General process for electropolishing of am parts

Abstract

A method for electropolishing and electroplating surfaces of structures. The method includes inserting a flexible element into an internal volume of a structure, controlling the flexible element to move along an internal volume surface such that a nonconductive feature forms a gap between the internal volume surface and a flexible conductor, and energizing the flexible conductor such that a voltage is applied across the gap. The flexible element may include the flexible conductor and a nonconductive feature. The nonconductive feature may extend from the flexible conductor and may include a polymer, and/or a plurality of features. The features may include bristles or springs or hooks or rings or a combination thereof. The internal volume may include one or more channels, and controlling the flexible element may include manipulating the flexible element to move within any of the channels. The method may include providing a sheath offset from the flexible element.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.