Method for making a microstructure in a glass or plastic substrate according to hot-forming technology and associated forming tool
First Claim
1. A method of making a microstructure in a glass or plastic surface by hot-forming technology, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a forming tool comprising a base body (1), said base body (1) comprising an at least partially porous base material with an open pore structure;
b) structuring a surface of a forming tool according to a negative of the microstructure to be produced in the substrate;
c) pressing the forming tool surface structured during the structuring of step b) into a viscous glass or plastic substrate;
d) during the pressing of step c), generating an under pressure that acts on the open pore structure of the base body (1) in order to draw glass or plastic material to the forming tool surface and thus help form the microstructure;
e) after the microstructure has been formed in the substrate in steps c) and d), removing the forming tool from the viscous glass or plastic substrate; and
f) during the removing of step e), generating an overpressure that acts on the open pore structure of the base body to assist in the removing.
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Abstract
A microstructure is formed in a viscous glass or plastic substrate by pressing a structured surface of a forming tool corresponding to a negative of the microstructure to be produced in the viscous glass or plastic substrate. After the microstructure has been formed, the forming tool is removed from the surface. In order to help form the microstructure and remove the forming tool from the substrate the forming tool has an at least partially porous base body (1) and an operative layer (2) structured with a negative structure consisting of grooves (11) extending to the porous base body (1). The forming of the microstructure in the substrate is assisted by applying suction to the porous base body (1) so that the grooves (11) fill more easily and completely with melted glass or plastic material. The removal of the forming tool after forming the microstructure is assisted by applying an overpressure to the porous body to help release the solidified glass or plastic material from the forming tool.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method of making a microstructure in a glass or plastic surface by hot-forming technology, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a forming tool comprising a base body (1), said base body (1) comprising an at least partially porous base material with an open pore structure;
b) structuring a surface of a forming tool according to a negative of the microstructure to be produced in the substrate;
c) pressing the forming tool surface structured during the structuring of step b) into a viscous glass or plastic substrate;
d) during the pressing of step c), generating an under pressure that acts on the open pore structure of the base body (1) in order to draw glass or plastic material to the forming tool surface and thus help form the microstructure;
e) after the microstructure has been formed in the substrate in steps c) and d), removing the forming tool from the viscous glass or plastic substrate; and
f) during the removing of step e), generating an overpressure that acts on the open pore structure of the base body to assist in the removing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A forming tool for making a microstructure in a glass or plastic surface by hot-forming technology, said forming tool comprising a base body (1), an operative layer (2) applied to a surface on one side of the base body and means (4,5) for supplying or withdrawing air from another surface on another side of the base body (1) opposite from the one side on which the operative layer (2) is applied,
wherein said base body (1) comprises a porous base material with an open pore structure and said operative layer (2) comprises a gas-impermeable material structured according to a negative of the microstructure to be produced by the forming tool in order to form depressions or grooves (11) that extend through the operative layer (2) to the base material with the open pore structure.
Specification