Computer Aided Electroforming. Elecform3D (TM)

Abstract

Electroforming is an electrolytic process that enables the manufacture of metallic parts with good mechanical properties and a high level of accuracy and reproducibility. In this process a thin metallic shell is deposited onto a model part and later released from it. However the two main disadvantages of electroforming are the non-uniform thickness distribution and the high time of processing. Procesos de Fabricacion research group, of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), has been working in the electroforming process and its applications focused on rapid manufacturing techniques, for the last twelve years. Elecform3DTM product is an innovative numerical analysis and simulation tool of electroforming process, based on the boundary elements method, which aims to facilitate design and manufacturing tasks for metallic shells production. This product work enables better thickness uniformity as well as lower time manufacturing, achieving High Speed Electroforming therefore enabling new application fields. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.