JIS defines electroforming is production or duplication method for metal products by electroplating, which electroplates 1-5mm thick layer on a model (or mandrel) and transcribes the model’s outer shape accurately.
An electroformed shell with the model removed is backed in a certain way according to molding methods and is used for each kind of plastic molding tool (electroformed tool).
Tools made by transcribing models includes…Type to pour into
- Epoxy resin mold
- Epoxy resin is curing agent used for adhesion.
- Gypsum pattern
- Gypsum is mineral used for molds such as sculptures and craftworks.
- Silicon mold
- Silicon is synthetic high polymer often seen in everyday life.
Type to spray
- Sprayed tool
- Spraying is a kind of coating technology to deposit films.
Type using electric power
- Electroformed tool
- Electroforming is a method of metal plating on a tool using electric power.
… and so on. Among these, we think electroforming is of the highest quality.
We electroform thick layer (usually 3-5mm) and invert the metal layer
We mainly use nickel as well as nickel alloy and copper.
Since we do not use mold release (precisely we put several microns thick conductive layer), we can have precise inversion.
This inverted metal shell is called an electroformed shell. This as it is can be used (for rotational and slush molding). It can also be used (for injection and RIM molding) with a certain kind of backing.
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| Normal Nickel>Learn more | Porous Nickel>Learn more |
Super Porous Nickel>Learn more |
Mesh Pold>Learn more |
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| Material | Copper | Nickel | Cobalt Nickel |
Nickel | Nickel | Nickel |
| Thickness(mm) | <20 | <20 | <1 | <5 | <5 | <10 |
| Gravity | 8.7 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 |
| Melting Point(℃) | 1100 | 1450 | 1450 | 1450 | 1450 | |
| Thermal expansion (×10 − 6) |
16.8 | 13.3 | 13.3 | 13.3 | 13.3 | |
| Specific Heat | 0.09 | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.11 | |
| Thermal Conductivity (cal/cm･sec･℃) |
0.82 | 0.22 | 0.22 | 0.22 | 0.22 | |
| Tensile Strength (kg/mm²) |
30 | 50 | 90 | |||
| Hardness(HRC) | 50 Vickers |
25 | 40 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Surface Accuracy | <±0.5µm | <±0.5µm | <±0.5µm | <±0.5µm | <±0.5µm | <±１mm |
| Applicable Shape | Unrestraint | Unrestraint | Unrestraint | Unrestraint | Unrestraint | Unrestraint |
| Dimension | Depend on electroplating tank | Depend on electroplating tank | Depend on electroplating tank | Depend on electroplating tank | Depend on electroplating tank | Depend on electroplating tank |
| Corrosion Resistance | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Mold Releasability | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | |
| Micropore Size(mm) | 0.1～0.5 | 0.03～0.1 | >0.1 | |||
| Micropore Density | 3～5 | 3～5 | ||||
| Location of Micropores | Arbitrary | Arbitrary | ||||
| Porosity Rate(%) | 0.001～1 | 0.001～1 | 1～30 | |||
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