CH714293A1 - Honeycomb structure. - Google Patents

Abstract

A honeycomb structure (1) obtained by a 3D printing process comprises cells (2) juxtaposed, each cell having the shape of a hexagonal prism having six side faces (3). The structure comprises, distributed in the honeycomb structure, a series of openings (4) in the side faces of the different cells.

Description

Description: [0001] The present invention relates to a honeycomb structure in particular for a jewelery, jewelery or watchmaking component comprising said configurable honeycomb structure as a function of the final piece.

The current trend is that the components are stronger and lighter. For example, in the field of aeronautics, parts made of composite materials have been used to meet these criteria of strength and lightness.

[0003] In other fields and in particular watchmaking, WO2016151394 discloses a method of manufacturing by molding a micromechanical component made of an anisotropic composite material composed of at least two immiscible components, at least one of which reinforcing fiber and a binder matrix, the reinforcing fiber being embedded in the binder matrix.

By using composite materials to manufacture a honeycomb structure, the skilled person has several variables that can be adapted to different job cases. The type of resin will determine the physical properties to the honeycomb, the family of reinforcing fiber will determine the main mechanical properties, and the organization of the fibers as well as the orientation of these allow to adjust the mechanical properties.

The disadvantage of previous embodiments is that they are limited to the use of composite materials.

[0006] EP 2 363 763 describes a timepiece comprising a movement comprising a resonator of the sprung-balance type and an escapement system of the Swiss wheel-anchor type in which the anchor is perforated by forming a structure of the type in honeycomb to maintain its mechanical strength.

[0007] EP 2 784 600 discloses a micromechanical part comprising at least one portion formed of silicon oxide, characterized in that said portion comprises a plurality of adjacent channels separated by thin walls, forming a rigid cellular structure.

The present invention aims to provide honeycomb structures including jewelry components, jewelry or watchmaking comprising a honeycomb structure whose openwork structure is configurable according to the final behavior of the honeycomb structure. component with flexible rigidity and flexibility.

According to the present invention, a honeycomb structure obtained by a 3D printing process. The structure comprises juxtaposed cells, each cell having the shape of a hexagonal prism having six lateral faces. The component comprises, distributed in the honeycomb structure, a series of openings in the lateral faces of the different cells.

In one embodiment, the side faces of each cell have a constant thickness, a constant height and a constant width.

In another embodiment, the side faces of each cell have a variable thickness, a variable height and / or a variable width.

The openings may have different geometric shapes. For example, the openings may have a shape of hexagon, ellipse, circle, rectangle, parallelogram, trapezoid, or triangle.

By adjusting the shape of the openings, on parameters height, width and thickness, and on the cellular arrangement, it is possible to better control the elasticity of a component and to provide greater rigidity.

In a preferred embodiment, the opening is of hexagonal or octagonal shape with two sides parallel to the side edges of the cells.

The component may be metal including gold, silver, aluminum or copper, but also a plastic polymer for example translucent.

In one embodiment, the upper and / or lower faces of the cells are covered by a wall in a material identical to that of the cells or in a different material.

In one embodiment, particularly for horological or micromechanical applications, for each cell, the thickness is from 0.1mm to 2mm, the height is from 0.3mm to 2mm, and the width is from 0.1mm to 2mm. . The total surface of the honeycomb structure will measure a few square centimeters, for example less than twenty square centimeters.

In another embodiment and in particular for applications of the automotive or aeronautical type, each cell will have a thickness, a height, and a width greater than previously and adapted to the final part.

In one embodiment, the surface represented by the upper and / or lower surfaces of the cells is flat.

In another embodiment, the surface represented by the upper and / or lower surfaces of the cells is complex, for example curved.

The structure may comprise, in some cases, a double thickness characterized in that each cell is contiguous to another cell each of the cells having an independent wall.

In other cases, the structure comprises juxtaposed cells, each cell sharing a common wall with the adjacent cell.

In a preferred embodiment, the lateral openings are disposed at half height of each cell. The characteristics of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description of several embodiments given solely by way of example, in no way limiting with reference to the schematic figures, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a honeycomb structure;

Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of a cell having a series of openings in one of the lateral faces;

Figs. 3A to 3G show a perspective view of cells having an opening according to different geometric shapes;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a honeycomb structure in which the upper face is covered by a wall;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a honeycomb structure on which the upper face and the lower face are each covered by a wall;

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a honeycomb-shaped structure whose height of the cells, according to a sectional plane, differs from one cell to another; and

Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view of a watch dial composed of a curved structure in the shape of a honeycomb.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a honeycomb structure 1, obtained by a 3D printing process, comprises juxtaposed cells 2, each cell 2 having the shape of a hexagonal prism having six lateral faces 3. In this example, each Cell 2 of the honeycomb structure 1 has a constant thickness E, a constant height H and a constant width L. This planar honeycomb structure 1 can be used for a watch face. The structure comprises, distributed in the honeycomb structure 1, a series of openings 4 in the lateral faces 3 of the different cells 2.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the structure comprises on each of the lateral faces 3, a series of three openings 4 regularly distributed one above the other and centered with respect to each lateral face.

In the examples illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3G, each cell has an opening of different shape. This is the final component that will determine the parameters, height, thickness and width of each cell on the one hand and the shape of each opening. For example, the opening in each lateral face may have the shape of an ellipse (Fig. 3A), rectangle (Fig. 3B), circle (Fig. 3C), parallelogram (Fig. 3D), trapezoid (Fig. 3E), triangle (Fig. 3F), or octagon (Fig. 3G). Of course, other geometric or irregular shapes meeting the mechanical requirements of the final component can be used.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the upper faces of the cells 2 are covered by a wall 5 in a material identical to that of the cells 2.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the upper and lower faces of the cells 2 are each covered by a wall 5 in a material different from that of the cells 2.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the honeycomb structure, seen in section, has a regular slope and the height of the cells differs from one cell to another, with for example, a height H1 on one side and a height H2 on the opposite side.

For some embodiments, the honeycomb structure may be curved (Fig. 7).

Thus, to benefit from the present invention, the anisotropy must be taken into account at all stages of design and manufacture of the component.

For example, in the field of watchmaking, taking into account the mechanical and / or aesthetic constraints, watch components can be manufactured according to the present invention, in particular a stamp / hammer, a cog, a vortex, a spring / jumper, a mass support, a watch case without ice, a watch bezel, a large scale and many other components.

The present invention aims to ensure, in each place of a component made, an optimal arrangement of the openings in each cell, according to the considerations required by the need, whether mechanical or aesthetic, for example.

Claims (14)

claims 1. Honeycomb-shaped structure (1) obtainable by a 3D printing process, the structure comprising juxtaposed cells (2), each cell (2) having the shape of a hexagonal prism having six lateral faces ( 3), comprising, distributed in the honeycomb structure (1), a series of openings (4) in the side faces (3) of the different cells (2). 2. Structure according to claim 1, wherein the side faces (3) of each cell (2) have a constant thickness (E), a constant height (H) and a constant width (L). 3. Structure according to claim 1, wherein the side faces (3) of each cell (2) comprise a variable thickness (E), a variable height (H) and / or a variable width (L). 4. Structure according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the openings (4) have a shape of hexagon, ellipse, circle, rectangle, parallelogram, trapezoid, triangle, or octagon . 5. Structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening (4) is hexagonal or octagonal with two sides parallel to the side edges of the cells. 6. Structure according to one of the preceding claims, metal including gold, silver, aluminum or copper. 7. Structure according to one of claims 1 to 5, made of plastic polymer, especially polycarbonate, optionally translucent. 8. Structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper and / or lower faces of the cells (2) are covered by a wall (5) in a material identical to that of the cells (2) or in a different material. 9. Structure according to one of the preceding claims, the surface represented by the upper and / or lower surfaces of the cells (2) is flat. 10. Structure according to one of claims 1 to 8, the surface represented by the upper and / or lower surfaces of the cells (2) is complex, for example curved. 11. Structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cells (2) juxtaposed inside the honeycomb structure comprise walls (5) common single or double. 12. Structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the openings (4) on the side faces (3) are disposed at half height of each cell (2). 13. Structure according to one of the preceding claims, in the form of a component of jewelry, watches, jewelery or leather goods. 14. Structure according to one of claims 1 to 12, in the form of a medical component, automotive or mobile telephony or tablet.