Manufacturing method of ferrule

Abstract

An electroforming manufacturing method of a ferrule is provided, in which a position of the ferrule is accurately fixed while machining and fitting. In this method, even when the ferrule is a multiple-core type ferrule, a center portion thereof has sufficient strength. In the manufacturing method of a ferrule using electroforming, at least one dummy line is disposed in the vicinity of an electrode line. A positioning line used for accurately connecting the ferrules to each other, and another positioning line used as a reference position in machining the outside shape of the ferrule are also disposed in the vicinity of the electrode line and the dummy line, if necessary. Electroforming is carried out in this condition, and then the dummy line and positioning lines are taken out from an electroformed element to form a through hole to serve as positioning holes or to insert an optical fiber.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for manufacturing a ferrule comprising the steps of: 
 immersing a negative electrode line and a positive electrode in an electroforming fluid in an electroforming bath;    disposing at least one dummy line in the vicinity of the negative electrode line;    depositing metal on the negative electrode line by electroforming to form a cylindrical electroformed element in such a manner that the negative electrode line and the dummy line are integrally embedded in the electroformed element; and    taking out at least the dummy line from the electroformed element to form a through hole for inserting an optical fiber, to obtain the ferrule made of the electroformed element.    
     
     
         2 . The method for manufacturing a ferrule according  claim 1 , wherein the dummy line to be taken out from the electroformed element is subjected to an insulation treatment.  
     
     
         3 . The method for manufacturing a ferrule according to  claim 1 , wherein the dummy line to be taken out from the electroformed element is made of an electrical insulating material.  
     
     
         4 . A method for manufacturing a ferrule comprising the steps of: 
 immersing a negative electrode line and a positive electrode in an electroforming fluid in an electroforming bath;    disposing at least one dummy line in the vicinity of the negative electrode line and disposing at least one positioning line in the vicinity of the dummy line;    depositing metal on the negative electrode line by electroforming to form a cylindrical electroformed element in such a manner that the negative electrode line, the dummy line, and the positioning line are integrally embedded in the electroformed element;    taking out at least the dummy line, out of the negative electrode line and the dummy line, from the electroformed element to form a through hole for inserting an optical fiber; and    taking out the positioning line from the electroformed element to form a positioning hole used when the ferrule is fitted into another ferrule, thereby to obtain the ferrule made of the electroformed element.    
     
     
         5 . The method for manufacturing a ferrule according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the ferrule is used as a socket; and    a plug pin of a second ferrule is inserted into the positioning hole of the ferrule.    
     
     
         6 . The method for manufacturing a ferrule according to  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a plug pin fixedly attached to the positioning hole, wherein said plug pin is to be inserted into and fitted to a positioning hole of a second ferrule.    
     
     
         7 . The method for manufacturing a ferrule according to  claim 4 , wherein the dummy line and the positioning line to be taken out from the electroformed element is subjected to an insulation treatment.  
     
     
         8 . The method for manufacturing a ferrule according to  claim 4 , wherein the dummy line and the positioning line to be taken out from the electroformed element is made of an electrical insulating material.  
     
     
         9 . A method for manufacturing a ferrule comprising the steps of: 
 immersing a negative electrode line and a positive electrode in an electroforming fluid in an electroforming bath;    disposing at least one dummy line in the vicinity of the negative electrode line and disposing at least one positioning line in the vicinity of the dummy line;    depositing metal on the negative electrode line by electroforming to form a cylindrical electroformed element in such a manner that the negative electrode line, the dummy line, and the positioning line are integrally embedded in the electroformed element;    taking out at least the dummy line, out of the negative electrode line and the dummy line, from the electroformed element to form a through hole for inserting an optical fiber; and    taking out the positioning line from the electroformed element to form a positioning hole used for adjusting a position of the electroformed element when an outside shape thereof is machined, thereby to obtain the ferrule made of the electroformed element.    
     
     
         10 . The method for manufacturing a ferrule according to  claim 9 , wherein the dummy line and the positioning line to be taken out from the electroformed element is subjected to an insulation treatment.  
     
     
         11 . The method for manufacturing a ferrule according to  claim 9 , wherein the dummy line and the positioning line to be taken out from the electroformed element is made of an electrical insulating material.