Product and method for making a three dimensional amorphous metal mass
A three dimensional amorphous metal mass suitable for milling is formed wrapping amorphous metal ribbon into a three dimensional shape and then applying adhesive to the three dimensional shape. The adhesive permeates the three dimensional shape. The adhesive is then cured. The three dimensional shape is mechanically contained in three dimensions. If the amorphous metal mass is made as a toroid, then it could be processed into a stator. The stator would then be suitable for use in very high frequency electric motors.
1. A method for manufacturing an amorphous metal stator, comprising the steps of:
winding amorphous metal ribbon into a toroid having an inner side surface, an outer side surface, a top, and a bottom;
containing the toroid within a milling assembly, the step of containing the toroid comprising the steps of:
placing an inner ring circumferentially about substantially all of the inner side surface;
placing an outer ring circumferentially about at least a portion of the outer side surface; and
placing a hat on at least a portion of the top;
providing milling grooves within the milling assembly;
applying an adhesive to the toroid;
curing the adhesive;
milling the toroid contained within the milling assembly into a stator shape; and
thermally processing the stator shape into a stator.
2. A method for manufacturing an amorphous metal stator, comprising the steps of:
winding amorphous metal ribbon into a toroid having an inner side surface, an outer side surface, a top, and a bottom;
containing the toroid within a milling assembly, the step of containing the toroid comprising the steps of:
placing an inner ring circumferentially about at least a portion of the inner side surface;
placing an outer ring circumferentially about at least a portion of the outer side surface; and
placing a hat on at least a portion of the top;
applying an adhesive to the toroid;
curing the adhesive;
milling the toroid contained within the milling assembly into a stator shape; and
thermally processing the stator shape into a stator;
wherein the hat, outer ring and inner ring are integral and the hat and outer ring have slots, and the step of milling the toroid into a stator shape includes milling through the slots.
3. A method for manufacturing an amorphous metal stator, comprising the steps of:
winding amorphous metal ribbon into a toroid having an inner side surface, an outer side surface, a top, a bottom, and a winding axis;
containing the toroid within a milling assembly, the step of containing the toroid comprising the steps of:
placing an inner ring circumferentially about at least a portion of the inner side surface;
placing an outer ring circumferentially about at least a portion of the outer side surface; and
placing a hat on at least a portion of the top;
applying an adhesive to the toroid;
curing the adhesive;
milling the toroid contained within the milling assembly into a stator shape; and
thermally processing the stator shape into a stator;
wherein the hat, outer ring, and inner ring are integral and the hat and outer ring have slots, and the step of milling the toroid into a stator shape includes milling through the slots with a cutting tool rotating primarily in an axis perpendicular to the winding axis.
4. A method for manufacturing an amorphous metal stator comprising the steps of:
winding amorphous metal ribbon about a winding axis into a toroid, the toroid having an inner side, an outer side, a top and a bottom;
placing an inner ring on the inner side;
placing an inner containment hat on the top and inner side;
placing an outer containment hat on the top and outer side;
placing a retainer around the outer containment hat;
applying adhesive to the toroid;
curing the adhesive;
milling the toroid into a stator shape; and
thermally processing the stator shape into a stator.
5. The method of claim 4 where the inner containment hat has a plurality of inner containment hat slots and the outer containment hat has a plurality of outer containment hat slots, and the step of milling the toroid into a stator shape comprises milling through the plurality of inner containment hat slots and the plurality of outer containment hat slots.
6. The method of claim 5 including a step of aligning the plurality of inner containment hat slots and the plurality of outer containment hat slots.
7. The method of claim 4 where the step of milling the toroid into a stator shape occurs primarily on an axis perpendicular to the winding axis.
8. The method of claim 4 where the step of milling the toroid into a stator shape occurs exclusively on an axis perpendicular to the winding axis.