Marcus Hanke[PuristSPro Moderator]
11515
Ulysse Nardin presents: InnoVision (some technical details and illustrations)
Aug 30, 2007,12:55 PM
Ulysse Nardin
InnoVision
10
technological innovations united in one watch perfectly sum up Ulysse
Nardin’s vision on the future of mechanical watchmaking.
Pioneering.
Ulysse
Nardin has presented quite a number of “World’s Firsts“ in the past
years, and many of them have used the „Freak“ as a showcase.
- The “Freak“ was the first watch with a silicium escapement. It was commercialized in 2001.
- Some Freak prototypes housed the first hairspring made of polycrystalline diamond which showed astonishing elasticity.
- The “Dual Ulysse“ escapement with parts made of nickel-phosphor (NiP) and silicium (2005)
- The first watch with an escapement made of polycrystalline diamond was commercialized in 2005
- Escapement components made of silicium can be used as skeletons to “grow” on them polycrystalline diamonds
The succession of “Freak” models illustrates the continuous technological developments at Ulysse Nardin!
An Evolution in Technology.
For
many decades and till today movement components are being machined out
of brass, steel and rubies and during this long period of technological
stability traditional manufacturers have perfected the processes and
their skills almost to perfection.
Ulysse
Nardin has analyzed new technologies used in other industries and
adapted them to the specific requirements for making high quality
movement components. After the decision was taken to make our own
in-house movements we studied the materials, technologies and
scientific processes used in other micro-technical industries.
It soon became clear that manufacturing processes incorporating selective photolithography are the technologies to opt for.
Ulysse
Nardin was determined to invest in technologies and materials of the
future, pioneering new processes and taking an active role in the
development of our industry. By mastering these new techniques and
technologies, we secured for the company a future coupled with some
independence which is of strategic importance.
“DRIE“
(Deep Reactive Ion Etching) and „LIGA“ (lithography, electroplating and
molding) technologies are both completely new solutions to design and
produce watch movement components of superior performance. These
technologies offer possibilities which seemed unthinkable a few years
ago.
Silicium escapements - and what else?
The excellent “dry” friction coefficient of silicium works not only on silicium, but also on steel.
Let’s
be creative: Let’s use the new technologies to produce components in a
completely new way and exploit the new possibilities to their full
extent.
What
if we combined the three positive characteristics of silicium: high
flexibility, low friction and perfect engineering precision?
All three considerations are part of our vision and are actually incorporated in our concept watch ”InnoVision”.
Lubrification free mechanical movements – no oil, no solid lubrification or coatings.
Many colleagues and competitors have been working on this objective for decades.
A movement working literally forever, not requiring any maintenance at all, must be every watch engineer’s dream.
Ulysse
Nardin is not alone in the pursuit of a solution to this problem, and
we appreciate every step taken in this direction – including those of
our competitors. The approach to apply a durable dry coating of a
non-displacing lubricant is very interesting, and we take our hat off
to the engineers of Jaeger-LeCoultre, also for their intensive research
on the oscillator to improve precision.
- Nivarox presented “Lubrifar” in the early 1970’s, a layer of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). The
use of MoS2 has greatly progressed since then, and many other kinds of
lubrifying coatings (layers) have been developed and sometimes even put
into use.
-
Tissot’s Astrolon created a sensation with its plastic mobiles
(Polyoxymethylene) directly running on steel pins with no lubrication
at all.
The solution proposed by Ulysse Nardin differs radically from all others:
We
combine the precision of silicium etching (DRIE), the precision and
mechanical resistance of nickel (LIGA), the elastic properties of
silicium and its low dry friction coefficient with the fabulous
potential of the multi level processing technology developed by
Sigatec. Low friction without lubrication is just one aspect in our
„InnoVision“.
Barrel on ball bearings.
Innovation 1: Mainspring barrel on ball bearings
In
the “Freak 28'800” (commercialized since April, 2005) the barrel turns
in a ball bearing which assures both a better vertical and horizontal
control and a considerable decrease in friction. This bearing is not
lubricated.
Of
course this is no exclusivity; ball bearings are widely used in winding
rotors for instance. Ulysse Nardin has been using ball bearings in the
Astrolabium since 1985. If the materials are carefully chosen in
correspondence to the turnings speeds and pressures involved, there is
no need for lubrication.
„Dual Ulysse“ escapement.
Innovation 2: Dual Ulysse escapement
This
lubricant-free escapement, available since 2005, can be produced in
silicium, nickel-phosphor, diamond and diamond-coated silicium (DCS).
For use in our “InnoVision” watch we chose silicium. This escapement
has a remarkably small angle of lift (31 degrees). The “Dual Ulysse”
escapement is an exclusive invention of Prof. Ludwig Oechslin and Lucas
Humair. We chose this escapement for use in our “InnoVision” for its
innovative design and its performance.
Silicium bearings.
Innovation 3: Silicium bearings
The
most simple and straightforward way to benefit from the low friction
coefficient of silicium is to change from the traditional bearing
jewels with oil grooves to new bearings made in silicium – without oil
grooves. They run dry.
We
could have substituted the rubies with plastic compounds (POM),
ceramics or bronze. We could have coated bearing surfaces by means of
PVD or CVD or apply a non-evaporative coat of lubricant. Some
competitors have done so, quite successfully. At Ulysse Nardin we
decided to choose the direct contact of stainless steel on silicium
oxide.
DRIE precision and low friction advantages put together.
Innovation 4: Ultra-high precision in shaping plates and bridges
The
exact position of the turning or swivel point of a staff is very
important. By producing a complete movement bridge in silicium, Ulysse
Nardin has killed two birds with one stone.
This
world premiere is of great importance for the whole industry, because
in the near future this technology will no doubt make its way into
other watches. The precision of bearing holes in a monolithic silicium
bridge is five times more accurate than in a conventionally drilled
brass bridge set with jewels. Another advantage: Due to the lack of an
oil groove necessitating a relatively huge circumference of the jewel,
the designer can put his bearing holes much closer to the exterior of a
bridge.
Another step ahead: How to reinforce a silicium bridge.
Innovation 5: Composite bridge
Sometimes
a base plate or a bridge has to endure mechanical loads beyond the
capacity of pure silicium. If so the bridge must be reinforced.
In
cooperation with Sigatec and Mimotec Ulysse Nardin has developed a
better solution: A bridge composed of two materials, using DRIE and
LIGA processes in a unique new way.
A
precisely etched silicon wafer serves as the initial “skeleton” for a
hard and resistant nickel structure, made with the LIGA process. The
part made with this technique benefits from the best characteristics of
each material and process:
- the photolithographic process stands for high precision.
- silicon stands for a good friction coefficient.
- nickel stands for tough mechanical properties.
This
“World’s First” is a good example for the successful combination of
positive properties of different materials without their shortcomings.
Exploiting the elasticity of silicium.
Innovation 6: Revolutionary new one-piece silicium shock absorbing system
The
fact that silicium reacts with great elasticity towards mechanical
loads is widely known and appreciated, as are the material’s superior
dry friction properties. Ulysse Nardin’s engineers make full use of
this material advantage and developed a flexible bearing keeping shocks
away from the balance wheel:
A classic shock absorbing system consists of five micro elements.
In our silicium shock absorber a single monolithic element takes over the tasks of the spring, bearing and endstone.
It
is a world premiere of an extraordinary simplification of a complex
micro-system thanks to a new technology and the use of new materials.
The
end of the balance staff turns directly in a cavity in the middle of
the silicium disc. The circumference of this disc is shaped like a
spring so it can deflect and absorb an impact. The disc returns to its
initial position with no friction at all: it just springs back into
shape. In a classical shock absorbing system the bearing jewel has to
overcome considerable friction to return to its initial position in a
conical or flat seat.
It is known that the elastic properties of silicium can also be used in a hairspring.
Many
colleagues have tried to replace the standard Nivarox alloy with other
variations of the basic Invar material. Since 2000 Ulysse Nardin has
been conducting research and experimental work on this subject, and we
have produced hairsprings in diamond, in silicium and even in diamond
coated silicium (DCS).
The silicium hairspring is an excellent solution and we have the know-how to produce it.
New production processes.
While
silicium processing in the field of micro-electronics has evolved
considerably over the past 50 years, developments in the field of
micro-mechanics have only just begun to gain momentum.
Sigatec
is very active in developing and perfecting a new process enabling the
production of micro-components in one piece, where traditional
manufacturing methods require several components to make the final
piece:
Roller and Pin.
Innovation 8: One-piece Roller and Pin
The
roller of a balance wheel may look like a simple piece of metal. In
fact it is a highly complex precision-machined part, subject to a
delicate stamping process and finally set with a precisely shaped ruby
pin, which few companies in the trade are able to produce. Thanks to
the new double-side approach to the workpiece optimized by Sigatec,
Ulysse Nardin can now present a roller plate perfectly and precisely
manufactured in one piece.
This
world premiere is good news for the watch industry - especially for
those companies that are unable to produce roller plates in the
traditional way.
The horns of the stopper fork and the security pin in the “Dual Ulysse” escapement.
Innovation 9: One-piece horns and pin
This
is another example of a simple-looking component which is very
difficult to manufacture in the classic methods. Thanks to the new
double-side approach this component can be manufactured in one solid
piece which requires no additional touch-ups of the security pin.
As
with the anchor of the Swiss anchor escapement the alignment of the
security pin is crucial for a good and trouble-free function. Perfect
alignment is ensured by the DRIE etching process; the only source for
misalignment lies in the positioning of the etching masks. No finishing
touches are necessary.
This
world premiere is very important for the general recognition of
silicium as an ideal material to manufacture escapement components.
The
two level process developed by Sigatec is the third example in the
evolution of ion etching. Ulysse Nardin fitted its InnoVision concept
watch with escapement wheel and pinion produced in one piece.
Innovation 10: Two-level process in production of escapement wheel with pinion
Gears
in watch movements are composed of a brass wheel with a pressed-in or
riveted steel staff with a pinion. Some mechanisms even require
specific angular positioning of the wheel in relation to the pinion.
Thus producing a wheel-pinion unit in one piece is a big advantage.
There is no necessity for the Freak to be fitted with such a
wheel-pinion unit, we did so simply to demonstrate this innovative
device. It will no doubt inspire designers of mechanical movements all
over the world.
The concept watch „InnoVision“ of ULYSSE NARDIN .
We
are proud to share today our visions and achievements with you. Without
a doubt our industry will continue to evolve – in more than one way –,
but it is important to us to include in our vision all new materials
and technologies that have a potential to improve our products and
mechanical watches in general.
The
technologies and materials used in the „InnoVision“ are neither
marketing gimmicks nor “art for art’s sake”. Instead they have a
fundamental technical reason:
- not only to overcome lubrication
- not only to benefit from the precision of the process
- not only because of the simplification of the process due to double-sided or two-level approach to make a component.
- not only for the sake of combining LIGA and DRIE technologies
- but for all of the aforementioned reasons.
Mechanical
watchmaking is alive and booming: Several colleagues are developing new
concepts, and after decades of copying the “Old Masters” imagination is
back reveling in innovation. ULYSSE NARDIN no doubt contributed its
share to the evolution in mechanical timepieces.
ULYSSE NARDIN will continue to opt for modern technologies to improve its products.
We
are very optimistic about these innovations as the initial tests
produced extremely positive results – way above expectations. All 10 in novations
work simultaneously in our “InnoVision” and make it a perfect example
of the dynamic forces at work in the mechanical watch industry.
Text and pictures: (c) Ulysse Nardin
This message has been edited by Marcus Hanke on 2007-08-30 13:42:29