Thermal Bending Simulation and Experimental Study of 3D Ultra-Thin Glass Components for Smartwatches

The heating system is an essential component of the glass molding process. It is responsible for heating the glass to an appropriate temperature, allowing it to soften and be easily molded. However, the energy consumption of the heating system becomes particularly significant in large-scale production. This study utilized G-11 glass for the simulation analysis and developed a finite element model for the thermal conduction of a 3D ultra-thin glass molding system, as well as a thermal bending model for smartwatches. Using finite element software, the heat transfer between the mold and the glass was modeled, and the temperature distribution and thermal stress under various processing conditions were predicted. The findings of the simulation, when subjected to a numerical analysis, showed that heating rate techniques significantly affect energy consumption. This study devised a total of four heating strategies. Upon comparison, optimizing with heating strategy 4, which applies an initial heating rate of 35 mJ/(mm