Electroforming apparatus and process

摘要

A device is described comprising an elongated electroforming mandrel, the mandrel comprising at least a first segment having at least one mating end and a second segment having at least one mating end, the mating end of the first segment being adapted to mate with the mating end of the second segment, means to temporarily maintain the mating end of the first segment mated with the mating end of the second segment during an electroforming process, each of the segments having a circumferential, electrically conductive electroforming surface located at at least the mating end. This elongated electroforming mandrel may be employed in an electroforming process comprising temporarily mating the segments together, electroforming a metal layer on the electroforming surface of each segment, establishing a parting gap between each metal layer and the underlying segment and removing each metal layer from the underlying segment by sliding the metal layer axially along the underlying segment, the end of the metal layer adjacent the mating end of the underlying segment having a smooth rounded outer edge.