JPS6312950B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to an electroforming device.

Electroforming is widely used to manufacture parts and molds with shapes that are difficult to machine.

Generally, the shape of the electrode mold on which the electroformed shell is electrodeposited is complex, and the electrodeposition surface is rich in undulations and irregularities of varying degrees of slope and depth.

Generally, in electroforming, the most important thing is the transfer precision of the electroform, and the thickness of the electroform shell is not required to have very high precision except for special mechanical products.

However, it goes without saying that it is desirable for the electroformed shell to have a uniform thickness or a desired thickness distribution.

That is, if the electroformed shell has a part that is too thin, its strength and service life will be reduced, and if the electroformed shell has a part that is too thick, materials, electricity, working time, etc. will be wasted. Moreover, these problems become even more serious when the electroformed shell is further machined to be finished into a mechanical part or the like.

Conventionally, in order to make each part of the electroformed shell a desired thickness, a large number of electrodes were used and distributed appropriately on the electrodeposited surface, and each electrode was charged with approximately a specific local area. A method is adopted in which casting is carried out and a desired overall thickness distribution is obtained.

However, with this method, it is difficult for even a highly skilled person to achieve the desired accuracy without making corrections based on several test machinings. Therefore, it is difficult to repeatedly electroform many parts of the same shape. However, it is extremely inconvenient when manufacturing electroformed shell molds for various purposes in small quantities, or when coating part or all of the surface of cavity-shaped molds, etc. It was hot.

Additionally, when using an electroformed shell as an electrode for metal or electrical machining, it is generally desirable to deposit thinly on the convex parts of the electroforming and thickly on the concave parts; This requirement goes against the natural tendency of electrodeposition, and it has been difficult to control the amount of electrodeposition.

Recently, as a means to solve these problems, devices have been developed and are being used that irradiate the electroform with hot rays to increase the deposition efficiency in that area and electrodeposit the electroformed shell.

However, since the above-mentioned device irradiates the hot rays onto the electroforming mold from above the electroforming bath through the electroforming bath, the depth at which the hot rays reach is shallow, particularly in the recesses, inner corners and corners of the recesses, etc. There was a problem in that it was difficult to electrodeposit the electroformed shell on the position.

The present invention has been made based on the above-mentioned viewpoints, and its purpose is to apply laser light, xenon light, or The object of the present invention is to provide an electroforming device that irradiates substantially hot rays such as infrared rays in close proximity to increase the efficiency of deposition on the irradiated area by activating the area and electrodeposit an electroformed shell. .

Hereinafter, the details of the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing an embodiment of an electroforming device according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are partially enlarged views of electrodes used in the electroforming device shown in FIG. 1. 4 is a partially broken front view showing another embodiment of the electroforming device, and FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged cross section showing another embodiment of the electrode used in the electroforming device shown in FIG. It is a diagram.

First, FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 will be explained.

In the figure, 1 is a conductive pipe-shaped electrode, which does not necessarily have to be hollow, and may have one or more optical fibers inserted therein, so it must be columnar as a whole and flexible. In some cases. 2a
is an optical element such as a transparent or semi-transparent convex lens or transparent glass attached to an appropriate position such as the tip of the pipe-shaped electrode 1, and when the electrode 1 is a pipe body, an electroforming bath is placed inside the pipe body. If it is necessary to prevent the intrusion of 24, the above-mentioned optical element may also be used, or a transparent glass for sealing to prevent liquid intrusion may be provided to prevent the irradiated heat rays from being absorbed into the internal bath of the pipe as described below. and effectively irradiates a predetermined position without loss. 3 is an electroforming mold; 4 is a main shaft extending from the processing head of the electroforming device (not shown in the figure) so as to be able to move up and down in the Z-axis direction; 5 is a motor that drives the main shaft 4 up and down;
A first housing 6 is fixed to the lower end of the main shaft 4 and houses an electrode axis direction changing mechanism therein, and a first housing 7 is attached through the side wall of the first housing 6. A second casing rotatably supported by rotating shafts 8 and 9, 10 a first worm wheel fixed to the second casing 7 via washers 11 and 12, and 13 a first worm wheel. A first worm gear meshing with the wheel 10; 14 a first motor rotating the first worm gear 13; a second movably supported worm wheel; 17 is a second worm wheel;
18 is a second motor that rotates the second worm gear 17; 19 is fixedly provided on the side surface of the second worm wheel 15 for supporting the hot ray source 20; 21 is an electrode holder fixedly provided at the lower end of the hot ray source 20, 22 is a power supply circuit that supplies a DC voltage or a pulse voltage of a predetermined polarity between the electrode mold 3 and the electrode 1, and 23 is a power supply circuit, respectively. By controlling the driving conditions of the electroforming bath supply device and the electroforming mold 3, the speed of the relative machining feed (however, both are omitted in the figure), the direction change of the electrode 1, the size of the beam spot, the irradiation energy, or A numerical control device that controls at least the above-mentioned relative machining feed according to a predetermined program among the intermittent light emission conditions and the energization conditions of the power supply circuit 22, and can be attached with a sequence controller etc. as necessary; 24 is an electroforming bath.

In this embodiment, the electrode 1 is moved between the plane including the X and Z axes in the figure and the The angle can be freely adjusted within a plane including the Y-axis and the Y-axis. That is, the first motor 14 rotates the first worm gear 13 to rotate the first worm wheel 10 about its first rotation shafts 8 and 9, and the second motor 18 rotates the By rotating the worm gear 17 and rotating the second worm wheel 15 about its second rotation axis 16, the electrode 1 can be moved at a desired angle in the X-Z axis plane and the Z-Y axis plane. It can be adjusted to

The electrode 1 is made of a conductive material and made in the shape of a pipe, and an optical element such as a convex lens, which also serves as a transparent or translucent bath infiltration prevention seal, is installed at the tip and at an appropriate position in front, if desired. 2a
is attached, and the optical element irradiates the heat rays to an appropriate position of the electric mold 3, or in the case shown in the figure, to an appropriate desired position within the recess formed in the electric mold 3, by appropriately concentrating, diffusing, or further appropriately directing the heat rays. It will be done. The electrode 1 is attached to an electrode holder 2 fixed to the lower end of the hot ray source 20.
It is attached to 1. The light beam from the heat ray source 20 passes through the inside of the pipe-shaped electrode 1, is focused by the convex lens 2a, and is irradiated onto a desired portion of the electroform 3 where the electroformed shell is to be electrodeposited.

In addition, the processing feed between the electrode 1 and the mold 3 is X-Y
Machining feed in the axial direction is provided by a cross slide table (not shown), and rotational movement in the X-Y plane is provided by a turntable (not shown). All of these machining feeds are executed based on control signals issued from the numerical control device 23 according to a program created in advance according to the shape of the electric mold 3 and the like.

When processing is carried out using the apparatus of this embodiment, the electroforming bath 24 is kept at room temperature or lower, and the voltage of the power supply circuit 22 is set to be around or below the voltage under conventional conditions. The rate of electrodeposition is very slow, or the electrodeposition is not progressed at all. Also, at this time, the light rays from the heat ray source 20 pass through the inside of the electrode 1 and are focused by the convex lens 2a and irradiated onto the part of the electroform 3 where the electroformed shell is to be electrodeposited. The temperature of the electroforming bath on or near the surface is heated to the optimal temperature for electrodeposition, for example, approximately 45 to 60°C for Ni electrodeposition, and therefore, the area is locally activated and the deposition efficiency is improved. However, the electroformed shell is almost selectively electrodeposited only on the portions irradiated with the light. In addition, the convex lens 2a
By adjusting optical elements such as concave and convex lenses installed at appropriate positions in the middle of the pipe-shaped electrode 1 to determine the concentration of the beam spot, the degree of diffusion, etc., it is possible to It is also possible to electrodeposit the electroformed shell in limited areas.

An optical element such as a transparent or semi-transparent convex lens 2a attached to the tip of the electrode 1 is used because the shape of the irradiated part is not very complicated and does not require adjustment of the beam spot, or is simply used to seal the intrusion of the electroforming bath 24. Of course, if only the glass 2b is to be used, the glass 2b can be changed to a transparent glass 2b.

Next, FIGS. 4 and 5 will be explained.
Figure 4 shows an example in which compressed air is used to prevent the electroforming bath from penetrating into a conductive hollow or pipe-shaped electrode in which fiber optics is inserted, the tip of which is open. The electrode driving method, voltage supply method, etc. are the same as those shown in FIG. 1, and the same numbers in FIG. 4 as in FIG. 1 indicate the same components. In the figure, 1' is a pipe-shaped electrode with both ends open, and 1''
25 is an electrode, 25 is a throttle, 26 is a pressure regulating valve, 27 is a compressor, 28 is a sensor that detects the length of electrodes 1' and 1'' under the electroforming bath by pressure etc. and transmits it to the numerical controller 23, 29 is a composite An insoluble pipe 30 made of resin or the like is a metal electrode member attached to the peripheral wall at the tip of the pipe 29 .

Note that optical elements 2a and 2b for concentrating and diffusing light beams can be provided at appropriate positions on the heat ray source 20 side of the pipe-shaped electrode 1' before the compressed air is supplied. Fiber optics may be inserted into both sides of 2b even if it is hollow, and instead of compressed air, a pressure gas for preventing oxidation such as argon or nitrogen may be supplied.

Thus, the electrode 1' is attached to an electrode holder 21, and the light beam from the heat ray source 20 passes through the electrode 1' and is irradiated onto the part of the electroform 3 where the electroformed shell is to be electrodeposited. However, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the tip of the electrode 1' is open, so that the electroforming bath 24 does not enter into the electrode 1'. That is, electrode 1'
A small hole is provided in the side wall of the electrode 1' for feeding compressed air from a compressor 27 into the electrode 1', and a sensor 28 is provided near the electrode 1' to detect the length of the electrode 1' under the electroforming bath. It is provided. Then, when the length of the electrode 1' under the electroforming bath is detected by the sensor 28 and sent to the numerical control circuit 23,
The numerical control circuit 23 calculates the liquid pressure of the electroforming bath at the tip of the electrode 1' from the detected value, and controls the pressure regulating valve 26 to send compressed air slightly higher than this liquid pressure into the electrode 1'. Therefore, the electroforming bath 24 does not enter into the electrode 1', and the electroforming bath 24 at the open end of the electrode 1' is not greatly disturbed by the ejected gas, so that light is not greatly scattered. This makes it possible to project the light beam from the light source 20 directly onto the electric mold 3.

Further, the electrode is not limited to the conductive pipe-shaped electrode 1', but the electrode 1'' can be formed by attaching a metal electrode member 30 to the peripheral wall at the tip of an insoluble pipe 29 made of synthetic resin or the like as shown in FIG. In addition, electrodes 1' and 1'' may be made flexible and fiber optics inserted therein, or a conductive coating may be formed around one or more fiber optics. If used, it is possible to guide light to, for example, the inner bottom of a curved hole, and it is also useful because the directivity of light irradiation can be selectively adjusted.

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, when using the device of the present invention, it is possible to directly irradiate the electroforming mold with the light rays from the light source. In addition to being able to control the thickness of the electroformed shell, it is also possible to reliably electrodeposit the electroformed shell even on complex-shaped electrode molds. For example, by controlling the position of the electrode two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally, the entire concave part is scanned once or repeatedly, and the speed of the scanning is controlled positionally to uniformly electroform the entire concave part. Alternatively, after electroforming minute recesses and corners that are difficult to electroform, the whole can be electroformed using a conventional method, and can be easily applied to other parts or local electroforming.

Note that the configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. That is, for example, in this example, a conductive pipe-shaped electrode or an insoluble pipe made of synthetic resin or the like was used as an electrode by attaching a metallic electrode member to the peripheral wall at the tip, but metal powder in the synthetic resin was used. It is also possible to form a pipe-shaped electrode by mixing the above electrodes, and the design of the present invention can be changed freely within the scope of its purpose, and the present invention encompasses all of them.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing an embodiment of an electroforming device according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are partially enlarged views of electrodes used in the electroforming device shown in FIG. 1. 4 is a partially broken front view showing another embodiment of the electroforming device, and FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged cross section showing another embodiment of the electrode used in the electroforming device shown in FIG. It is a diagram. 1, 1', 1''...electrode, 2a...convex lens, 2
b... Transparent glass, 3... Electric type, 20... Heat ray source, 21... Electrode holder, 22... Power supply circuit,
23... Numerical control device, 24... Electroforming bath, 29...
...pipe, 30...metallic electrode member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Supplying an electroforming bath between the electroforming mold and the electrodes, applying electricity of a predetermined polarity between the electroforming mold and the electrodes, and supplying an electroforming bath to the part of the electroforming mold where the electroformed shell is to be electrodeposited. In an electroforming apparatus that performs processing while being irradiated with light from a light source, the electrode is a pipe-shaped electrode, one end of the pipe-shaped electrode is connected to the light source, and the light from the light source is An electrodeposition apparatus characterized in that a transparent or translucent member is attached to the tip of the pipe-shaped electrode so that light passes through the pipe-shaped electrode and is projected onto the electrode mold. 2. The electroforming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transparent or semitransparent member is a convex lens. 3. The electroforming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transparent or translucent member is transparent glass. 4 An electroforming bath is supplied between the electroforming mold and the electrode, and electricity of a predetermined polarity is applied between the electroforming mold and the electrode, and a light beam from a light source is applied to the part of the electroforming mold where the electroformed shell is to be electrodeposited. In an electroforming device that performs processing while irradiating, the electrode is a pipe-shaped electrode, one end of the pipe-shaped electrode is connected to the light source, and the light beam from the light source is directed to the pipe-shaped electrode. A compressor that supplies compressed gas at a desired pressure into the pipe-shaped electrode to prevent the electroforming bath from entering the pipe-shaped electrode. An electroforming device characterized by being equipped with a gas supply device. 5. The electroforming device according to claim 4, further comprising a control device that adjusts the gas pressure from the compressed gas supply device in accordance with the electroforming bath liquid pressure at the tip of the pipe-shaped electrode. Device.