Electroforming with electroless nickel?

[MTPortugal]

Dear all

I know that electroforming is a technolgy in quick development in the rapid tooling industry and aerospacial industry. I have a few questions i would like to be anwsered:
- Does electroless Nickel can be used as a potential deposit, in electroforming?
- where can i find reliable documentation relating electroforming?
- About the viability of adapting a electrolytic coating line for the purpose of electroforming.
- other markets to explore

Thanks in advance

Paulo

 

[MikeHalloran]

Electroformiing is old technology. It's just electroplating, in which you remove the substrate after the plating gets thick enough to support itself.

Electroless nickel is applied chemically, without electricity. The resulting coating is metallic nickel. I have the impression in my head that it's self- limiting, which gives a uniform deposit, and would prevent formation of a thick deposit, but I don't know if that's intentional or can be changed.

I'm sure that your plating chemical supplier can bury you in information, on request.




Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[israelkk]

Servometer company