A method for fabricating an applique for horology including a visible upper surface, and a lower surface from which protrudes at least one securing foot: a rough piece is made as a straight workpiece; this rough piece is deformed to form a blank so as to form an upper curve; this blank including this feet is machined; this blank is mounted on a tool having a support surface complementary to the lower surface of this blank, a recess for housing each foot, gripping means and/or an adhesive for securing each blank; the upper curve of this blank is machined with at least one final diamond-polishing operation to form this upper surface.

A method is disclosed for roll forming the face pattern onto a pattern forming die having a pattern receiving face, using an initial, and subsequent, pattern forming tool, each with a generally cylindrical pattern defining surface, by relatively and sequentially reciprocating and rotating the pattern defining surfaces and the pattern receiving face while engaging them and urging them to impress the pattern of the pattern defining surfaces into the pattern receiving face of the forming die blank. An apparatus for performing the process is disclosed which includes a platen for the pattern forming die, initial and subsequent pattern forming tools each having a generally cylindrical pattern defining surface, a drive mechanism for relatively and sequentially reciprocating and rotating the pattern defining surfaces and the pattern receiving face of the forming die blank, and relative movement mechanism for engaging the surfaces to impress the pattern of the pattern defining surfaces of the pattern forming tools into the pattern receiving face of the forming die blank.

A method is disclosed for roll forming the face pattern onto a pattern forming die having a pattern receiving face, using an initial, and subsequent, pattern forming tool, each with a generally cylindrical pattern defining surface, by relatively and sequentially reciprocating and rotating the pattern defining surfaces and the pattern receiving face while engaging them and urging them to impress the pattern of the pattern defining surfaces into the pattern receiving face of the forming die blank. An apparatus for performing the process is disclosed which includes a platen for the pattern forming die, initial and subsequent pattern forming tools each having a generally cylindrical pattern defining surface, a drive mechanism for relatively and sequentially reciprocating and rotating the pattern defining surfaces and the pattern receiving face of the forming die blank, and relative movement mechanism for engaging the surfaces to impress the pattern of the pattern defining surfaces of the pattern forming tools into the pattern receiving face of the forming die blank.

The die forming process includes first passing a circular coarse thread cutter over the forming surface of the die at an angle away from parallel to a side edge matching a pitch for coarse threads to be formed by the die. The coarse thread cutter is truncated with a notch within a flattened tip, the notch forming upper portions of crests in the forming surface of the die. A fine thread cutter of circular form is then utilized to cut portions of the root of the dual threaded die. The fine thread cutter is angled relative to side edges of the die at an angle substantially half of an angle at which the coarse thread cutter is angled. The fine thread cutter cuts at a variable depth as the fine thread cutter advances along the root between the crests to form flanks of a bridge within the root.

The die forming process includes first passing a circular coarse thread cutter over the forming surface of the die at an angle away from parallel to a side edge matching a pitch for coarse threads to be formed by the die. The coarse thread cutter is truncated with a notch within a flattened tip, the notch forming upper portions of crests in the forming surface of the die. A fine thread cutter of circular form is then utilized to cut portions of the root of the dual threaded die. The fine thread cutter is angled relative to side edges of the die at an angle substantially half of an angle at which the coarse thread cutter is angled. The fine thread cutter cuts at a variable depth as the fine thread cutter advances along the root between the crests to form flanks of a bridge within the root.

A crack-proof screw includes a thread formed around a shank. A helical notch continuously and helically extends along the shank and is indented into the shank and the thread. The helical notch is proximal to but spaced apart from a tip of the shank. The notch is trapezoidal in cross section, and has a notch bottom, an open end opening at an outer peripheral surface of the shank oppositely of the notch bottom, and two opposite notch walls extending divergingly from the notch bottom to the open end. The open end is larger in width than the notch bottom. A method of making the screw is also disclosed.

A crack-proof screw includes a thread formed around a shank. A helical notch continuously and helically extends along the shank and is indented into the shank and the thread. The helical notch is proximal to but spaced apart from a tip of the shank. The notch is trapezoidal in cross section, and has a notch bottom, an open end opening at an outer peripheral surface of the shank oppositely of the notch bottom, and two opposite notch walls extending divergingly from the notch bottom to the open end. The open end is larger in width than the notch bottom. A method of making the screw is also disclosed.

A method and system for increasing damping capacity in a mechanical fastener by utilizing dry friction between individual wires of a sheathed rope is disclosed. For metal fasteners, the sheathed rope is inserted loosely into a thick-walled metal tube. The tube is then rolled to reduce the tube diameter, thereby uniformly embedding the rope into the tube material. The tube is then subjected to either cold or hot forming. After forming, the fastener blank may be threaded. For composite or plastic fasteners, the sheathed rope includes insert locators attached to the sheathing. The sheathed rope having the insert locators is placed in the mold cavity prior to the polymerizable material being injected into the mold. Regardless of the embodiment, the resulting fastener has increased damping due to the dry inter-wire friction within the embedded rope which develops between the surfaces of individual wires upon dynamic loading of a fastened joint.

The die forming process includes first passing a circular coarse thread cutter over the forming surface of the die at an angle away from parallel to a side edge matching a pitch for coarse threads to be formed by the die. The coarse thread cutter is truncated with a notch within a flattened tip, the notch forming upper portions of crests in the forming surface of the die. A fine thread cutter of circular form is then utilized to cut portions of the root of the dual threaded die. The fine thread cutter is angled relative to side edges of the die at an angle substantially half of an angle at which the coarse thread cutter is angled. The fine thread cutter cuts at a variable depth as the fine thread cutter advances along the root between the crests to form flanks of a bridge within the root.

The die forming process includes first passing a circular coarse thread cutter over the forming surface of the die at an angle away from parallel to a side edge matching a pitch for coarse threads to be formed by the die. The coarse thread cutter is truncated with a notch within a flattened tip, the notch forming upper portions of crests in the forming surface of the die. A fine thread cutter of circular form is then utilized to cut portions of the root of the dual threaded die. The fine thread cutter is angled relative to side edges of the die at an angle substantially half of an angle at which the coarse thread cutter is angled. The fine thread cutter cuts at a variable depth as the fine thread cutter advances along the root between the crests to form flanks of a bridge within the root.