties, that are desired for the performance by the completed device of a pre-chosen mechanical task, said method comprising
- placing a precursor body of such material in a processing zone,
- selecting a volumetric region with an appropriate spatial configuration in that body which is suitable (a) for the creation therefrom of the desired, predetermined device configuration, and (b) for the establishment therein of the desired set of crystalline-structure-related mechanical properties,
- within the processing zone, subjecting the selected region to a controlled changing of the crystalline structure therein, and thus of the related mechanical properties, said subjecting taking place in the context of a local-only material-body temperature rise, and
- by that process, achieving, in the selected region, the desired set of mechanical properties.
A method of forming, from a precursor material having selectively and controllably changeable crystalline-structure-related mechanical properties, a mechanical device possessing (a) a predetermined configuration, and therein (b) a set of such mechanical properties, that are desired for the performance by the completed device of a pre-chosen mechanical task, said method comprising,
- forming a precursor body of such material,
- placing that formed material body in a processing zone,
- within that zone, applying processing to the body to establish, within a selected region therein which has an appropriate spatial configuration, an internal crystalline condition which is characterized by possession of a set of the desired crystalline-structure-related mechanical properties, and
- at some point in time during implementation of the method, creating from the material body the desired, predetermined device configuration, and doing this in a manner whereby, on completion of the method, the desired configuration is substantially defined by material processed in the selected region.
A method of making a defined-task, micro-mechanical device within a size range which, at the lower end extends to single-crystal-level devices, said method comprising
- choosing for the creation of such a device a material which possesses crystalline-structure-defining mechanical properties,
- selecting a target three-dimensional spatial configuration, and a set of mechanical properties, effective to achieve such a device forte defined task, and
- processing the crystalline structure of an appropriate three-dimensional quantity of such chosen material to meet the selected target configuration and set of mechanical properties.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.