Tribological behavior of lubricating tribo-systems for the watch industry - part two

WHY

Some parts in mechanical high quality watches (like Swiss...) perform a slow motion that consists of an increase of contact pressure during some time (a day, for instance) and then a quick release and impact.

They're called cliquet systems, or ratchets, like the ones that drive the day indicator. 

 

HOW

To simulate this particular motion with a simple lab tribometer, we invented a sloped specimen that rotates under a spring loaded countermaterial.  We can run this motion on our Basalt-M rotational tribometer.

By the slope of the specimen, we control the increase of pressure, or load.  By the rotation speed, we control the frequency of loading and unloading/impacting.

These tests can be done on any material, with or without coatings and or lubrication, and evaluate the friction during loading, and the impact damage. 

 

 

  

RESULTS

• Periodic load (pressure) increase over upward slope.  Effect of coatings and lubrication on friction and anti-wear
• Periodic impact on downward valley.  Effect of coatings and lubrication on anti-wear under impact
• The testing parameters can be fined tuned to simulate the actual component conditions.
• Comparison between different lubricants, materials and coatings is possible due to the precision of the sensors.