EP3227969B1 - Method for producing an electric connection part - Google Patents

Method for producing an electric connection part Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3227969B1
EP3227969B1 EP15766792.4A EP15766792A EP3227969B1 EP 3227969 B1 EP3227969 B1 EP 3227969B1 EP 15766792 A EP15766792 A EP 15766792A EP 3227969 B1 EP3227969 B1 EP 3227969B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
conductor
contact area
electrical conductor
coating
electrical
Prior art date
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Active
Application number
EP15766792.4A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
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EP3227969A1 (en
Inventor
Jens DÖREN
Thomas Lorenz
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Auto Kabel Management GmbH
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Auto Kabel Management GmbH
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Publication date
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Publication of EP3227969A1 publication Critical patent/EP3227969A1/en
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Publication of EP3227969B1 publication Critical patent/EP3227969B1/en
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D5/00—Electroplating characterised by the process; Pretreatment or after-treatment of workpieces
    • C25D5/02—Electroplating of selected surface areas
    • C25D5/024—Electroplating of selected surface areas using locally applied electromagnetic radiation, e.g. lasers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/02—Contact members
    • H01R13/03—Contact members characterised by the material, e.g. plating, or coating materials
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D5/00—Electroplating characterised by the process; Pretreatment or after-treatment of workpieces
    • C25D5/48—After-treatment of electroplated surfaces
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D7/00—Electroplating characterised by the article coated
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/02—Contact members
    • H01R13/03—Contact members characterised by the material, e.g. plating, or coating materials
    • H01R13/035—Plated dielectric material
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R43/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
    • H01R43/16—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending

Definitions

  • the subject relates to a method for producing an electrical connection part, in which an electrical conductor is provided, the electrical conductor is electroplated and a contact area of the conductor is exposed by removing the electroplated coating.
  • the subject relates to an electrical connection part produced according to this method.
  • connection part In order to protect electrical connection parts, in particular for motor vehicles, from environmental influences, it is known to coat an electrically conductive core of the connection part.
  • the document DE 10 2008 035 863 A1 describes, for example, a motor vehicle connection element whose conductor core, which consists of an aluminum part and a copper part, is electroplated around the circumference.
  • the coating covers a seam formed between the aluminum part and the copper part and thus protects the electrically conductive transition between copper and aluminum from corrosion. In this way, an electrically conductive connection between the aluminum part and the copper part can be permanently guaranteed.
  • connection element formed from the aluminum part and the copper part is made according to DE 10 2008 035 863 A1 known production methods are masked with an adhesive tape before electroplating at a distance from the seam, so that the coating in the masked area can subsequently be removed locally by peeling off the adhesive tape. This allows the aluminum portion or the copper portion to be exposed for termination of a conductor while at the same time the plating protects the joint.
  • the publication EP 2 273 621 A1 relates to a terminal for a connector and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly to a terminal for a connector favorable in both low insertion force property and connection reliability and a method of manufacturing the same.
  • the object of the object was to specify a method for producing an electrical connection part which does not have the disadvantages mentioned above, or at least has them to a lesser extent, and in particular allows the removal of an on the connection part in a cost-effective and reliable manner provided galvanic coating allows.
  • an electrical connection part manufactured with this method should be specified.
  • an electrical conductor is initially provided.
  • the electrical conductor forms in particular an electrically conductive core of the connecting element and can be a flat conductor, for example, which can have a particularly substantially rectangular conductor cross section.
  • conductor cross sections that are at least partially rounded off, in particular oval or circular, can be provided.
  • the provided electrical conductor is electroplated in a next process step.
  • the conductor can be coated with one or more layers.
  • layers of nickel and/or tin or similar metals, or alloys containing nickel and/or tin or similar metals can be deposited electrochemically on the electrical conductor. through the Coating protects the electrical conductor from chemical and mechanical environmental influences, in particular from corrosion.
  • connection part can be removed in a cost-effective and reliable manner by removing the galvanic coating in the contact area with a beam source.
  • Complex masking of the electrical conductor which is at least partially to be decoated in order to expose the contact region, can thus be dispensed with.
  • the layer to be electrodeposited is therefore applied to the entire surface of the electrical conductor facing the environment, the conductor being directly and completely covered by the layer without any intermediate elements. In this way, a homogeneous layer application with a substantially constant layer thickness can be ensured.
  • the coating in the contact area can be removed essentially without residue with the aid of the blasting process.
  • the blasting process can be used both for decoating and for cleaning and smoothing the surface of the contact area. Especially compared to the masking described above, there is the advantage that no process-related contamination, such as adhesive residues or tape remnants, adheres to the contact area after decoating.
  • the coating is preferably removed locally on the connecting part with the aid of the beam source, so that no tool, such as a milling or grinding tool, acts mechanically on the connecting part.
  • the beam source can therefore be used to gently remove the layer, with the properties of the edge zone in the contact area of the electrical conductor, such as the material structure or the internal stresses - and thus also its electrical properties - not being negatively influenced by excessive heat input or high machining forces.
  • the geometry of the contact area to be exposed can essentially be freely selected with the aid of the jet processing, since the area exposed by the jet is significantly dependent on the jet guidance or the movement of a jet nozzle relative to the component to be decoated and the jet cross section when the jet hits the coating to be removed.
  • the exposed contact region can have a basic shape that is essentially rectangular or curved at least in sections.
  • connection part geometry to be machined can easily be enlarged or reduced in a production plant by adapting the process parameters of the beam source and/or the beam guidance. Retooling of such a production system from a first connection part geometry to be machined to a second connection part geometry to be machined is also simplified.
  • At least one seam formed between two conductor components of the electrical conductor is electroplated. It has been recognized that an interface between two conductor components, which are preferably made of different metal materials, e.g. a component made of an aluminum material and a component made of a copper material, must be specially protected in order to prevent contact corrosion due to ambient moisture penetrating the interface. On the other hand, in order to make contact with a conductor made from the same material as the contact point, the coating must be removed from it.
  • the galvanic coating on the electrical conductor, in particular in the contact area, is removed at a distance from the interface, so that the interface continues to be galvanically coated after the contact area has been exposed.
  • the seam is part of a connection area formed on the uncoated electrical conductor between the conductor components, with the seam running along the surface of the uncoated electrical conductor facing the environment. Since the exposed contact area is arranged at a distance from the interface on the electrical conductor, the interface is protected from environmental influences such as corrosion. In this way, an electrically conductive connection between the conductor components can be permanently ensured.
  • the beam source is a laser beam source.
  • the galvanic coating can be removed in a targeted manner in the contact area.
  • the coating is vaporized by short laser pulses (e.g. with a frequency of more than 30 kHz and in particular less than 100 kHz) of high intensity (e.g. with a power of more than 20 W and in particular less than 100 W).
  • short laser pulses e.g. with a frequency of more than 30 kHz and in particular less than 100 kHz
  • high intensity e.g. with a power of more than 20 W and in particular less than 100 W.
  • the process variables of the blasting can be adapted to the nature of the coating to be removed, such as its composition or layer thickness, in such a way that the heat input into the electrical conductor is as low as possible.
  • the mechanical and electrical properties of the electrical conductor, in particular in its edge zone facing the layer removal remain essentially unaffected by the layer removal.
  • the layer removal using a beam source offers the advantage that the layer removal can take place close to a seam formed between the conductor components.
  • a contact area on the connection part can be formed at a distance of less than 2 mm, preferably less than 1 mm, more preferably less than 0.5 mm from the seam.
  • a precise layer removal can therefore take place in the immediate vicinity of a seam formed between two conductor components without exposing the seam covered by the coating to the environment.
  • the width of a conductor component can be optimally used to form the contact area.
  • the width of the contact area measured transversely to the longitudinal extent of the electrical conductor can be at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95% of the width of the respective conductor component measured transversely to the longitudinal extent of the electrical conductor.
  • the contact surface can be uncovered with the aid of a plasma jet source, by compressed air blasting with a solid blasting agent, water jets, dry ice blasting or CO 2 snow ice blasting.
  • the galvanic coating in the contact area is removed essentially without leaving any residue.
  • “Essentially residue-free” means here that in the contact area, in particular on the surface of the contact area, at least 95%, preferably at least 98%, more preferably at least 99% of the galvanic coating has been removed.
  • a particularly clean surface of the contact area for connecting a conductor or cable can thus be provided, for example by welding, in particular friction welding.
  • the removal can be such that the coating in the contact area no longer represents a closed surface or covering of the contact area.
  • the roughness of the surface of the exposed contact area is adjusted by surface treatment with the beam source.
  • the surface of the uncovered contact area can have an arithmetic mean roughness value Ra of less than 15 ⁇ m, preferably less than 10 ⁇ m, more preferably less than 5 ⁇ m after the surface treatment.
  • the surface treatment can be carried out immediately after the layer has been removed.
  • the jet can be used for a predetermined period of time of, for example act on the surface of the exposed contact area for at least 2 s, preferably at least 1 s, more preferably at least 0.5 s, in order to set the required roughness.
  • the surface processing can be carried out with the same blasting parameters as for the layer removal or with blasting parameters specially adapted to the surface processing. For example, roughness peaks in the area of the surface of the contact area can be smoothed out with the help of laser radiation through local melting and resolidification.
  • the subject method is characterized in that when the electrical conductor is provided, a first conductor component and a second conductor component of the electrical conductor are connected to one another with a material fit.
  • a material fit can be made, for example, by welding or plating, in particular roll cladding, of the conductor components.
  • the material connection ensures a permanent electrically conductive connection between the conductor components.
  • the first and/or the second conductor component can be formed in particular as a flat conductor, such as is used, for example, in motor vehicle technology in cars and trucks.
  • the conductor according to the subject can be used as a cable lug, as an energy conductor, as a battery line or the like in a motor vehicle.
  • the electrical conductor has a copper and/or an aluminum material.
  • the electric conductor can be made of, for example, an aluminum flat conductor made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and a copper flat conductor made of copper or a copper alloy.
  • the aluminum and copper conductors can each be provided separately from one another and bonded together by roll cladding in a continuous process.
  • the conductor component to be applied can be of a smaller width than the conductor component which forms the base.
  • the electrical conductor produced in this way can be used without further intermediate steps immediately after the two have been joined Conductor components are electroplated.
  • the layer to be electrodeposited is therefore applied to the entire surface of the electrical conductor facing the environment, it being possible for each of the conductor components to be covered directly and completely by the layer without any intermediate elements. In this way, a homogeneous layer application with a substantially constant layer thickness can be guaranteed.
  • the electrical conductor is provided as a strip, with the strip being at least partially separated, in particular stamped, into strip sections before or after the coating.
  • a strip can be supplied as an endless material to a continuous production process, so that the provision, coating and (partial) decoating can be carried out efficiently in immediate succession in a production plant.
  • the strip is at least partially separated into strip sections before or after the coating, in order to produce separate electrical connection parts from the strip material in a simple manner.
  • the galvanic coating can be done by means of a strip galvanic or a drum galvanic. Depending on the number of pieces and the requirements of the end product, the appropriate process can be selected.
  • the material to be coated is fed through an electrolytic bath as a continuous strip.
  • a high material throughput can be generated and the coated endless material can be transferred to the downstream processing stations of a production plant or continuously fed in a simple manner.
  • the electrical connection parts can be separated from the tape as tape sections.
  • a connection part isolated in this way from a coated endless band is not coated in the region of its parting or cut surface. This effect can be reduced at least if the tape before the Coating is already partially separated, with the individual segments remaining connected along one longitudinal side of the partially separated band via an unseparated belt or web of the band. In this way, the parting surfaces of the connection elements to be separated from the strip can also be at least partially coated.
  • Barrel electroplating has the advantage in this respect that individual, separate strip sections can already be coated from a strip, so that the surface of these strip sections or conductor segments, from which the electrical connection elements are produced in the further process step, is completely coated.
  • the separating surfaces of the strip sections that arise when the strip is cut off are also completely covered with the coating.
  • such a drum electroplating system is more economical to operate than a previously described strip electroplating system.
  • the coating also serves to protect the electrical conductor against mechanical stress, for example during transport of individual, coated strip sections to a blasting system in which the blasting source is arranged.
  • the electrical conductor is coated with at least one electrically insulating material after the galvanic coating and before the exposure of the contact area.
  • a substantially non-conductive layer counteracts the occurrence of leakage currents in the fully assembled state of the connection part, for example in a motor vehicle.
  • the electrically insulating layer can be locally removed together with the galvanic coating by the beam source.
  • the subject matter relates to an electrical connection part, in particular produced using a method that is specifically carried out in the manner described above.
  • the electrical connection part can be formed from a first conductor component and a second conductor component, with the conductor components being connected to one another in a materially bonded manner.
  • the first and/or the second conductor component can be formed in particular as a flat conductor.
  • the electrical conductor can be formed from a conductor component made from an aluminum material and a conductor component made from a copper material.
  • the conductor components can be cohesively connected to one another by roll cladding.
  • connection part in question at least one seam formed between two conductor components of the electrical conductor is electroplated.
  • An exposed contact area can be arranged at a distance from the electroplated seam.
  • a contact area can be used for directly connecting a further conductor to the exposed conductor component.
  • the interface formed between the conductor components can be protected from environmental influences by the coating.
  • the contact area can be formed on the connection part in particular at a distance of less than 2 mm, preferably less than 1 mm, more preferably less than 0.5 mm from the seam.
  • Precise blasting methods in particular, such as laser or plasma blasting, enable layer removal in the immediate vicinity of the seam without damaging the coating of the seam and exposing the seam.
  • the width of the contact area measured transversely to the longitudinal extent of the electrical conductor can be in particular at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95% of the width of the respective conductor component measured transversely to the longitudinal extent of the electrical conductor.
  • the first conductor component can be arranged in a recess of the second conductor component provided for receiving the first conductor component, the recess being in particular a groove.
  • the conductor components can be used as flat conductors be formed so that overall there is a rectangular cross section of the electrical conductor.
  • the contact area can run closely adjacent to a seam formed between the conductor components, which in this case is defined by the respective side wall of the groove.
  • the contact area can be an area with a substantially rectangular base area that extends between two seams.
  • the surface of the contact area exposed with the beam source can have an arithmetic mean roughness value Ra of less than 15 ⁇ m, preferably less than 10 ⁇ m, more preferably less than 5 ⁇ m.
  • the surface of the contact area can be optimized with regard to the connection technique selected for connecting a conductor in the contact area, such as friction welding.
  • the galvanic coating is removed in the contact area of the connection element in question essentially without leaving any residue.
  • the term "substantially residue-free" here means that in the contact area, in particular on the surface of the contact area, at least 95%, preferably at least 98%, more preferably at least 99% of the electrolytic coating has been removed are.
  • a particularly clean surface of the contact area for connecting a conductor or cable can thus be provided, for example by welding, in particular friction welding.
  • a schematic structure of a specific method for producing an electrical connection part is shown.
  • a first method step A an electrical conductor 2 is provided.
  • the electrical conductor 2 is galvanically coated.
  • a contact area 4 of the electrical conductor 2 is exposed.
  • the galvanic coating 6 is removed with a beam source 8 .
  • the electrical conductor 2 is made from a first conductor component 10 and a second conductor component 12 .
  • the first conductor component 10 is a flat conductor made of copper material
  • the second conductor component 12 is a flat conductor made of aluminum material.
  • this combination it is also possible for this combination to be formed exactly the other way round.
  • the first conductor component 10 and the second conductor component 12 can each be provided in a coil and continuously fed to the device 14 . In the device 14, the first conductor component 10 and the second conductor component 12 can be cohesively connected to one another by roll-bonding.
  • FIG. 2 a schematic representation of the roll cladding taking place in the first process step A is shown.
  • the conductor component 10 and the conductor component 12 are fed to the device 14 in such a way that the conductor component 12 is accommodated in a groove provided on the conductor component 10 .
  • the conductor component 10 and the conductor component 12 are connected with a roller (not shown) provided in the device 14 in such a way that they are flush in the area of a surface 16 .
  • the groove can also be omitted in roll-bonding.
  • the electrical conductor 2 formed from the conductor components 10 and 12 is guided through the device 18 in which the electrical conductor 2 is galvanically coated.
  • Device 18 is strip electroplating.
  • the electrical conductor 2 is guided through one or more electrolyte baths in a continuous process and is provided with a coating 6 that is a few micrometers thick, for example.
  • one or more galvanic layers can be deposited on the electrical conductor.
  • a respective layer can have nickel and/or tin, for example.
  • a further, electrically insulating layer can be applied in method step B. In the fully assembled state of the connection part, this layer serves to prevent leakage currents.
  • the contact area 4 of the electrical conductor 2 is uncovered, with the galvanic coating 6 being removed with the aid of the beam source 8 .
  • the beam source 8 is a laser beam source.
  • the electrical conductor 2 provided with the galvanic coating 6 and the insulating layer is guided past the beam source 8 in a continuous process.
  • the galvanic coating 6 in the contact area 4 evaporates essentially completely, so that the galvanic coating 6 is removed essentially without leaving any residue.
  • the conductor component 12, i.e. the aluminum conductor is exposed so that in the contact area 4 another conductor (not shown) can be directly connected to the aluminum conductor.
  • a single-type connection can be established with a further conductor that is made of the same material as the contact point. Another conductor made of a different material can be bonded to the coating.
  • a fourth method step D individual sections 20 are separated or isolated from the endless material formed from the two coils of the conductor components 10 and 12, from which separate electrical connection parts 22 are produced in the further method step.
  • the severing process can take place with the aid of a punching device 24, in which case, in addition to the severing, shaped elements can also be formed on a respective connection part 22.
  • FIGS Figures 1 to 3 a second schematic structure of an actual manufacturing method is shown.
  • the structure shown in this embodiment is different from that referred to in FIGS Figures 1 to 3 described method to the effect that the sections 20 are separated immediately after the coated.
  • the separation process D previously performed as the fourth method step now takes place before the exposure of the contact area 4 according to method step C.
  • the individual sections 20 can, as shown here, already be completely separated from one another, or via a common belt or a common conveyor belt along a Long side remain connected to each other to simplify the transport of the sections 20 in the further course of the process.
  • figure 5 12 shows a third schematic structure of a production method in question, in which case the endless material formed from the conductor components 10 and 12 is separated into sections 20 before it is coated.
  • the uncoated sections 20 are fed to a drum electroplating shop 26 in method step B. This procedure has the advantage over the methods described above that the separation or Cut edges along which the sections 20 are separated from one another are coated.
  • the contact area 4 is preferably exposed immediately before the connection of a further conductor, so that the formation of a non-conductive aluminum oxide layer in the contact area 4 can be avoided.
  • the electrical connection part 22 shows a plan view of the electrical connection part 22 that has a conductor component 10 and a conductor component 12 .
  • the electrical connection part 22 is provided with a metallic coating 6 .
  • the coating 6 covers two seams 28 formed between the conductor components 10, 12. It can be seen that the respective seam 28 is arranged at a distance X from the exposed contact area 4, so that the seam 28 is completely covered by the coating 6. In the example shown here, the distance X is less than 1 mm.
  • the width B1 of the contact area 4 is approximately 90% of the width B2 of the aluminum conductor 12.
  • a through-opening 30 for receiving a screw or a bolt, for example, is also formed on the electrical connection part 22.
  • In 7 12 is a sectional view of the electrical connector 22 taken along line VII-VII 6 shown. As can be clearly seen here, the seam 28 is protected from the environment by the coating 6 .
  • the surface 32 of the contact area is first layered with the laser beam source 8 and then finely machined immediately thereafter. An arithmetic mean roughness value of approximately 10 ⁇ m has been set on the surface 32 with the aid of the beam source 8 .
  • FIG. 14 is another sectional view of the electrical connector 4 along the line VIII. While the above-described explanations apply equally to both the first and the second described manufacturing method for producing an electrical connection part 22, the explanations regarding the coating 6 according to FIG figure 8 limited to the third manufacturing method, which uses a barrel plating 26. It can be seen here that the coating 6 also covers the transition between the conductor component 10 and the conductor component 12 along the lateral parting surfaces 34, 36 and thus protects it from environmental influences.

Description

Der Gegenstand betrifft ein Verfahren zum Herstellen eines elektrischen Anschlussteils, bei dem ein elektrischer Leiter bereitgestellt wird, der elektrische Leiter galvanisch beschichtet wird und ein Kontaktbereich des Leiters durch ein Entfernen der galvanischen Beschichtung freigelegt wird. Zudem betrifft der Gegenstand ein gemäß diesem Verfahren hergestelltes elektrisches Anschlussteil.The subject relates to a method for producing an electrical connection part, in which an electrical conductor is provided, the electrical conductor is electroplated and a contact area of the conductor is exposed by removing the electroplated coating. In addition, the subject relates to an electrical connection part produced according to this method.

Um elektrische Anschlussteile, insbesondere für Kraftfahrzeuge, vor Umgebungseinflüssen zu schützen, ist es bekannt, einen elektrisch leitenden Kern des Anschlussteils zu beschichten. Das Dokument DE 10 2008 035 863 A1 beschreibt beispielsweise ein Kraftfahrzeuganschlusselement, dessen aus einem Aluminiumteil und einem Kupferteil bestehender Leiterkern umfangsseitig galvanisch beschichtet ist. Die Beschichtung bedeckt insbesondere eine zwischen dem Aluminiumteil und dem Kupferteil gebildete Nahtstelle und schützt so vor einer Korrosion des elektrisch leitenden Übergangs zwischen Kupfer und Aluminium. So kann dauerhaft eine elektrisch leitende Verbindung zwischen dem Aluminiumteil und dem Kupferteil gewährleistet werden. Der aus dem Aluminiumteil und dem Kupferteil gebildete Kern des Anschlusselemente wird gemäß dem aus DE 10 2008 035 863 A1 bekannten Herstellverfahren vor dem Galvanisieren unter einem Abstand zu der Nahtstelle mit einem Klebeband maskiert, so dass die Beschichtung in dem maskierten Bereich nachträglich durch ein Abziehen des Klebebands lokal entfernt werden kann. Auf diese Weise können der Aluminiumteil oder der Kupferteil zum Anschließen eines Leiters freigelegt werden, während gleichzeitig die Nahtstelle durch die Beschichtung geschützt bleibt.In order to protect electrical connection parts, in particular for motor vehicles, from environmental influences, it is known to coat an electrically conductive core of the connection part. The document DE 10 2008 035 863 A1 describes, for example, a motor vehicle connection element whose conductor core, which consists of an aluminum part and a copper part, is electroplated around the circumference. In particular, the coating covers a seam formed between the aluminum part and the copper part and thus protects the electrically conductive transition between copper and aluminum from corrosion. In this way, an electrically conductive connection between the aluminum part and the copper part can be permanently guaranteed. The core of the connection element formed from the aluminum part and the copper part is made according to DE 10 2008 035 863 A1 known production methods are masked with an adhesive tape before electroplating at a distance from the seam, so that the coating in the masked area can subsequently be removed locally by peeling off the adhesive tape. This allows the aluminum portion or the copper portion to be exposed for termination of a conductor while at the same time the plating protects the joint.

Das voranstehend beschriebene Maskieren des zu beschichtenden Leiterkerns ist jedoch aufwändig, da die zu beklebende Oberfläche sehr glatt und frei von Verschmutzungen und Schmierstoff sein muss, um eine zuverlässige Anhaftung des Klebebands zu gewährleisten. Zudem ist ein automatisiertes Herstellen eines solchen Anschlussteils mit einem voranstehend beschriebenen Maskierschritt in für die betriebliche Praxis sinnvoller Weise nur unter dem Einsatz einer kostenintensiven Bandgalvanik möglich, wobei auch die Bereitstellung und Applikation des Klebebands Kosten verursacht.The masking of the conductor core to be coated, as described above, is complex, however, since the surface to be bonded must be very smooth and free of dirt and lubricant in order to ensure reliable adhesion of the adhesive tape. In addition, an automated production of such a connection part with an above-described masking step in a way that makes sense for operational practice is only possible using cost-intensive strip electroplating, with the provision and application of the adhesive tape also incurring costs.

Die Veröffentlichung EP 2 273 621 A1 bezieht sich auf einen Anschluß für einen Verbinder und ein Verfahren zu dessen Herstellung, und zwar insbesondere auf einen Anschluß für einen Verbinder, der sowohl in der Eigenschaft der geringen Einsteckkraft als auch in der Verbindungszuverlässigkeit günstig ist, und ein Verfahren zu dessen Herstellung.The publication EP 2 273 621 A1 relates to a terminal for a connector and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly to a terminal for a connector favorable in both low insertion force property and connection reliability and a method of manufacturing the same.

Vor dem Hintergrund des voranstehend beschriebenen Stands der Technik lag dem Gegenstand die Aufgabe zugrunde, ein Verfahren zum Herstellen eines elektrischen Anschlussteils anzugeben, welches die voranstehend genannten Nachteile nicht oder zumindest in geringerem Maße aufweist und insbesondere in kostengünstiger und zuverlässiger Weise das Entfernen einer an dem Anschlussteil vorgesehenen galvanischen Beschichtung ermöglicht. Zudem sollte ein mit diesem Verfahren hergestelltes elektrisches Anschlussteil angegeben werden.Against the background of the prior art described above, the object of the object was to specify a method for producing an electrical connection part which does not have the disadvantages mentioned above, or at least has them to a lesser extent, and in particular allows the removal of an on the connection part in a cost-effective and reliable manner provided galvanic coating allows. In addition, an electrical connection part manufactured with this method should be specified.

Bezüglich des Verfahrens ist diese Aufgabe durch ein gegenständliches Verfahren gelöst worden, wobei die im Anspruch 1 angegebenen Verfahrensschritte durchlaufen werden. In einem ersten Verfahrensschritt wird zunächst ein elektrischer Leiter bereitgestellt. Der elektrische Leiter bildet insbesondere einen elektrisch leitenden Kern des Anschlusselements und kann beispielsweise ein Flachleiter sein, der einen insbesondere im Wesentlichen rechteckigen Leiterquerschnitt aufweisen kann. In weiteren Ausgestaltungen können zumindest teilweise abgerundete, insbesondere ovale oder kreisrunde Leiterquerschnitte vorgesehen sein.With regard to the method, this object has been achieved by an objective method, the method steps specified in claim 1 being carried out. In a first method step, an electrical conductor is initially provided. The electrical conductor forms in particular an electrically conductive core of the connecting element and can be a flat conductor, for example, which can have a particularly substantially rectangular conductor cross section. In further configurations, conductor cross sections that are at least partially rounded off, in particular oval or circular, can be provided.

Der bereitgestellte elektrische Leiter wird in einem nächsten Verfahrensschritt galvanisch beschichtet. Dabei kann der Leiter mit einer oder mehreren Schichten ummantelt werden. Insbesondere können Schichten aus Nickel und/oder Zinn oder ähnlicher Metalle, oder Legierungen, die Nickel und/oder Zinn oder ähnliche Metalle enthalten, elektrochemisch auf dem elektrischen Leiter abgeschieden werden. Durch die Beschichtung wird der elektrische Leiter vor chemischen und mechanischen Umgebungseinflüssen, insbesondere vor Korrosion, geschützt.The provided electrical conductor is electroplated in a next process step. The conductor can be coated with one or more layers. In particular, layers of nickel and/or tin or similar metals, or alloys containing nickel and/or tin or similar metals, can be deposited electrochemically on the electrical conductor. through the Coating protects the electrical conductor from chemical and mechanical environmental influences, in particular from corrosion.

Es ist erkannt worden, dass das Entfernen einer an dem Anschlussteil vorgesehenen galvanischen Beschichtung in kostengünstiger und zuverlässiger Weise dadurch ermöglicht werden kann, dass die galvanische Beschichtung in dem Kontaktbereich mit einer Strahlquelle entfernt wird. Damit kann auf ein aufwändiges Maskieren des zumindest teilweise zum Freilegen des Kontaktbereichs zu entschichtenden elektrischen Leiters verzichtet werden. Die galvanisch abzuscheidende Schicht wird daher auf der gesamten der Umgebung zugewandten Oberfläche des elektrischen Leiters aufgebracht, wobei der Leiter unmittelbar und vollständig ohne etwaige Zwischenelemente von der Schicht bedeckt wird. Auf diese Weise kann ein homogener Schichtauftrag mit im Wesentlichen konstanter Schichtdicke gewährleistet werden. Insbesondere kann die Beschichtung in dem Kontaktbereich mit Hilfe des Strahlverfahrens im Wesentlichen rückstandslos entfernt werden. Dabei kann das Strahlverfahren gleichermaßen dem Entschichten, als auch dem Reinigen und Glätten der Oberfläche des Kontaktbereichs dienen. Insbesondere im Vergleich zum eingangs beschriebenen Maskieren besteht der Vorteil, dass nach dem Entschichten keine verfahrensbedingten Verunreinigungen, wie z.B. Klebstoffrückstände oder Bandreste, im Kontaktbereich anhaften.It has been recognized that a galvanic coating provided on the connection part can be removed in a cost-effective and reliable manner by removing the galvanic coating in the contact area with a beam source. Complex masking of the electrical conductor, which is at least partially to be decoated in order to expose the contact region, can thus be dispensed with. The layer to be electrodeposited is therefore applied to the entire surface of the electrical conductor facing the environment, the conductor being directly and completely covered by the layer without any intermediate elements. In this way, a homogeneous layer application with a substantially constant layer thickness can be ensured. In particular, the coating in the contact area can be removed essentially without residue with the aid of the blasting process. The blasting process can be used both for decoating and for cleaning and smoothing the surface of the contact area. Especially compared to the masking described above, there is the advantage that no process-related contamination, such as adhesive residues or tape remnants, adheres to the contact area after decoating.

Die Beschichtung wird an dem Anschlussteil mit Hilfe der Strahlquelle vorzugsweise lokal entfernt, dass kein Werkzeug, wie z.B. ein Fräs- oder Schleifwerkzeug, mechanisch auf das Anschlussteil einwirkt. Durch die Strahlquelle kann somit ein schonender Schichtabtrag erfolgen, wobei die Eigenschaften der Randzone in dem Kontaktbereich des elektrischen Leiters, wie das Materialgefüge oder die Eigenspannungen - und damit auch dessen elektrische Eigenschaften - nicht durch übermäßigen Wärmeeintrag oder hohe Bearbeitungskräfte negativ beeinflusst werden.The coating is preferably removed locally on the connecting part with the aid of the beam source, so that no tool, such as a milling or grinding tool, acts mechanically on the connecting part. The beam source can therefore be used to gently remove the layer, with the properties of the edge zone in the contact area of the electrical conductor, such as the material structure or the internal stresses - and thus also its electrical properties - not being negatively influenced by excessive heat input or high machining forces.

Weiter kann mit Hilfe der Strahlbearbeitung die Geometrie des freizulegenden Kontaktbereichs im Wesentlichen frei gewählt werden, da die von dem Strahl freigelegte Fläche maßgeblich von der Strahlführung bzw. der Bewegung einer Strahldüse relativ zum zu entschichtenden Bauteil und dem Strahlquerschnitt beim Auftreffen des Strahls auf die abzutragende Beschichtung abhängt. Gegenüber dem Maskieren besteht daher der Vorteil, dass die freigelegte Fläche nicht durch eine Bandgeometrie vorgegeben ist. Beispielsweise kann der freigelegte Kontaktbereich in einer Draufsicht eine im Wesentlichen rechteckige oder zumindest abschnittsweise gekrümmte Grundform aufweisen.Furthermore, the geometry of the contact area to be exposed can essentially be freely selected with the aid of the jet processing, since the area exposed by the jet is significantly dependent on the jet guidance or the movement of a jet nozzle relative to the component to be decoated and the jet cross section when the jet hits the coating to be removed. Compared to masking, there is therefore the advantage that the uncovered area is not predetermined by a band geometry. For example, in a top view, the exposed contact region can have a basic shape that is essentially rectangular or curved at least in sections.

Durch die hohe Flexibilität des gegenständlichen Verfahrens kann in einer Produktionsanlage in einfacher Weise eine Vergrößerung oder Verkleinerung der Fläche des freizulegenden Kontaktbereichs an einem Anschlussteil erfolgen, in dem die Prozessparameter der Strahlquelle und/oder die Strahlführung angepasst werden. Auch wird ein Umrüsten einer solchen Produktionsanlage von einer ersten zu bearbeitenden Anschlussteilgeometrie auf eine zweite zu bearbeitende Anschlussteilgeometrie vereinfacht.Due to the high flexibility of the present method, the area of the contact area to be exposed on a connection part can easily be enlarged or reduced in a production plant by adapting the process parameters of the beam source and/or the beam guidance. Retooling of such a production system from a first connection part geometry to be machined to a second connection part geometry to be machined is also simplified.

Nach einer Ausgestaltung des gegenständlichen Verfahrens wird wenigstens eine zwischen zwei Leiterkomponenten des elektrischen Leiters gebildete Nahtstelle galvanisch beschichtet. Es ist erkannt worden, dass eine Nahtstelle zwischen zwei Leiterkomponenten, die vorzugsweise aus verschiedenen Metallwerkstoffen sind, z.B. eine Komponente aus einem Aluminiumwerkstoff und eine Komponente aus einem Kupferwerkstoff, besonders geschützt werden muss, um Kontaktkorrosion durch in die Nahtstelle eindringende Umgebungsfeuchte zu verhindern. Andererseits muss für eine Kontaktierung mit einem Leiter aus dem Material der Kontaktstelle diese von der Beschichtung befreit werden.According to one embodiment of the present method, at least one seam formed between two conductor components of the electrical conductor is electroplated. It has been recognized that an interface between two conductor components, which are preferably made of different metal materials, e.g. a component made of an aluminum material and a component made of a copper material, must be specially protected in order to prevent contact corrosion due to ambient moisture penetrating the interface. On the other hand, in order to make contact with a conductor made from the same material as the contact point, the coating must be removed from it.

Das Entfernen der galvanischen Beschichtung an dem elektrischen Leiter, insbesondere im Kontaktbereich, erfolgt mit einem Abstand zur Nahtstelle, so dass die Nahtstelle nach dem Freilegen des Kontaktbereichs weiterhin galvanisch beschichtet ist. Die Nahtstelle ist Teil eines am unbeschichteten elektrischen Leiter zwischen den Leiterkomponenten gebildeten Verbindungsbereichs, wobei die Nahtstelle entlang der der Umgebung zugewandten Oberfläche des unbeschichteten elektrischen Leiters verläuft. Da der freigelegte Kontaktbereich mit einem Abstand zur Nahtstelle an dem elektrischen Leiter angeordnet ist, ist die Nahtstelle vor Umgebungseinflüssen, wie z.B. Korrosion, geschützt. Auf diese Weise kann dauerhaft eine elektrisch leitende Verbindung zwischen den Leiterkomponenten sichergestellt werden.The galvanic coating on the electrical conductor, in particular in the contact area, is removed at a distance from the interface, so that the interface continues to be galvanically coated after the contact area has been exposed. The seam is part of a connection area formed on the uncoated electrical conductor between the conductor components, with the seam running along the surface of the uncoated electrical conductor facing the environment. Since the exposed contact area is arranged at a distance from the interface on the electrical conductor, the interface is protected from environmental influences such as corrosion. In this way, an electrically conductive connection between the conductor components can be permanently ensured.

Die Strahlquelle ist gemäß einer Weiterbildung des gegenständlichen Verfahrens eine Laserstrahlquelle. Mit Hilfe des durch die Strahlquelle emittierten Laserstrahls kann ein gezielter Abtrag der galvanischen Beschichtung in dem Kontaktbereich erfolgen. Dabei wird die Beschichtung durch kurze Laserpulse (z.B. mit einer Frequenz von größer 30 kHz und insbesondere kleiner 100kHz) hoher Intensität (Z.B. einer Leistung von mehr als 20 W und insbesondere kleiner 100W) verdampft. Durch die Bearbeitung mit dem Laserstrahl kann die vorgesehene Form des freizulegenden Kontaktbereichs besonders präzise aus der Beschichtung herausgearbeitet werden. Die Prozessgrößen der Strahlbearbeitung können dabei der Beschaffenheit der abzutragenden Beschichtung, wie z.B. deren Zusammensetzung oder Schichtdicke, derart angepasst sein, dass ein möglichst geringer Wärmeeintrag in den elektrischen Leiter erfolgt. Damit bleiben die mechanischen und elektrischen Eigenschaften des elektrischen Leiters, insbesondere in dessen dem Schichtabtrag zugewandter Randzone, durch den Schichtabtrag im Wesentlichen unbeeinflusst.According to a development of the present method, the beam source is a laser beam source. With the help of the laser beam emitted by the beam source, the galvanic coating can be removed in a targeted manner in the contact area. The coating is vaporized by short laser pulses (e.g. with a frequency of more than 30 kHz and in particular less than 100 kHz) of high intensity (e.g. with a power of more than 20 W and in particular less than 100 W). By processing with the laser beam, the intended shape of the contact area to be exposed can be worked out of the coating with particular precision. The process variables of the blasting can be adapted to the nature of the coating to be removed, such as its composition or layer thickness, in such a way that the heat input into the electrical conductor is as low as possible. The mechanical and electrical properties of the electrical conductor, in particular in its edge zone facing the layer removal, remain essentially unaffected by the layer removal.

Für den Fall, dass der elektrische Leiter aus wenigstens zwei verbundenen Leiterkomponenten gebildet ist, bietet der mittels einer Strahlquelle, insbesondere einer Laserstrahlquelle, erfolgende Schichtabtrag den Vorteil, dass der Schichtabtrag nahe einer zwischen den Leiterkomponenten gebildeten Nahtstelle erfolgen kann. Beispielsweise kann ein Kontaktbereich an dem Anschlussteil mit einem Abstand von weniger als 2 mm, bevorzugt weniger als 1 mm, weiter bevorzugt weniger als 0,5 mm zu der Nahtstelle gebildet werden. Bei der Durchführung des gegenständlichen Verfahrens unter Verwendung einer Strahlquelle, insbesondere einer Laserstrahlquelle, kann daher ein präziser Schichtabtrag in unmittelbarer Nähe zu einer zwischen zwei Leiterkomponenten gebildeten Nahtstelle erfolgen, ohne die von der Beschichtung bedeckte Nahtstelle zur Umgebung hin freizulegen. Durch den präzisen Schichtabtrag kann die Breite einer Leiterkomponente in optimaler Weise zur Ausbildung des Kontaktbereichs genutzt werden. Dabei kann die quer zur Längserstreckung des elektrischen Leiters gemessene Breite des Kontaktbereichs wenigstens 80%, bevorzugt wenigstens 90%, weiter bevorzugt wenigstens 95% der quer zur Längserstreckung des elektrischen Leiters gemessenen Breite der jeweiligen Leiterkomponente betragen.If the electrical conductor is formed from at least two connected conductor components, the layer removal using a beam source, in particular a laser beam source, offers the advantage that the layer removal can take place close to a seam formed between the conductor components. For example, a contact area on the connection part can be formed at a distance of less than 2 mm, preferably less than 1 mm, more preferably less than 0.5 mm from the seam. When carrying out the present method using a beam source, in particular a laser beam source, a precise layer removal can therefore take place in the immediate vicinity of a seam formed between two conductor components without exposing the seam covered by the coating to the environment. Through the precise layer removal the width of a conductor component can be optimally used to form the contact area. The width of the contact area measured transversely to the longitudinal extent of the electrical conductor can be at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95% of the width of the respective conductor component measured transversely to the longitudinal extent of the electrical conductor.

Gemäß weiteren Ausgestaltungen des gegenständlichen Verfahrens kann als Strahlquelle grundsätzlich jede Art von Strahlquelle verwendet werden, die zum Abtrag der galvanischen Beschichtung geeignet ist. So kann das Freilegen der Kontaktfläche beispielsweise mit Hilfe einer Plasmastrahlquelle, durch Druckluftstrahlen mit festem Strahlmittel, Wasserstrahlen, Trockeneisstrahlen oder CO2-Schneeisstrahlen erfolgen.In accordance with further configurations of the present method, basically any type of radiation source that is suitable for removing the galvanic coating can be used as the radiation source. For example, the contact surface can be uncovered with the aid of a plasma jet source, by compressed air blasting with a solid blasting agent, water jets, dry ice blasting or CO 2 snow ice blasting.

Nach einer weiteren Ausgestaltung des Verfahrens wird die galvanische Beschichtung in dem Kontaktbereich im Wesentlichen rückstandsfrei entfernt. "Im Wesentlichen rückstandsfrei" bedeutet hier, dass in dem Kontaktbereich, insbesondere auf der Oberfläche des Kontaktbereichs, wenigstens 95%, bevorzugt wenigstens 98%, weiter bevorzugt wenigstens 99% der galvanischen Beschichtung entfernt worden sind. Damit kann eine besonders reine Oberfläche des Kontaktbereichs zum Anschließen eines Leiters oder Kabels, beispielsweise durch Schweißen, insbesondere Reibschweißen, bereitgestellt werden. Insbesondere kann die Entfernung derart sein, dass die Beschichtung im Kontaktbereich keine geschlossene Fläche bzw. Abdeckung des Kontaktbereichs mehr darstellt.According to a further embodiment of the method, the galvanic coating in the contact area is removed essentially without leaving any residue. “Essentially residue-free” means here that in the contact area, in particular on the surface of the contact area, at least 95%, preferably at least 98%, more preferably at least 99% of the galvanic coating has been removed. A particularly clean surface of the contact area for connecting a conductor or cable can thus be provided, for example by welding, in particular friction welding. In particular, the removal can be such that the coating in the contact area no longer represents a closed surface or covering of the contact area.

Nach einer Weiterbildung des gegenständlichen Verfahrens wird die Rauheit der Oberfläche des freigelegten Kontaktbereichs durch eine Oberflächenbearbeitung mit der Strahlquelle eingestellt. Dabei kann die Oberfläche des freigelegten Kontaktbereichs nach der Oberflächenbearbeitung insbesondere einen arithmetischen Mittenrauwert Ra von weniger als 15 µm, bevorzugt weniger als 10 µm, weiter bevorzugt weniger als 5 µm aufweisen. Die Oberflächenbearbeitung kann unmittelbar nach dem Schichtabtrag erfolgen. Beispielweise kann der Strahl nach dem im Wesentlichen rückstandsfreien Entfernen der Beschichtung für eine vorgegebene Zeitdauer von beispielsweise wenigstens 2 s, bevorzugt wenigstens 1 s, weiter bevorzugt wenigstens 0,5 s auf die Oberfläche des freigelegten Kontaktbereichs einwirken, um die geforderte Rauigkeit einzustellen. Dabei kann die Oberflächenbearbeitung mit zum Schichtabtrag gleichen oder speziell an die Oberflächenbearbeitung angepassten Strahlparametern erfolgen. So können beispielsweise Rauheitsspitzen im Bereich der Oberfläche des Kontaktbereichs mit Hilfe von Laserstrahlung durch ein lokales Aufschmelzen und Wiedererstarren geglättet werden.According to a development of the present method, the roughness of the surface of the exposed contact area is adjusted by surface treatment with the beam source. In this case, the surface of the uncovered contact area can have an arithmetic mean roughness value Ra of less than 15 μm, preferably less than 10 μm, more preferably less than 5 μm after the surface treatment. The surface treatment can be carried out immediately after the layer has been removed. For example, after the essentially residue-free removal of the coating, the jet can be used for a predetermined period of time of, for example act on the surface of the exposed contact area for at least 2 s, preferably at least 1 s, more preferably at least 0.5 s, in order to set the required roughness. The surface processing can be carried out with the same blasting parameters as for the layer removal or with blasting parameters specially adapted to the surface processing. For example, roughness peaks in the area of the surface of the contact area can be smoothed out with the help of laser radiation through local melting and resolidification.

Nach einer weiteren Ausgestaltung zeichnet sich das gegenständliche Verfahren dadurch aus, dass beim Bereitstellen des elektrischen Leiters eine erste Leiterkomponente und eine zweite Leiterkomponente des elektrischen Leiters stoffschlüssig miteinander verbunden werden. Eine solche stoffschlüssige Verbindung kann beispielsweise durch Schweißen oder Plattieren, insbesondere Walzplattieren, der Leiterkomponenten erfolgen. Die stoffschlüssige Verbindung gewährleistet eine dauerhafte elektrisch leitende Verbindung zwischen den Leiterkomponenten. Nach einer Weiterbildung dieser Ausgestaltung können die erste und/oder die zweite Leiterkomponente insbesondere als Flachleiter gebildet sein, wie sie beispielsweise in der Kraftfahrzeugtechnik in PKW und LKW eingesetzt werden. Insbesondere lässt sich der Leiter gemäß des Gegenstandes als Kabelschuh, als Energieleiter, als Batterieleitung oder dergleichen in einem Kraftfahrzeug einsetzen.According to a further embodiment, the subject method is characterized in that when the electrical conductor is provided, a first conductor component and a second conductor component of the electrical conductor are connected to one another with a material fit. Such an integral connection can be made, for example, by welding or plating, in particular roll cladding, of the conductor components. The material connection ensures a permanent electrically conductive connection between the conductor components. According to a development of this embodiment, the first and/or the second conductor component can be formed in particular as a flat conductor, such as is used, for example, in motor vehicle technology in cars and trucks. In particular, the conductor according to the subject can be used as a cable lug, as an energy conductor, as a battery line or the like in a motor vehicle.

Der elektrische Leiter weist nach einer Weiterbildung des gegenständlichen Verfahrens einen Kupfer- und/oder einen Aluminiumwerkstoff auf. Der elektrische Leiter kann beispielsweise aus einem Aluminiumflachleiter, der aus Aluminium oder einer Aluminiumlegierung gebildet ist, und einem Kupferflachleiter, der aus Kupfer oder einer Kupferlegierung gebildet ist, hergestellt sein. Der Aluminium- und der Kupferleiter können jeweils separat voneinander bereitgestellt und durch Walzplattieren in einem kontinuierlich ablaufenden Prozess stoffschlüssig verbunden werden. Dabei kann die aufzubringende Leiterkomponente von geringerer Breite sein, als die Leiterkomponente, welche die Basis bildet. Der auf diese Weise hergestellte elektrische Leiter kann ohne weitere Zwischenschritte unmittelbar nach dem Fügen der beiden Leiterkomponenten galvanisch beschichtet werden. Die galvanisch abzuscheidende Schicht wird daher auf der gesamten der Umgebung zugewandten Oberfläche des elektrischen Leiters aufgebracht, wobei jede der Leiterkomponenten unmittelbar und vollständig ohne etwaige Zwischenelemente von der Schicht bedeckt werden kann. Auf diese Weise kann ein homogener Schichtauftrag mit im Wesentlichen konstanter Schichtdicke gewährleistet werden.According to a further development of the present method, the electrical conductor has a copper and/or an aluminum material. The electric conductor can be made of, for example, an aluminum flat conductor made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and a copper flat conductor made of copper or a copper alloy. The aluminum and copper conductors can each be provided separately from one another and bonded together by roll cladding in a continuous process. In this case, the conductor component to be applied can be of a smaller width than the conductor component which forms the base. The electrical conductor produced in this way can be used without further intermediate steps immediately after the two have been joined Conductor components are electroplated. The layer to be electrodeposited is therefore applied to the entire surface of the electrical conductor facing the environment, it being possible for each of the conductor components to be covered directly and completely by the layer without any intermediate elements. In this way, a homogeneous layer application with a substantially constant layer thickness can be guaranteed.

Bei dem gegenständlichen Verfahren wird der elektrische Leiter als Band bereitgestellt, wobei das Band vor oder nach dem Beschichten zumindest teilweise in Bandabschnitte aufgetrennt, insbesondere gestanzt wird. Ein solches Band kann als Endlosmaterial einem kontinuierlichen Fertigungsprozess zugeführt werden, so dass das Bereitstellen, Beschichteten und (partielle-) Entschichten unmittelbar aufeinanderfolgend in einer Produktionsanlage effizient durchgeführt werden können. Abhängig von dem gewählten Beschichtungsverfahren wird das Band vor oder nach dem Beschichten zumindest teilweise zu Bandabschnitten vereinzelt, um aus dem Bandmaterial in einfacher Weise separate elektrische Anschlussteile herzustellen.In the present method, the electrical conductor is provided as a strip, with the strip being at least partially separated, in particular stamped, into strip sections before or after the coating. Such a strip can be supplied as an endless material to a continuous production process, so that the provision, coating and (partial) decoating can be carried out efficiently in immediate succession in a production plant. Depending on the selected coating method, the strip is at least partially separated into strip sections before or after the coating, in order to produce separate electrical connection parts from the strip material in a simple manner.

Das galvanische Beschichten kann gegenständlich mittels einer Bandgalvanik oder einer Trommelgalvanik erfolgen. Je nach Stückzahl und Anforderungen an das Endprodukt, kann das jeweils geeignete Verfahren ausgewählt werden.The galvanic coating can be done by means of a strip galvanic or a drum galvanic. Depending on the number of pieces and the requirements of the end product, the appropriate process can be selected.

In einer Bandgalvanik wird das zu beschichtende Material als Endlosband durch ein elektrolytisches Bad geführt. So kann ein hoher Materialdurchsatz erzeugt und das beschichtete Endlosmaterial in einfacher Weise den nachgeschalteten Bearbeitungsstationen einer Produktionsanlage übergeben bzw. kontinuierlich zugeführt werden. Die elektrischen Anschlussteile können nach dem Beschichten als Bandabschnitte von dem Band abgetrennt werden. Abhängig von den Einsatzbedingungen des elektrischen Anschlussteils im fertig montierten Zustand kann es nachteilig sein, dass ein in dieser Weise aus einem beschichteten Endlosband vereinzeltes Anschlussteil im Bereich seiner Trenn- bzw. Schnittfläche nicht beschichtet ist. Dieser Effekt kann zumindest reduziert werden, wenn das Band vor dem Beschichten bereits teilweise aufgetrennt wird, wobei die einzelnen Segmente entlang einer Längsseite des teilweise aufgetrennten Bandes über einen nicht aufgetrennten Gurt oder Steg des Bands verbunden bleiben. Auf diese Weise können auch die Trennflächen der aus dem Band zu vereinzelnden Anschlusselemente zumindest teilweise beschichtet werden.In a strip electroplating shop, the material to be coated is fed through an electrolytic bath as a continuous strip. In this way, a high material throughput can be generated and the coated endless material can be transferred to the downstream processing stations of a production plant or continuously fed in a simple manner. After the coating, the electrical connection parts can be separated from the tape as tape sections. Depending on the conditions of use of the electrical connection part in the fully assembled state, it can be disadvantageous that a connection part isolated in this way from a coated endless band is not coated in the region of its parting or cut surface. This effect can be reduced at least if the tape before the Coating is already partially separated, with the individual segments remaining connected along one longitudinal side of the partially separated band via an unseparated belt or web of the band. In this way, the parting surfaces of the connection elements to be separated from the strip can also be at least partially coated.

Die Trommelgalvanik hat diesbezüglich den Vorteil, dass bereits aus einem Band vereinzelte, separate Bandabschnitte beschichtet werden können, so dass eine vollständige Beschichtung der Oberfläche dieser Bandabschnitte oder Leitersegmente, aus denen im weiteren Verfahrensgang die elektrischen Anschlusselemente hergestellt werden, erfolgt. Auch die bei Abtrennen aus dem Band entstehenden Trennflächen der Bandabschnitte werden dabei vollständig mit der Beschichtung überzogen. Eine solche Trommelgalvanik ist gegenüber einer zuvor beschriebenen Bandgalvanik zudem kostengünstiger zu betreiben. Neben dem Schutz vor chemischen Umgebungseinflüssen, die zu Korrosion führen können, dient die Beschichtung auch dem Schutz des elektrischen Leiters vor mechanischen Belastungen, beispielsweise während des Transports einzelner, beschichteter Bandabschnitte zu einer Strahlanlage, in der die Strahlquelle angeordnet ist.Barrel electroplating has the advantage in this respect that individual, separate strip sections can already be coated from a strip, so that the surface of these strip sections or conductor segments, from which the electrical connection elements are produced in the further process step, is completely coated. The separating surfaces of the strip sections that arise when the strip is cut off are also completely covered with the coating. In addition, such a drum electroplating system is more economical to operate than a previously described strip electroplating system. In addition to protecting against chemical environmental influences that can lead to corrosion, the coating also serves to protect the electrical conductor against mechanical stress, for example during transport of individual, coated strip sections to a blasting system in which the blasting source is arranged.

Der elektrische Leiter wird nach einer Weiterbildung des gegenständlichen Verfahrens nach dem galvanischen Beschichten und vor dem Freilegen des Kontaktbereichs mit wenigstens einem elektrisch isolierenden Material beschichtet. Mittels einer solchen im Wesentlichen nicht leitenden Schicht wird dem Auftreten von Kriechströmen im fertig montierten Zustand des Anschlussteils, beispielsweise in einem Kraftfahrzeug, entgegenwirkt. Die elektrisch isolierende Schicht kann beim Freilegen des Kontaktbereichs zusammen mit der galvanischen Beschichtung durch die Strahlquelle lokal entfernt werden.According to a development of the subject method, the electrical conductor is coated with at least one electrically insulating material after the galvanic coating and before the exposure of the contact area. Such a substantially non-conductive layer counteracts the occurrence of leakage currents in the fully assembled state of the connection part, for example in a motor vehicle. When the contact area is exposed, the electrically insulating layer can be locally removed together with the galvanic coating by the beam source.

Nach einem weiteren Aspekt betrifft der Gegenstand ein elektrisches Anschlussteil, insbesondere hergestellt nach einem in voranstehend beschriebener Weise gegenständlich ausgeführten Verfahren.According to a further aspect, the subject matter relates to an electrical connection part, in particular produced using a method that is specifically carried out in the manner described above.

Das elektrische Anschlussteil kann gegenständlich aus einer ersten Leiterkomponente und einer zweiten Leiterkomponente gebildet sein, wobei die Leiterkomponenten stoffschlüssig miteinander verbunden sind. Dabei können die erste und/oder die zweite Leiterkomponente insbesondere als Flachleiter gebildet sein. So kann der elektrische Leiter beispielsweise aus einer Leiterkomponente aus einem Aluminiumwerkstoff und einer Leiterkomponente aus einem Kupferwerkstoff gebildet sein. Die Leiterkomponenten können durch Walzplattieren stoffschlüssig miteinander verbunden werden.The electrical connection part can be formed from a first conductor component and a second conductor component, with the conductor components being connected to one another in a materially bonded manner. In this case, the first and/or the second conductor component can be formed in particular as a flat conductor. For example, the electrical conductor can be formed from a conductor component made from an aluminum material and a conductor component made from a copper material. The conductor components can be cohesively connected to one another by roll cladding.

Nach einer weiteren Ausgestaltung des gegenständlichen Anschlussteils ist wenigstens eine zwischen zwei Leiterkomponenten des elektrischen Leiters gebildete Nahtstelle galvanisch beschichtet. Ein freigelegter Kontaktbereich kann mit einem Abstand zu der galvanisch beschichteten Nahtstelle angeordnet sein. Ein Kontaktbereich kann zum unmittelbaren Anschließen eines weiteren Leiters an der freigelegten Leiterkomponente dienen. Die zwischen den Leiterkomponenten gebildete Nahstelle kann durch die Beschichtung vor Umgebungseinflüssen geschützt sein.According to a further embodiment of the connection part in question, at least one seam formed between two conductor components of the electrical conductor is electroplated. An exposed contact area can be arranged at a distance from the electroplated seam. A contact area can be used for directly connecting a further conductor to the exposed conductor component. The interface formed between the conductor components can be protected from environmental influences by the coating.

Der Kontaktbereich kann an dem Anschlussteil insbesondere mit einem Abstand von weniger als 2 mm, bevorzugt weniger als 1 mm, weiter bevorzugt weniger als 0,5 mm zu der Nahtstelle gebildet sein. Insbesondere präzise Strahlverfahren, wie z.B. das Laser- oder Plasmastrahlen, ermöglichen einen Schichtabtrag in unmittelbarer Nähe zur Nahtstelle, ohne die Beschichtung der Nahtstelle zu Beschädigen und die Nahtstelle freizulegen. Die quer zur Längserstreckung des elektrischen Leiters gemessene Breite des Kontaktbereichs kann insbesondere wenigstens 80%, bevorzugt wenigstens 90%, weiter bevorzugt wenigstens 95% der der quer zur Längserstreckung des elektrischen Leiters gemessenen Breite der jeweiligen Leiterkomponente betragen.The contact area can be formed on the connection part in particular at a distance of less than 2 mm, preferably less than 1 mm, more preferably less than 0.5 mm from the seam. Precise blasting methods in particular, such as laser or plasma blasting, enable layer removal in the immediate vicinity of the seam without damaging the coating of the seam and exposing the seam. The width of the contact area measured transversely to the longitudinal extent of the electrical conductor can be in particular at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95% of the width of the respective conductor component measured transversely to the longitudinal extent of the electrical conductor.

Die erste Leiterkomponente kann in einer zur Aufnahme der ersten Leiterkomponente vorgesehenen Ausnehmung der zweiten Leiterkomponente angeordnet sein, wobei die Ausnehmung insbesondere eine Nut ist. Die Leiterkomponenten können als Flachleiter gebildet sein, so dass sich insgesamt ein rechteckiger Querschnitt des elektrischen Leiters ergibt. Der Kontaktbereich kann in diesem Fall eng benachbart zu einer zwischen den Leiterkomponenten gebildet Nahtstelle verlaufen, die in diesem Fall durch die jeweilige Seitenwand der Nut definiert ist. Der Kontaktbereich kann in einer Draufsicht auf das Anschlusselement ein zwischen zwei Nahtstellen erstreckter Bereich mit im Wesentlichen rechteckiger Grundfläche sein.The first conductor component can be arranged in a recess of the second conductor component provided for receiving the first conductor component, the recess being in particular a groove. The conductor components can be used as flat conductors be formed so that overall there is a rectangular cross section of the electrical conductor. In this case, the contact area can run closely adjacent to a seam formed between the conductor components, which in this case is defined by the respective side wall of the groove. In a top view of the connecting element, the contact area can be an area with a substantially rectangular base area that extends between two seams.

Nach einer Weiterbildung des gegenständlichen Anschlussteils kann die Oberfläche des mit der Strahlquelle freigelegten Kontaktbereichs einen arithmetischen Mittenrauwert Ra von weniger als 15 µm, bevorzugt weniger als 10 µm, weiter bevorzugt weniger als 5 µm aufweisen. Insbesondere kann die Oberfläche des Kontaktbereichs bezüglich der zum Anschließen eines Leiters in dem Kontaktbereich gewählten Verbindungstechnik, wie z.B. dem Reibschweißen, optimiert sein.According to a development of the connection part in question, the surface of the contact area exposed with the beam source can have an arithmetic mean roughness value Ra of less than 15 μm, preferably less than 10 μm, more preferably less than 5 μm. In particular, the surface of the contact area can be optimized with regard to the connection technique selected for connecting a conductor in the contact area, such as friction welding.

Die galvanische Beschichtung ist in dem Kontaktbereich des gegenständlichen Anschlusselements nach einer Weiterbildung des Gegenstands im Wesentlichen rückstandsfrei entfernt. Wie zuvor mit Bezug zu dem Verfahren beschrieben, bedeutet der Begriff "im Wesentlichen rückstandsfrei" hier, dass in dem Kontaktbereich, insbesondere auf der Oberfläche des Kontaktbereichs, wenigstens 95%, bevorzugt wenigstens 98%, weiter bevorzugt wenigstens 99% der galvanischen Beschichtung entfernt worden sind. Damit kann eine besonders reine Oberfläche des Kontaktbereichs zum Anschließen eines Leiters oder Kabels, beispielsweise durch Schweißen, insbesondere Reibschweißen, bereitgestellt werden.According to a further development of the object, the galvanic coating is removed in the contact area of the connection element in question essentially without leaving any residue. As previously described in relation to the method, the term "substantially residue-free" here means that in the contact area, in particular on the surface of the contact area, at least 95%, preferably at least 98%, more preferably at least 99% of the electrolytic coating has been removed are. A particularly clean surface of the contact area for connecting a conductor or cable can thus be provided, for example by welding, in particular friction welding.

Nachfolgend wird der Gegenstand anhand einer Ausführungsbeispiele zeigenden Zeichnung näher erläutert. In der Zeichnung zeigen:

Fig. 1
einen schematischer Aufbau eines Herstellungsverfahrens;
Fig. 2
eine schematische Darstellung eines ersten Verfahrensschritts A;
Fig. 3
eine weitere schematische Darstellung des Verfahrens nach Fig. 1;
Fig. 4
einen zweiten schematischer Aufbau eines Herstellungsverfahrens;
Fig. 5
einen dritten schematischen Aufbau eines Herstellungsverfahrens;
Fig. 6
eine Draufsicht auf ein elektrisches Anschlussteil;
Fig. 7
eine Schnittansicht des elektrischen Anschlussteils aus Fig. 6;
Fig. 8
eine weitere Schnittansicht des elektrischen Anschlussteils aus Fig. 6.
The object is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing showing exemplary embodiments. Show in the drawing:
1
a schematic structure of a manufacturing process;
2
a schematic representation of a first method step A;
3
a further schematic representation of the method 1 ;
4
a second schematic structure of a manufacturing method;
figure 5
a third schematic structure of a manufacturing method;
6
a plan view of an electrical connector;
7
Figure 12 shows a sectional view of the electrical connector 6 ;
8
Another sectional view of the electrical connection part 6 .

In Fig. 1 ist ein schematischer Aufbau eines gegenständlichen Verfahrens zum Herstellen eines elektrischen Anschlussteils dargestellt. In einem ersten Verfahrensschritt A wird ein elektrischer Leiter 2 bereitgestellt. In einem zweiten Verfahrensschritt B wird der elektrische Leiter 2 galvanisch beschichtet. In einem dritten Verfahrensschritt C wird ein Kontaktbereich 4 des elektrischen Leiters 2 freigelegt. Dabei wird die galvanische Beschichtung 6 mit einer Strahlquelle 8 entfernt.In 1 a schematic structure of a specific method for producing an electrical connection part is shown. In a first method step A, an electrical conductor 2 is provided. In a second method step B, the electrical conductor 2 is galvanically coated. In a third method step C, a contact area 4 of the electrical conductor 2 is exposed. In the process, the galvanic coating 6 is removed with a beam source 8 .

Der elektrische Leiter 2 wird aus einer ersten Leiterkomponente 10 und einer zweiten Leiterkomponente 12 hergestellt. Die erste Leiterkomponente 10 ist ein Flachleiter aus Kupferwerkstoff, während die zweite Leiterkomponente 12 ein Flachleiter aus Aluminiumwerkstoff ist. Es ist aber auch möglich, dass diese Kombination genau anders herum gebildet ist. Die erste Leiterkomponente 10 und die zweite Leiterkomponente 12 können jeweils in einem Coil bereitgestellt und der Vorrichtung 14 kontinuierlich zugeführt werden. In der Vorrichtung 14 können die erste Leiterkomponente 10 und die zweite Leiterkomponente 12 durch Walzplattieren stoffschlüssig miteinander verbunden werden.The electrical conductor 2 is made from a first conductor component 10 and a second conductor component 12 . The first conductor component 10 is a flat conductor made of copper material, while the second conductor component 12 is a flat conductor made of aluminum material. However, it is also possible for this combination to be formed exactly the other way round. The first conductor component 10 and the second conductor component 12 can each be provided in a coil and continuously fed to the device 14 . In the device 14, the first conductor component 10 and the second conductor component 12 can be cohesively connected to one another by roll-bonding.

In Fig. 2 ist eine schematische Darstellung des im ersten Verfahrensschritt A erfolgenden Walzplattierens gezeigt. Die Leiterkomponente 10 und die Leiterkomponente 12 werden der Vorrichtung 14 derart zugeführt, dass die Leiterkomponente 12 in einer an der Leiterkomponente 10 vorgesehenen Nut aufgenommen wird. Mit einer in der Vorrichtung 14 vorgesehenen Walze (nicht dargestellt) werden die Leiterkomponente 10 und die Leiterkomponente 12 derart verbunden, dass diese im Bereich einer Oberfläche 16 flächenbündig sind. Beim Walzplattieren kann aber auch die Nut entfallen.In 2 a schematic representation of the roll cladding taking place in the first process step A is shown. The conductor component 10 and the conductor component 12 are fed to the device 14 in such a way that the conductor component 12 is accommodated in a groove provided on the conductor component 10 . The conductor component 10 and the conductor component 12 are connected with a roller (not shown) provided in the device 14 in such a way that they are flush in the area of a surface 16 . However, the groove can also be omitted in roll-bonding.

In dem zweiten Verfahrensschritt B wird der aus den Leiterkomponenten 10 und 12 gebildete elektrische Leiter 2 durch die Vorrichtung 18 geführt, in der der elektrische Leiter 2 galvanisch beschichtet wird. Bei der Vorrichtung 18 handelt es sich um eine Bandgalvanik. Der elektrische Leiter 2 wird dabei in einem kontinuierlichen Prozess durch eines oder mehrere Elektrolytbäder geführt und dabei mit einer beispielsweise wenige Mikrometer starken Beschichtung 6 versehen. In dem Verfahrensschritte B können eine oder mehrere galvanische Schichten auf dem elektrischen Leiter abgeschieden werden. Eine jeweilige Schicht kann beispielsweise Nickel und/oder Zinn aufweisen. Nach der galvanischen Beschichtung kann in dem Verfahrensschritt B eine weitere, elektrisch isolierende Schicht aufgebracht werden. Diese Schicht dient im fertig montierten Zustand des Anschlussteils der Vermeidung von Kriechströmen.In the second method step B, the electrical conductor 2 formed from the conductor components 10 and 12 is guided through the device 18 in which the electrical conductor 2 is galvanically coated. Device 18 is strip electroplating. The electrical conductor 2 is guided through one or more electrolyte baths in a continuous process and is provided with a coating 6 that is a few micrometers thick, for example. In method step B, one or more galvanic layers can be deposited on the electrical conductor. A respective layer can have nickel and/or tin, for example. After the galvanic coating, a further, electrically insulating layer can be applied in method step B. In the fully assembled state of the connection part, this layer serves to prevent leakage currents.

In dem dritten Verfahrensschritt C wird der Kontaktbereich 4 des elektrischen Leiters 2 freigelegt, wobei die galvanische Beschichtung 6 mithilfe der Strahlquelle 8 entfernt wird. Bei der Strahlquelle 8 handelt es sich in dem hier dargestellten Beispiel um eine Laserstrahlquelle. Wie der schematischen Darstellung gemäß Fig. 3 zu entnehmen ist, wird der mit der galvanischen Beschichtung 6 und der isolierenden Schicht versehene elektrische Leiter 2 in einem kontinuierlichen Prozess an der Strahlquelle 8 vorbeigeführt. Dabei verdampft die galvanische Beschichtung 6 in dem Kontaktbereich 4 im Wesentlichen vollständig, so dass die galvanische Beschichtung 6 im Wesentlichen rückstandsfrei entfernt wird. Auf diese Weise wird die Leiterkomponente 12, also der Aluminiumleiter, freigelegt, so dass in dem Kontaktbereich 4 ein weiterer Leiter (nicht dargestellt) mit dem Aluminiumleiter unmittelbar verbunden werden kann. Insbesondere kann im Bereich der Kontaktstelle eine sortenreine Verbindung mit einem weiteren Leiter hergestellt werden, der aus dem Material der Kontaktstelle ist. Ein weiterer Leiter aus einem anderen Material kann an der Beschichtung stoffschlüssig verbunden werden.In the third method step C, the contact area 4 of the electrical conductor 2 is uncovered, with the galvanic coating 6 being removed with the aid of the beam source 8 . In the example shown here, the beam source 8 is a laser beam source. As shown in the schematic 3 can be seen, the electrical conductor 2 provided with the galvanic coating 6 and the insulating layer is guided past the beam source 8 in a continuous process. In the process, the galvanic coating 6 in the contact area 4 evaporates essentially completely, so that the galvanic coating 6 is removed essentially without leaving any residue. In this way, the conductor component 12, i.e. the aluminum conductor, is exposed so that in the contact area 4 another conductor (not shown) can be directly connected to the aluminum conductor. In particular, in the area of the contact point, a single-type connection can be established with a further conductor that is made of the same material as the contact point. Another conductor made of a different material can be bonded to the coating.

In einem vierten Verfahrensschritte D werden einzelne Abschnitte 20 aus dem aus den beiden Coils der Leiterkomponenten 10 und 12 gebildeten Endlosmaterial abgetrennt bzw. vereinzelt, aus denen im weiteren Verfahrensgang separate elektrische Anschlussteile 22 hergestellt werden. Der Trennvorgang kann mithilfe einer Stanzvorrichtung 24 erfolgen, wobei neben dem Abtrennen zusätzlich Formelemente an einem jeweiligen Anschlussteil 22 gebildet werden können.In a fourth method step D, individual sections 20 are separated or isolated from the endless material formed from the two coils of the conductor components 10 and 12, from which separate electrical connection parts 22 are produced in the further method step. The severing process can take place with the aid of a punching device 24, in which case, in addition to the severing, shaped elements can also be formed on a respective connection part 22.

In Fig. 4 ist ein zweiter schematischer Aufbau eines gegenständlichen Herstellungsverfahrens dargestellt. Der in diesem Ausführungsbeispiel gezeigte Aufbau unterscheidet sich von dem mit Bezug zu den Figuren 1 bis 3 beschriebenen Verfahren dahingehend, dass die Abschnitte 20 bereits unmittelbar nach dem Beschichteten vereinzelt werden. Der zuvor als vierter Verfahrensschritt ausgeführte Trennvorgang D erfolgt nunmehr vor dem Freilegen des Kontaktbereichs 4 gemäß Verfahrensschritt C. Die einzelnen Abschnitte 20 können dabei, wie hier dargestellt, bereits vollständig voneinander getrennt sein, oder aber über einen gemeinsamen Gurt bzw. ein gemeinsames Transportband entlang einer Längsseite miteinander verbunden bleiben, um den Transport der Abschnitte 20 im weiteren Verfahrensgang zu vereinfachen.In 4 a second schematic structure of an actual manufacturing method is shown. The structure shown in this embodiment is different from that referred to in FIGS Figures 1 to 3 described method to the effect that the sections 20 are separated immediately after the coated. The separation process D previously performed as the fourth method step now takes place before the exposure of the contact area 4 according to method step C. The individual sections 20 can, as shown here, already be completely separated from one another, or via a common belt or a common conveyor belt along a Long side remain connected to each other to simplify the transport of the sections 20 in the further course of the process.

Fig. 5 zeigt einen dritten schematischen Aufbau eines gegenständlichen Herstellungsverfahrens, wobei in diesem Fall bereits vor dem Beschichteten ein Auftrennen des aus den Leiterkomponenten 10 und 12 gebildeten Endlosmaterials in Abschnitte 20 erfolgt. Die unbeschichteten Abschnitte 20 werden in diesem Fall im Verfahrensschritt B einer Trommelgalvanik 26 zugeführt. Diese Vorgehensweise hat gegenüber den zuvor beschriebenen Verfahren den Vorteil, dass auch die Trenn- bzw. Schnittkanten, entlang derer die Abschnitte 20 voneinander getrennt werden, beschichtet werden. figure 5 12 shows a third schematic structure of a production method in question, in which case the endless material formed from the conductor components 10 and 12 is separated into sections 20 before it is coated. In this case, the uncoated sections 20 are fed to a drum electroplating shop 26 in method step B. This procedure has the advantage over the methods described above that the separation or Cut edges along which the sections 20 are separated from one another are coated.

Bevorzugt wird bei den voranstehend beschriebenen Verfahren der Kontaktbereich 4 unmittelbar vor dem Anschließen eines weiteren Leiters freigelegt, so dass die Bildung einer nicht-leitenden Aluminiumoxidschicht in dem Kontaktbereich 4 vermieden werden kann.In the methods described above, the contact area 4 is preferably exposed immediately before the connection of a further conductor, so that the formation of a non-conductive aluminum oxide layer in the contact area 4 can be avoided.

Nachfolgend wird mit Bezug zu den Figuren 6 bis 8 ein elektrisches Anschlussteil 22 beschrieben, das gemäß einem der voranstehend beschriebenen Verfahren hergestellt worden ist.The following is related to the Figures 6 to 8 an electrical connection part 22 is described, which has been produced according to one of the methods described above.

Fig. 6 zeigt eine Draufsicht auf das elektrische Anschlussteil 22, dass eine Leiterkomponente 10 und eine Leiterkomponente 12 aufweist. Das elektrische Anschlussteil 22 ist mit einer metallischen Beschichtung 6 versehen. Die Beschichtung 6 bedeckt zwei zwischen den Leiterkomponenten 10, 12 gebildete Nahtstellen 28. Es ist ersichtlich, dass die jeweilige Nahtstelle 28 mit einem Abstand X zu dem freigelegten Kontaktbereich 4 angeordnet ist, so dass die Nahtstelle 28 vollständig von der Beschichtung 6 bedeckt ist. Der Abstand X beträgt in dem hier dargestellten Beispiel weniger als 1 mm. Die Breite B1 des Kontaktbereichs 4 beträgt ca. 90 % der Breite B2 des Aluminiumleiters 12. An dem elektrischen Anschlussteil 22 ist zudem eine Durchgangsöffnung 30 zur Aufnahme beispielsweise einer Schraube oder eines Bolzens gebildet. 6 shows a plan view of the electrical connection part 22 that has a conductor component 10 and a conductor component 12 . The electrical connection part 22 is provided with a metallic coating 6 . The coating 6 covers two seams 28 formed between the conductor components 10, 12. It can be seen that the respective seam 28 is arranged at a distance X from the exposed contact area 4, so that the seam 28 is completely covered by the coating 6. In the example shown here, the distance X is less than 1 mm. The width B1 of the contact area 4 is approximately 90% of the width B2 of the aluminum conductor 12. A through-opening 30 for receiving a screw or a bolt, for example, is also formed on the electrical connection part 22.

In Fig. 7 ist eine Schnittansicht des elektrischen Anschlussteils 22 entlang der Linie VII - VII aus Fig. 6 dargestellt. Wie hier deutlich zu erkennen ist, ist die Nahtstelle 28 durch die Beschichtung 6 vor der Umgebung geschützt. Die Oberfläche 32 Kontaktbereichs ist mit der Laserstrahlquelle 8 zunächst einschichtet und unmittelbar darauf folgend feinbearbeitet worden. Mithilfe der Strahlquelle 8 ist an der Oberfläche 32 ein arithmetischer Mittenrauwert von ca. 10 µm eingestellt worden.In 7 12 is a sectional view of the electrical connector 22 taken along line VII-VII 6 shown. As can be clearly seen here, the seam 28 is protected from the environment by the coating 6 . The surface 32 of the contact area is first layered with the laser beam source 8 and then finely machined immediately thereafter. An arithmetic mean roughness value of approximately 10 μm has been set on the surface 32 with the aid of the beam source 8 .

Fig. 8 zeigt eine weitere Schnittansicht des elektrischen Anschlussteils aus Fig. 4 entlang der Linie VIII. Während die zuvor beschriebenen Ausführungen gleichermaßen sowohl für das erste als auch das zweite beschriebene Herstellungsverfahren zum Herstellen eines elektrischen Anschlussteils 22 gelten, sind die Ausführungen bezüglich der Beschichtung 6 gemäß Figur 8 auf das dritte Herstellungsverfahren beschränkt, welches sich einer Trommelgalvanik 26 bedient. So ist hier zu erkennen, dass die Beschichtung 6 den Übergang zwischen der Leiterkomponente 10 und der Leiterkomponente 12 auch entlang der seitlichen Trennflächen 34, 36 bedeckt und so vor Umgebungseinflüssen schützt. 8 FIG. 14 is another sectional view of the electrical connector 4 along the line VIII. While the above-described explanations apply equally to both the first and the second described manufacturing method for producing an electrical connection part 22, the explanations regarding the coating 6 according to FIG figure 8 limited to the third manufacturing method, which uses a barrel plating 26. It can be seen here that the coating 6 also covers the transition between the conductor component 10 and the conductor component 12 along the lateral parting surfaces 34, 36 and thus protects it from environmental influences.

Claims (8)

  1. Method for producing an electrical connection part, comprising:
    A) providing an electrical conductor (2) as a strip, wherein the strip is at least partly split up into strip sections (20) before or after plating takes place;
    B) electroplating the electrical conductor (2);
    C) exposing a contact area (4) of the electrical conductor (2) by removing the electroplating (6) in the contact area (4) using a beaming source (8).
  2. Method according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the electroplating (6) in the contact area (4) is removed by a laser beaming source.
  3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the electroplating (6) in the contact area (4) is removed essentially free of residue.
  4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    - the roughness of the surface (32) of the exposed contact area (4) is set by a surface treatment with the beaming source (8) such that
    - the surface (32) of the exposed contact area (4) has an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of less than 15 µm.
  5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    - when providing the electrical conductor (2) a first conductor component (10) and a second conductor component (12) of the electrical conductor (2) are materially bonded together,
    - wherein the first and the second conductor components (10, 12) are formed as flat conductors.
  6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    - the strip is punched at least in parts into the strip sections (20) before or after plating takes place.
  7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the electroplating takes place by means of strip plating (18) or barrel plating (26).
  8. Method according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the electrical conductor (2) is coated with at least one electrically insulating material after the electroplating and before the contact area (4) is exposed.
EP15766792.4A 2014-12-04 2015-09-17 Method for producing an electric connection part Active EP3227969B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102014017886.2A DE102014017886A1 (en) 2014-12-04 2014-12-04 Method for producing an electrical connection part
PCT/EP2015/071276 WO2016087067A1 (en) 2014-12-04 2015-09-17 Method for producing an electric connection part

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3227969A1 EP3227969A1 (en) 2017-10-11
EP3227969B1 true EP3227969B1 (en) 2022-04-13

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EP15766792.4A Active EP3227969B1 (en) 2014-12-04 2015-09-17 Method for producing an electric connection part

Country Status (7)

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US (1) US20170331212A1 (en)
EP (1) EP3227969B1 (en)
CN (1) CN107002267A (en)
DE (2) DE102014017886A1 (en)
ES (1) ES2911716T3 (en)
MX (1) MX367421B (en)
WO (1) WO2016087067A1 (en)

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DE102016123472C5 (en) * 2016-12-05 2021-07-01 Lisa Dräxlmaier GmbH METHOD AND DEVICE FOR WELDING A CONTACT PART TO A LINE
DE102018114627B4 (en) * 2018-06-19 2024-02-15 Auto-Kabel Management Gmbh Method and device for producing a cable
DE102018215025A1 (en) * 2018-09-04 2020-03-05 Te Connectivity Germany Gmbh Electrical contact for mating with a mating contact
DE102019103614B4 (en) * 2019-02-13 2021-01-07 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Overcurrent protection device for an energy storage cell, electrode for an energy storage cell, energy storage cell and method for producing an electrode for an energy storage cell
DE102019122591A1 (en) * 2019-08-22 2021-02-25 Auto-Kabel Management Gmbh Connection of a crimp contact to a conductor and a method for producing a crimp contact
DE102020106742A1 (en) 2020-03-12 2021-09-16 Auto-Kabel Management Gmbh Electrical contact part and method for producing an electrical contact part

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2016087067A1 (en) 2016-06-09
CN107002267A (en) 2017-08-01
DE202015009520U1 (en) 2018-02-26
US20170331212A1 (en) 2017-11-16
ES2911716T3 (en) 2022-05-20
MX367421B (en) 2019-08-21
MX2017006909A (en) 2017-08-15
EP3227969A1 (en) 2017-10-11
DE102014017886A1 (en) 2016-06-09

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