Precision Machining Technology For Metal Coating Edge With Functional Pattern On Engineering Plastics Surface

With the rapid development of science and technology, the demand of parts with functional patterned metal coating on engineering plastics surface is continuously increasing in the fields of aerospace, electronic information, etc. Due to coating pattern’s tiny feature size, high strength and stiffness, excellent thermal and chemical stability, typical product such as microstrip antennas and high-frequency printed circuit boards are applied as important parts of electronics, aerospace and other high-tech industries. Therefore, the study on the precision machining equipment and processing technology for the metal coating on engineering plastics has important and practical value for improving the metal coating process technology ability.Laser and micro-milling technology have become main points in the research of micro-machining in recent years for their high precision. In this paper, focus on the limitation that conventional etching technique is difficult to machine the metal coating on Copper-clad polyimide (CCPI) with three-dimensional structure precisely and integrally, an effective way combining laser and micro-milling is proposed to solve this problem. A precise five-axis laser/micro-milling machine tool has been developed to realize the precise machining for CCPI helical antenna parts. The main contents in this paper are as follows:Firstly, based on a brief introduction of the mechanical system of the five-axis platform displacement, a motion control system is designed and the control cabinet is build. After the debugging and error compensation, the precision displacement of the platform is achieved. This lays the foundation for machining three-dimensional parts precisely.Secondly, based on SIEMENS840D slCNC system, the control methods of laser remote switching signal and output power is designed. The control strategy that altering the laser output power to obtain the same ablation depth according to current path speed is realized. An experiment has made to verify the laser control system. The micro-milling control system and tool change mode are designed. By designing the laser and micro-milling systems, the precise five-axis laser/micro-milling machine tool’s overall function is achieved.Finally, taking the importance of micro-milling as the finishing operations into account, burr’s classification and measurement methods by domestic and foreign scholars are summarized. The experimental study on micro-milling straight and spiral groove on CCPI is carried out, and the influence of different cutting parameters on the burr size is discussed. At last a small CCPI planar spiral antenna is fabricated. Experimental results indicate that this machine tool is suitable for manufacturing copper coating and has stable performance and high reliability.