Method of producing a hollow metal member and an electroforming apparatus for performing the method

Abstract

A method of producing a hollow metal member and an apparatus for producing the same wherein a hollow metal member has uniform thickness of the electrodeposited metal material on the core wires, uniform outer diameter and high accuracy of roundness and coaxiality. The method of producing a hollow metal member according to the present invention comprises the steps of: holding a conductive core wire as a material to be electrodeposited and one of an electrodeposit metal material and a metallic mesh basket for accommodating the electrodeposit metal material in a state horizontally opposed from each other; connecting a cathode of a power source to at least both end portions of the core wire; connecting an anode of the power source to at least both end portions of one of the electrodeposit metal material and the metallic mesh wire basket for accommodating the electrodeposit metal material; immersing one of the electrodeposit metal material and the metallic mesh basket and the core wire in an electrolytic cell charged with electrolytic solution; depositing the electrodeposit metal material on a surface of the core wire which is rotated in the electrolytic cell in a state of applying an electric power by means of electroforming to form an electroformed product; and removing the core wire from the electroformed product having a predetermined thickness.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of producing a hollow metal member comprising the steps of: 
 holding a conductive core wire as a material to be electrodeposited and one of an electrodeposit metal material and a metallic mesh basket for accommodating the electrodeposit metal material in a state horizontally opposed from each other;    connecting a cathode of a power source to at least both end portions of said core wire;    connecting an anode of the power source to at least both end portions of one of said electrodeposit metal material and said metallic mesh wire basket for accommodating the electrodeposit metal material;    immersing one of said electrodeposit metal material and said metallic mesh basket and said core wire in an electrolytic cell charged with electrolytic solution;    depositing said electrodeposit metal material on a surface of said core wire which is rotated in the electrolytic cell in a state of applying an electric power by means of electroforming to form an electroformed product; and    removing said core wire from said electroformed product having a predetermined thickness.    
     
     
         2 . A method of producing a hollow metal member comprising the steps of: 
 installing a plurality of electrolytic cells;    in one of said one electrolytic cells, holding a conductive core wire as a material to be electrodeposited and one of an electrodeposit metal material and a metallic mesh basket for accommodating the electrodeposit metal material in a state horizontally opposed from each other, connecting a cathode of a power source to at least both end portions of said core wire, connecting an anode of the power source to at least both end portions of one of said electrodeposit metal material and said metallic mesh wire basket for accommodating the electrodeposit metal material, immersing one of said electrodeposit metal material and said metallic mesh basket and said core wire in an electrolytic cell charged with electrolytic solution, and depositing said electrodeposit metal material on a surface of said core wire which is rotated in the electrolytic cell in a state of applying an electric power by means of electroforming;    repeatedly performing said electroforming in other electrolytic cells one after another until an electroformed product has a predetermined thickness; and    removing said core wire from said electroformed product.    
     
     
         3 . The method of producing a hollow metal member as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein in electroforming in each of electrolytic cell, at least one of current or voltage applying to at least one of said electrodeposit metal material and said metallic mesh basket for accommodating the electrodeposit metal material is changed gradually from a low current or a low voltage.  
     
     
         4 . The method of producing a hollow metal member as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein in electroforming in each of electrolytic cell, at least one of current or voltage applying to said core wire is changed gradually from a low current or a low voltage.  
     
     
         5 . An electroforming apparatus comprising: 
 an electrolytic cell charged with electrolytic solution;    a power source;    means for holding a conductive core wire as a material to be electrodeposited and one of an electrodeposit metal material and a metallic mesh basket for accommodating the electrodeposit metal material in a state horizontally opposed from each other;    means for connecting a cathode of the power source to at least both end portions of said core wire;    means for connecting an anode of the power source to at least both end portions of one of said electrodeposit metal material and said metallic mesh wire basket for accommodating the electrodeposit metal material;    means for moving one of said electrodeposit metal material and said metallic mesh basket and said core wire in the electrolytic cell;    means for rotating said core wire in the electrolytic cell in a state of applying electric power from the power source to deposit said electrodeposit metal material on a surface of said core wire and form an electroformed product; and    means for removing said core wire from said electroformed product having a predetermined thickness.    
     
     
         6 . The electroforming apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein a plurality of electrolytic cells and means for transporting said core wire to the plurality of electrolytic cells one after another are mounted; and in each electrolytic cell, a conductive core wire as a material to be electrodeposited and one of an electrodeposit metal material and a metallic mesh basket for accommodating the electrodeposit metal material are held in a state horizontally opposed from each other, said electrodeposit metal material is deposited on a surface of said core wire which is rotated in the electrolytic cell in a state of applying an electric power by means of electroforming to gradually increase thickness of said electrodeposit metal material on the surface of said core wire.  
     
     
         7 . The electroforming apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  further comprising; 
 means for holding a plurality of core wires in a state horizontally opposed to one of said electrodeposit metal material and said metallic mesh basket for accommodating the electrodeposit metal material; and  
 means for moving said core wire holding mean to each of said electrolytic cells.  
 
     
     
         8 . The electroforming apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein current/voltage controlling means is provided to change a value of at least one of a current and a voltage to be applied to said core wire.  
     
     
         9 . The electroforming apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein current/voltage controlling means is provided to change a value of at least one of a current and a voltage to be applied to one of said electrodeposit metal material and said metallic mesh basket for accommodating the electrodeposit metal material.  
     
     
         10 . The electroforming apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein current/voltage controlling means is provided to change a value of at least one of a current and a voltage to be applied to one of said electrodeposit metal material and said metallic mesh basket for accommodating the electrodeposit metal material.  
     
     
         11 . The electroforming apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein current/voltage controlling means is provided to change a value of at least one of a current and a voltage to be applied to said core wire.