Re-usable mandrel for fabrication of ink-jet orifice plates

摘要

A method for creating a mandrel for electroforming orifice sheets with tapered bores is described. The method uses photo-imagable polymer or photoresist to create the desired profile. This is followed by electroforming a parent mandrel over which a mandrel-quality sheet of glass is melted. An array of pillars with defined location and shape is formed with a desired profile for the mandrel to be used for the electroforming process. The glass is then metalized. A photoresist mask is formed on the metalized glass and a dielectric is deposited onto the pillars.