A method for shearing a plurality of layered amorphous alloy foils 28 includes blanking the plurality of amorphous alloy foils 28 with a shear tool having a punch 12 and a die 14 through one descending of the punch 12. The punch 12 has a first edge E1 formed on a tip surface 12a of the punch 12 and a second edge E2 formed on a side peripheral surface 12b of the punch 12. A horizontal distance l between the first edge E1 and the side peripheral surface 12b and a vertical distance h between the second edge E2 and the tip surface 12a are each set in a range of 0.010 mm to 0.050 mm. A vertical distance h is set to 52% or less of the thickness of each amorphous alloy foil 28.

A system and method of increasing a dwell time in a foil stamping press is provided. The dwell time is readily adjusted on the fly by the user for a given operating rate. A timer is used to adjust the press to stop on top dead center with changes in images per hour. An air clutch and an original equipment air brake are used in tandem to provide the desired dwell time. A pair of timers governs a pneumatic switch for control of the air clutch and the air brake. The present system and method increase die image area capacity as compared to conventional foil stamping presses. The increased dwell time press yields a flawless foil stamped image for an impression pressure less than that required in a conventional machine for a given die, mounted at a given height upon a stationary platen, and at a given temperature.

A system and method of increasing a dwell time in a foil stamping press is provided. The dwell time is readily adjusted on the fly by the user for a given operating rate. A timer is used to adjust the press to stop on top dead center with changes in images per hour. An air clutch and an original equipment air brake are used in tandem to provide the desired dwell time. A pair of timers governs a pneumatic switch for control of the air clutch and the air brake. The present system and method increase die image area capacity as compared to conventional foil stamping presses. The increased dwell time press yields a flawless foil stamped image for an impression pressure less than that required in a conventional machine for a given die, mounted at a given height upon a stationary platen, and at a given temperature.

An austenitic stainless steel foil 2 with a thickness equal to or less than 300 m is disposed to face a punch 12, and the stainless steel foil 2 is subjected to drawing in a state in which an annular region 2a of the stainless steel foil 2 that is in contact with a shoulder portion 12d of the punch 12 is set to a temperature up to 30 C. and an external region 2b outside the annular region 2a is set to a temperature of from 40 C. to 100 C.

An austenitic stainless steel foil 2 with a thickness equal to or less than 300 m is disposed to face a punch 12, and the stainless steel foil 2 is subjected to drawing in a state in which an annular region 2a of the stainless steel foil 2 that is in contact with a shoulder portion 12d of the punch 12 is set to a temperature up to 30 C. and an external region 2b outside the annular region 2a is set to a temperature of from 40 C. to 100 C.

A method of forming a lithium or sodium foil for use as an electrode involves imposing a surface texturing that is predominately the {110} or {100} crystallographic orientation. For a Li {110} foil, a raw foil with a thickness of about 600 m is heated to about 90 C. to randomize the crystallographic orientation and the foil is rolled to about 300 m upon cooling. The rolled film is then scraped of about 50 m of the lithium surface and heated to about 75 C. and rolled a second time to about 200 m, and again cooled to room temperature. The cooled foil can be shaped into the electrode. The electrode can be employed in a battery to greatly extend the life of the battery relative to a lithium battery with a lithium anode that lacks the surface texturing. The alkali metal can be lithium electrochemically deposited on 3D scaffold such as carbon cloth with the deposited alkali metal maintaining the {110} texture.

A method of forming a lithium or sodium foil for use as an electrode involves imposing a surface texturing that is predominately the {110} or {100} crystallographic orientation. For a Li {110} foil, a raw foil with a thickness of about 600 m is heated to about 90 C. to randomize the crystallographic orientation and the foil is rolled to about 300 m upon cooling. The rolled film is then scraped of about 50 m of the lithium surface and heated to about 75 C. and rolled a second time to about 200 m, and again cooled to room temperature. The cooled foil can be shaped into the electrode. The electrode can be employed in a battery to greatly extend the life of the battery relative to a lithium battery with a lithium anode that lacks the surface texturing. The alkali metal can be lithium electrochemically deposited on 3D scaffold such as carbon cloth with the deposited alkali metal maintaining the {110} texture.