Method for manufacturing a horological component and component obtained according to this method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11454886-B2
Application number	US-202017080984-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2020
Priority date	Dec 18, 2019
Publication date	Sep 27, 2022
Grant date	Sep 27, 2022

Abstract

A method for manufacturing metallic horological components includes the steps of forming a LIGA-UV type method a multi-level photosensitive resin mould and of galvanically depositing a layer of at least one metal using at least two conductive layers to form a block substantially reaching the top surface of the photosensitive resin.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for manufacturing at least one horological component comprising the following steps:
a) providing a substrate, depositing a first electrically conductive layer thereon, and applying a layer of photosensitive resin;
b) performing hot stamping via a buffer of the layer of photosensitive resin by pressing the buffer up to a predefined distance from the substrate to form a shaped layer of photosensitive resin;
c) irradiating the shaped layer of photosensitive resin through a mask defining at least a first level of the component and dissolving non-irradiated zones of the shaped layer of photosensitive resin to reveal in places the first electrically conductive layer and form a mould comprising a first and a second level;
d) depositing a metallic layer by electroforming in the mould from the first electrically conductive layer to form the component, the metallic layer substantially reaching a top surface of the shaped layer of photosensitive resin; and
e) successively removing the substrate, the first electrically conductive layer and the shaped layer of photosensitive resin to release the component.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein step b) is carried out in a vacuum.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein during step b), the layer of photosensitive resin is heated between 70′C and 150′C.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the buffer has a relief imprint, at least a part of the imprint being arranged to be pressed in a vicinity of the surface of the substrate during step b).

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein said imprint of the buffer defines said at least a first level of the component.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising a step between step c) and d) of locally depositing a second electrically conductive layer on the irradiated zones.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the second electrically conductive layer is deposited through a stencil mask.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the second electrically conductive layer is deposited via printing of an ink or a conductive resin.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrically conductive layer comprises Au, Ti, Pt, Ag, Cr, or Pd.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is made of silicon.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is made of transparent material.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the substrate made of transparent material comprises a transparent conductive layer and metallised zones on a face thereof to form a mask.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrically conductive layer has a thickness between 50 nm and 500 nm.

14. A horological component made according to a method according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Nivarox Far Sa

Inventors

• Cusin Pierre
• Gandelhman Alex
• Musy Michel
• Golfier Clare

Classifications

• G03F7/0002 Primary

  Lithographic processes using patterning methods other than those involving the exposure to radiation, e.g. by stamping · CPC title

• C23C2/26

  After-treatment (C23C2/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• C25D1/003

  3D structures, e.g. superposed patterned layers · CPC title

• G04B15/14

  Component parts or constructional details, e.g. construction of the lever or the escape wheel {(assembly and manufacture of the spring G04B1/145; assembly and manufacture of components, e.g. pinions, spindles G04B13/02; lubrication of clockwork bearings G04B31/008; oils for clockwork bearings in general G04B31/08)} · CPC title

• C25D5/022

  using masking means · CPC title