Method of making transmission components synchronous and asynchronous and synchronous and asynchronous transmission components made by this process.

HM 705,707 b1 specification la invention relates to a method for manufacturing components for a motion transmitting asynchronous/synchronous power/by cutting components using a short-pulse laser type fem. The invention also relates to the transmission components of asynchronous/synchronous power/movements made by this process.

au medium years 1960, the first lasers were bulky, fragile and big energy consumers.

Shortly after its invention, the laser produced an actual revolution by producing a flash much more brief, of the order of nanoseconds (10.9 second). At the beginning of the years 1970, is reached the picosecond (10 - 12 second), then hundred femtoseconds (10 a-Si second) at the beginning of the year 1980. Finally pulses SF 6 were obtained year 1987. This method achievement, performed laboratory palsy US, has not been improved from because [...] approaches the theoretical limit for a pulse visible light. However the production conditions such pulses are now simpler and much better controlled, such that durations of 10 femto seconds are commonly obtained in the laboratory.

l'use of YAG lasers or c02 is relatively conventional in the machining of materials such as metals or excimer for polymers. These methods are limited when working to small dimensions on materials cannot withstand the shocks or thermal stresses.

today the ultrashort pulse lasers which emit (less than ten the femto seconds) are compact, versatile and reliable. The intensity and variety of these lasers continually increase: the beams obtained today cover the entire electromagnetic spectrum, X-ray T-rays (terahertz radiation, located beyond the infrared) and the maximum powers reach more [...] (multi-billion megawatts).

these devices apply particularly in physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, optical.

more than thirty years after its invention, the laser has given rise to multiple developments, including treatment of ultrashort pulse lasers.

en due to the extremely short duration of their pulses, they make possible the study of fast processes involved in a microscale or atomic. In addition, very high powers may be produced during the low pulse duration, creating extreme conditions, comparable to those found in astrophysics.

a using ultrashort pulsed lasers, is machined precisely any material such as diamond, ceramics, plastic materials, wood, andc.

l'use of the ultrashort pulse laser to machine the mechanical components with substantial advantages:

- more accurate optical machining means; - ablating material under conditions substantially athermal:

- there is effect that at focal point, the beam may pass through thicknesses to get work at a point in the mass without altering the surface or material about the path covered; - the beam is manipulated remotely and in all angles; - there is not restriction at materials machined; - achieved a resolution finer than the width of the laser beam by adjusting the laser so that only the intensity of the central portion, the brighter, is greater than the ablation threshold of the material; - absence of cutting forces at the machining.

il is known that transmissions of asynchronous/synchronous power movements/cover a very wide scope of purposes in all sectors of industry, including that of the timepiece.

de many alternatives exist for transmitting the movements/powers as, for example, those using the gear transmission as the proposes in particular most of the conventional clock movements. These solutions are limited for the general case centers is remote and wherein the motors and receivers are not parallel.

a motion transmission/power, particular consists of a belt/pulley assembly. [...] is asynchronous when the belt used is smooth (the rubbing strips) and synchronously when the belt gear is used.

il is noted that dyssynchrony comes from the possibility of slippage of the belts on the pulleys under the action of an excessive torque. In order to remedy this disadvantage, at least in part, we add tensioning device and/or guide called roller, which is not always the case with respect to the synchronous transmission chains.

the gears, pulleys, gears and rollers voltage are made by traditional methods such as turning and/or milling. The conventional belts are configured in particular by molding, wherein the molds are made by electroerosion, ultrasound or by the LIGA method (lithography, [...], [...]).

HM 705,707 b1 these methods are particularly useful for the production of micro-molds having dimensions ranging from beyond 2 mm and directs the manufacturer to utilize "injectable plastics" which is limiting for dimensions below 2 mm and for the use of materials such as metals, composites, ceramics, the minerals and organic complex matrix materials. Furthermore, these methods also have limits for the machining of complex surfaces, especially left.

le document to the EP 0,851 295 ([...] its) provided a metallic coat without specifying the particular case of blind holes and surfaces. This document is useful for making microstructures by the LIGA process method which is a method of photo-developing reverse and does not represent the micro molding in general. The fields of the complex materials and small escape this process since only certain plastics can be molded as subject to constraints viscosity to very small dimensions. This method has vacancies for performing sandwich structures or composites.

in order to overcome problems of large distances and axial offsets, it is known to use a device using transmissions/microwave power movements smooth or toothed belts, as shown in Publication WO-2004/006 026 a2 (TAG-to-[...] its).

ce known arrangement of substantially reducing stresses quality transmissions of motion/power required particularly in the field of the timepiece. However, the advantages of the device are not fully realized due to the quality of the components for the transmission of motion/power which are produced in particular by conventional methods seen previously.

conventional manufacturing methods are unsuitable [...] ' transmissions it is synchronous and asynchronous power movements/belts comprise non-normalized particularly for manufacturing timepieces.

en effect, a normative viewpoint, ISO standards governing the field transmissions synchronous/asynchronous movements/power by belts when the relative dimensioning armor thicknesses, widths and heights of toothed belts will beyond 2 mm, which is not the case when this dimensioning remained below 2 mm of.

le object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing components for transmitting movement/synchronous and asynchronous power, as well as the transmission components of movements/synchronous and asynchronous power obtained by this process, to meet the constraints of quality, required by particular to the timepiece, and allowing for the use of complex materials without limitation of dimensioning.

ce aim is achieved by a method for manufacturing components of asynchronous/synchronous transmission/power movements which forms of work from the geometry defined on a plane CAD 3d, transfer the data on a three-dimensional machining software with regard interpolations surfaces left, defines pitches depending on the material and the machining depth such that ablation conditions are optimized, data is inputted into the computer control/driving displacements positions, in the Y direction, the focal zone c by illumination using the optical head has, with or without a diffraction device, position the component to be machined on the plane B, clamps the component to be machined using conventional systems such as flanges, adhesive, etc, sets the ultrashort pulse laser emto less than 500 SF (5 the X 10 - 13 seconds), starts the machining program and the femto machines the laser component.

on this provides transmission components of motion/power synchronous and asynchronous which satisfy the constraints of quality, required by particular to the timepiece, namely:

- choice of materials (mechanical properties and manufacturing processes); - the difficulty for charged structures (reinforcements reinforced fiber, and so on); - the definition of teeth profiles; - the difficulty of machining.

le ultrashort pulse laser does not diffuse heat out of the irradiated volume, and this regardless of the processed material.

le machining process is based on the ablation process that implements complex phenomena. The nature of the process is athermal due to short pulses conjugated to very high intensity in the order of 1014 watts/cm2 at the focal plane of the beam. The current trend orients the tools to pulses of 100 SF (1.0 the X 10 - 13 seconds) for an energy of the order of m the j/pulse.

physically electrons in a temperature increase by phenomenon type "Breamstralung" reverse. Electrons transfer their energy to other electrons from the network of atoms by shock and cause an avalanche ionization which causes a discharge of material. The energy transfer electrons to the network of atom of the processed material occurs within a time period of about 1000 times slower than the duration of a pulse. The ablating material effected before that there is thermal diffusion is outside the irradiated area.

HM 705,707 b1 ce procedure uses the interface light matter to cause local ablation of any material. Beyond incidence thermal marked, ablation accuracy is significantly improved in comparison with conventional lasers or excimer type pico seconds.

fluences required in the case of machining vary from 0.25 to a few tens of j/cm2 depending on the speed and quality of machining desired, typically 0.5 0.25 MW/pulse.

in one embodiment, the machining is performed in the open air or in a controlled atmosphere (inert gas). The advantage of machining in controlled atmosphere consists of preventing the breakdown of air at the focal plane and the occurrence corollary instability altering very partially the machining quality. Further and to improve the energy efficiency of ablation, can be coupled to the laser, in the case of industrial series, qualitative optics such as for example a diffractive assembly.

on noted that the use of a pulsed laser ultrashort allows:

- in plastic materials (thermoplastic, polymeric...), a cut without thermal damage of the waist region.

- in composite materials, the size of the layered material direct without delamination.

the L - ' machining of all without any running or burr or even as a flaring at the incident surface.

- in ceramics, glasses, the ultra-hard mineral products, including the diamond, the size operates without altered nor formation of networks of necking or cracking.

d'in general, machining is effected without difficulty scale of tens [...]. By using the tool we confirm the size of micro gear tooth whose height (belts or wheels) is of the order of 5 [...].

The limits of the technique are only those related to the offset of the beam.

la present invention allows the use of complex materials without limitation of dimensioning and the construction of structures or composite sandwich and meets quality transmissions motion/power when the motor axes-receptors are particularly parallel and geometrical constructions such as:

- case simple so-called parallel strands; - case simple so-called crossed strands.

/ power transmissions movements realized according to the invention, are type asynchronous or synchronous and /.

in one embodiment, transmissions of motion/power are asynchronous and consist of at least one friction, from the and have at least one tension pulley and/or guide which is within or outside the [...].

further, the transmission components of motion/power asynchronous are mounted on pivot links or translation thereby:

- increasing the winding angle on the pulleys; - ensure disengagement/engagement features.

transmissions/synchronous power movements consist of at least one gear and toothed belts, which has the effect of allowing the transmission of mechanical power between a prime mover and a receiver element without slip, thus correcting the problem function creep or accidental asynchronous transmissions, especially in the event of overload.

/ power transmissions comprise asynchronous movements of the friction wheels, rollers and/or voltage guide and flat belts or trapezoidal or striated.

transmissions/movements include synchronous power gears and/or toothed belts are characterized by:

- geometry carrier with controlled deformation (domain of elasticity of the material); - a toothing profile curvilinear or polygonal; - a toothing ortho radial, straight, angled or curvilinear laid on the carrier plane.

the components of a motion transmission/power made according to the invention are made of a material having sufficient mechanical characteristics, which is the case in particular for plastics and polymers, the metal, composites and ceramics.

la invention also permits the production by the method proposed by the present invention micro-molds.

l'invention also relates to a timepiece or a watch movement having a motion transmission/power made according to the present invention.

d'other features of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

HM 705,707 b1 l'invention will be better understood from the detailed description which will follow with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which:

figure - 1 - la Figure 2 - la Figure 3 - la Figure Figure 4 - la.

represents, for example, a manufacturing device asynchronous/synchronous transmissions motion/power.

represents a synchronous transmission // asynchronous movements relative power to a simple case to said parallel strands.

represents a curvilinear tooth profile.

represents two examples of asynchronous transmission with secondary pulleys disposed inside and outside of the transmission.

represents a sectional view from the laminate.

la Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus for manufacturing a asynchronous/synchronous transmission of movements (10)/power comprising:

- a working plane (11) having in particular six axles (has, b., C., the X, the Y, Z-) programmable and clamping means (12); - a computer (13) having in particular a 3d CAD software for; - an ultrashort pulse laser (14) the femto type including an optical head (16) for emitting a beam (18) focused on a focal region (D.); - a computer control/driver (17) displacements.

un method for manufacturing components of a synchronous transmission/power/asynchronous movements comprises in particular the following steps:

- description of the shapes to be machined from the geometry defined on a plane 3d CAD; - transfer data on a three-dimensional machining software with regard interpolations surfaces left; - definition of not depending on the material and the machining depth such that ablation conditions optimized; - computer data is input into the control/driving (17) displacements; - positioning, in the Y direction, d by the focal area of illumination using the optical head (15), with or without a diffraction device; - positioning on the plane e of the component to be machined (10); - clamping of the component to be machined (10) by means of clamping means (12); - pulse laser ultrashort emto especially less than 500 SF (5 the X 10 - 13 seconds); - start of the machining program and machining the component (10) by laser fem.

comparative experiments indicate that passing of 100 to 10 SF substantially improves the machining accuracy. Fluences used in micro machining typically range from 0.2 50 j/cm2 depending upon the quality and machining speed desired. Ablation rates represent some [...]/pulses according to the materials machined.

il is to be noted that the combination of rotations and translations along the six axles (has, b and c, the X, the Y, Z-) space allows machining any component (10), even complex.

to prevent the occurrence of nonlinear phenomenon due to breakdown of the air, it will work under vacuum or projection of neutral gas (helium, argon gas...). The machining in a controlled atmosphere substantially further improves the quality of the treatment. In the case of specific applications, it will be possible to improve optical precision by adopting a system mounted in addition to the diffractive focusing device.

la Figure 2 illustrates a motion transmitting asynchronous/synchronous power/(10) by belt which includes a primary pulley (23), a belt (20), a secondary pulley (22) and a tension roller (21). The primary sheave (23) is flat and provided on its periphery equidistant radial teeth can be likened to a gear wheel flat. The primary sheave (23) is provided with a flange (not shown) to guide the belt (20).

il is to be noted that the belts (20) have in particular curvilinear tooth profiles (30), as illustrated in the Figure. (3).

when performing a synchronous transmission, the flanges (not shown) are disposed on a single pulley (23) and preferably the smaller diameter.

further, for each type of tooth profile found toothings or involute spur toothing (not shown).

Fig. HM 705,707 b1 la. (4) illustrates two examples of asynchronous transmission (10) with secondary pulleys (22) interior/exterior and wherein the pulley (23) asynchronous is flat and provided with flanges (not shown) on either side of said pulley (23) to guide the belt (20) on said transmission (10).

the belts (20) are in particular section flat, trapezoidal or striated.

le method object of the present invention enables the use of any materials suitable for the components of the transmission (10) namely:

- the plastic materials; - the metals; - the composites; - ceramics; - minerals; - the complex organic matrix materials.

la machined on most forms of components in the embodiment (10) transmissions can be machined in a plane. For this purpose, is used to machining techniques in 2d or 2d1/2.

in the case of machining surfaces more complex as the teeth (not shown) complex, the beam is displaced (16) of the laser along three axes simultaneously, or even four axes with rotating plane (11) and an optical head (15) pivotally.

l ' machining ultrashort pulse laser has the manufacturing of all shapes that enter the embodiment pickups and nano transmission.

d ' generally, all molds machined by the method described in the invention, and regardless of their types, consist or employ a number of pods:

- the moulding elements: impression (punch and die) - the functional elements carcass, supply, release mechanisms and release injected parts, devices for regulating the temperature of the mold - the auxiliary elements: fixing and handling device, centering systems, robots placing inserts and extraction of the molded parts, safety devices and control of mold releasing.

le method of machining a mold laser emto will carry on performing a cavity of the recess in which the negative three-dimensional representation of the object (any corrections quote included) is limited by the two portions that are the punch and the die.

ce method enables production of micro or nano molded part since the molding arts is preserved and the viscosities that allow the (very small).

note that the above method is applicable to all moldable materials without exception and that the results obtained relating to the conditions of surfaces are excellent, which is important especially for the rubbing parts.

l'invention also relates to a timepiece or a watch movement having a motion transmission/power made according to the present invention. Indeed, a functional point of view, a clockwork movement represents a synchronous drive train characterized by being free of sliding contact of the transmission elements.