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US 11,686,012 B2Granted
Mandrel for electroforming
AssigneeUnison Industries, LLC
InventorsGordon Tajiri, Emily Marie Phelps, Dattu G V Jonnalagadda, Joseph Richard Schmitt, Yanzhe Yang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for a mandrel used during an electroforming process. The mandrel is formed of a structural wax and includes a metallic layer utilized to formulate a metal component. During the electroforming process, the mandrel is actively cooled utilizing a closed loop. The closed loop includes the mandrel and a heat exchanger through which a coolant flows.
Claims21
An electroforming system for forming a component with an electroforming process, the electroforming system comprising:
- an electrodeposition bath tank including an electrolytic fluid;
- an anode provided in the electrolytic fluid within the electrodeposition bath tank;
- a mandrel provided in the electrolytic fluid within the electrodeposition bath tank, wherein the mandrel is made of a reclaimable material that is adapted to be removed from inside the component after formation of the component, wherein the electrodeposition bath tank is adapted to operate at a first temperature according to an electrodeposition process, wherein a second temperature is associated with softening or deflection of the reclaimable material, wherein the first temperature is greater than the second temperature;
- a cathode, provided as an electrically conductive coating on the mandrel, forming a circuit with the anode and the electrolytic fluid;
- a cooling channel extending through the mandrel, having an inlet and an outlet, with the cooling channel fluidly isolated from the mandrel;
- and
- a set of coolant tubes passing through the electrodeposition bath tank and fluidly coupled to the cooling channel at the inlet and the outlet, the set of coolant tubes configured to provide a coolant to the mandrel and to remove the coolant from the mandrel to actively cool the mandrel during use of the electroforming system;
- wherein the coolant is adapted to have a third temperature that is less than the second temperature.
5 more elements
An electroforming system for forming a monolithic component with an electroforming process, the electroforming system comprising:
- an electrodeposition bath including an electrolytic fluid at a first temperature provided within a bath tank;
- a circuit including an anode and a cathode provided in the electrodeposition bath;
- a mandrel having a conductive coating defining the cathode, the mandrel made of a reclaimable material that is adapted to be removed from inside the monolithic component after formation of the monolithic component and provided in the electrodeposition bath wherein a second temperature is associated with softening or deflection of the reclaimable material, wherein the second temperature is less than the first temperature, and wherein the mandrel defines a body upon which the monolithic component is formed;
- a cooling channel extending through the mandrel fluidly isolated from the electrodeposition bath;
- and
- a coolant tube passing through the electrodeposition bath and fluidly coupled to the cooling channel, the coolant tube configured to provide a coolant to the cooling channel in a closed loop to actively cool the mandrel during use of the electroforming system;
- wherein actively cooling the mandrel made of the reclaimable material increases stability of the mandrel against distortions created in the monolithic component from external loads and temperatures which would otherwise deform or melt the mandrel.
4 more elements
An electroforming system for forming a monolithic component with an electroforming process, the electroforming system comprising:
- an electrodeposition bath including an electrolytic fluid at a first temperature provided within a bath tank;
- a circuit including an anode and a cathode provided in the electrodeposition bath;
- a mandrel having a conductive coating defining the cathode, the mandrel made of a reclaimable material that is adapted to be removed from inside the monolithic component after formation of the monolithic component and provided in the electrodeposition bath wherein a second temperature is associated with softening or deflection of the reclaimable material, wherein the second temperature is less than the first temperature, and wherein the mandrel defines a body upon which the monolithic component is formed;
- a cooling channel extending through the mandrel fluidly isolated from the electrodeposition bath;
- and
- a coolant tube passing through the electrodeposition bath and fluidly coupled to the cooling channel, the coolant tube configured to provide a coolant to the cooling channel in a closed loop to actively cool the mandrel during use of the electroforming system, and wherein the coolant is adapted to have a third temperature that is less than the second temperature;
- wherein actively cooling the mandrel made of the reclaimable material increases stability of the mandrel against distortions created in the monolithic component from external loads and temperatures which would otherwise deform or melt the mandrel.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.