Apparatus and method for electrodepositing three-dimensional hollow metal members

Abstract

The application discloses a device and method for electrodepositing three-dimensional hollow metal components. The device mainly comprises an electrode nozzle, an anode, a cathode substrate, a cathode substrate clamp, a wire body core mold, a horizontal motion workbench, a vertical motion workbench, a motion control unit, an electrolyte circulation system and a liquid flow beam. The cathode substrate is horizontally arranged below the nozzle of the electrode nozzle. The wire body core mold passes through the internal flow channel of the electrode nozzle from the top of the electrode nozzle and is collinear with the center line of the nozzle, and is arranged in the positioning hole of the cathode substrate. During work, the liquid flow beam flows out of the nozzle to cover the cathode substrate and wrap the wire body core mold. The electrodepositing power is turned on to generate an electrodepositing current among the anode, the liquid flow beam and the cathode substrate. The specific metal ions in the electrolyte undergo an electrochemical deposition reaction on the local surface of the cathode substrate. The cylindrical hollow metal component surrounding the wire body core mold is first formed in the liquid flow beam. Then, the vertical motion workbench, the horizontal motion workbench and the cathode substrate clamp are controlled to linearly displace or rotate. The hollow metal component under the limitation of the liquid flow beam continues to grow along the preset forming track, and the three-dimensional hollow metal component is formed through electrodepositing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of electrochemical processing technology, specifically relating to an apparatus and method for electrodepositing three-dimensional hollow metal components. Background Technology

[0002] Hollow metal components, due to their ability to construct closed microchannels, provide directional guidance, and concentrate and guide flow, are often essential components in products such as medical syringe needles, probe sleeves, fiber optic connectors, pipettes, and heat dissipation tubes. Micro-hollow metal components with characteristic dimensions ranging from tens to hundreds of micrometers are particularly noteworthy precision functional devices. How to efficiently manufacture micro-hollow metal components has become one of the urgent technical challenges to be solved. Traditional hollow tube manufacturing processes, such as drawing and rolling, can produce straight tubes of different specifications with equal wall thickness, but are limited by material properties, deformation mechanisms, processing molds, and motion mechanisms, making it extremely difficult to produce micro-hollow metal components. Furthermore, hollow metal components prepared by traditional processes suffer from dimensional instability, poor surface quality, and are prone to cracks and wrinkles, failing to meet the demands of precision manufacturing and high-quality applications.

[0003] Electroforming technology based on the principle of electrodeposition replication utilizes the electrochemical reduction reaction of metal ions in an electrolyte to achieve electrodeposition replication of the outer surface of a conductive core mold. It offers advantages such as high replication precision, controllable wall thickness, and low cost in the manufacture of micro-hollow metal components. Patent No. 200480042540.0 discloses a process for preparing metal microtubes using micro-electroforming, which utilizes electrodeposition on the outer surface of a slender conductive core mold to obtain seamless metal microtubes. However, this replication-type electrodeposition process based on electroplating has drawbacks such as low preparation efficiency, complex pretreatment processes, difficulty in demolding (removing the core mold), and poor process adaptability, making it particularly unsuitable for the fabrication of three-dimensional hollow metal components.

[0004] Patent 201910761689.2 discloses a method for preparing seamless metal tubes with spatial structures by pressing a micro-sized electrically insulating mold core onto the surface of a cathode substrate and using a hollow liquid column formed by a jet electrodeposition nozzle for electrodeposition. However, this technical solution suffers from problems such as insecure positioning and clamping of the electrically insulating mold core, which is easily eroded by the electrolyte, causing it to become eccentric and oscillate, thus affecting the inner hole forming accuracy and the operability of three-dimensional forming of the electrodeposited seamless metal tube. Based on this, the present invention proposes an apparatus and method for electrodepositing three-dimensional hollow metal components, aiming to achieve the manufacturing of three-dimensional hollow metal components with fine pore sizes and complex shapes. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an apparatus and method for electrodepositing three-dimensional hollow metal components.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

[0007] An apparatus for electrodepositing three-dimensional hollow metal components includes an electrode nozzle, an anode, a cathode substrate, a cathode substrate clamp, a wire core mold, a horizontal motion stage, a vertical motion stage, a motion control unit, an electrodeposition power supply, an electrolyte circulation system, and a liquid flow stream. The anode is located inside the electrode nozzle; the cathode substrate is fixed in the cathode substrate clamp and horizontally positioned below the nozzle of the electrode nozzle; the electrode nozzle and the cathode substrate clamp are respectively mounted on the vertical motion stage and the horizontal motion stage; the wire core mold is a linear structure with a uniform cross-section, passing through the internal flow channel of the electrode nozzle from the top and collinear with the center line of the nozzle, and is placed in a positioning hole in the cathode substrate; the liquid flow stream flows out from the nozzle, covering the cathode substrate and enveloping the wire core mold; the motion control unit drives the horizontal and vertical motion platforms to perform linear displacement and drives the cathode substrate clamp to rotate along a preset axis.

[0008] Preferably, the cathode substrate is a copper rod.

[0009] Preferably, the anode material is an electrochemically inert metal.

[0010] Preferably, the nozzle diameter is 0.2 mm to 2 mm.

[0011] Preferably, the cross-sectional shape of the core mold is circular, square, triangular or polygonal, and the diameter of the circumcircle of the cross-section is 0.05mm to 0.5mm.

[0012] Preferably, the material of the core mold is a high molecular polymer.

[0013] Preferably, the number of the line core molds is 1 to 4.

[0014] A method for electrodepositing a three-dimensional hollow metal component includes the following steps:

[0015] S1. Fix the electrode nozzle vertically on the vertical motion worktable, fix the cathode base clamp on the horizontal motion worktable, and adjust the cathode base clamp so that the cathode base is horizontally placed below the nozzle of the electrode nozzle, and the distance between the cathode base and the nozzle is greater than twice the nozzle diameter.

[0016] S2. The core mold of the line body passes through the internal flow channel of the electrode nozzle from the top of the electrode nozzle and is collinear with the center line of the nozzle, and is placed vertically in the positioning hole of the cathode substrate.

[0017] S3. Start the electrolyte circulation system. The liquid stream flows out from the nozzle, covering the cathode substrate and wrapping the wire core mold.

[0018] S4. Connect the anode and cathode substrates to the positive and negative terminals of the electrodeposition power supply respectively and bring them into charge. Under the confined electrodeposition effect of the liquid flow stream, an electrodeposition current is generated between the anode, the liquid flow stream and the cathode substrate. Specific metal ions in the electrolyte generate an electrodeposition metal layer on the surface of the cathode substrate. As the electrodeposition metal layer continues to accumulate and grow, a columnar hollow metal component surrounding the core mold is formed inside the liquid flow stream.

[0019] S5. When the height of the columnar hollow metal component reaches twice the nozzle diameter, the motion control unit drives the vertical motion stage, the horizontal motion stage and the cathode substrate fixture to move the electrode nozzle and the cathode substrate in a straight line or rotate along the preset trajectory, while maintaining the stable flow pattern of the liquid jet at the nozzle, and the line core mold is always in the center of the liquid jet. The hollow metal component under the liquid jet confined electrodeposition continues to grow along the preset forming trajectory, and the electrodeposition forms a three-dimensional hollow metal component.

[0020] S6. Once the shape and size of the three-dimensional hollow metal component meet the design requirements, the electrodeposition power supply and electrolyte circulation system are shut down in sequence. The wire core mold above the three-dimensional hollow metal component is cut off, the cathode substrate is removed from the cathode substrate fixture, and then the wire core mold in the three-dimensional hollow metal component is extracted and separated from the cathode substrate to complete the processing.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects.

[0022] 1. The liquid flow stream confined electrodeposition growth method is suitable for the three-dimensional forming of hollow metal components. Currently, metal capillaries or seamless metal tubes are prepared by electrodeposition in a bath, and the forming method is to achieve the formation of hollow metal components by radially thickening the electrodeposited metal layer from the surface of the conductive mandrel. Due to limitations in actual process conditions and equipment, electroforming is usually used to prepare linear hollow metal components, and the inner hole is mostly cylindrical. Unlike the bath electrodeposition process, the "bottom-up" electrodeposition growth method based on liquid flow stream confined electrodeposition in this invention allows the electrodeposited metal layer to grow continuously from the cathode substrate covered by the liquid flow stream, evolving into a hollow metal component that is endogenous in the liquid flow stream and grows around the linear mandrel. Experiments have shown that this "bottom-up" electrodeposition growth method goes through an initial growth stage and a steady-state growth stage. In the initial growth stage, the electrodeposition region formed by the liquid jet covering the cathode substrate is dispersed, resulting in an unstable profile of the electrodeposited metal layer that continuously evolves. However, as the electrodeposited metal layer continues to grow and bulge at the center of the liquid jet, it gradually evolves into a columnar hollow metal component. When the electrodeposited columnar hollow metal component reaches and exceeds twice the nozzle diameter, the electrodeposited metal layer concentrates at the top of the columnar hollow metal component, forming a surrounding linear mandrel inside the liquid jet. It continues to grow with a stable electrodeposition profile and growth rate, thus entering the stable growth stage. Then, in order to achieve three-dimensional structure forming, the motion control unit drives the vertical motion stage, the horizontal motion stage, and the cathode substrate fixture to drive the electrode nozzle and the cathode substrate to make linear displacement or rotation along the preset trajectory, so that the liquid jet and the line core mold can continuously move or rotate slowly with multiple degrees of freedom relative to the deposited hollow metal structure. At the same time, the flow pattern of the liquid jet at the nozzle is kept stable, and the line core mold is always in the center position of the liquid jet. The hollow metal component under the liquid jet confinement electrodeposition continues to grow along the preset forming trajectory, and the electrodeposition forms a three-dimensional hollow metal component.

[0023] 2. Reliable positioning of the wire core mold ensures high forming accuracy of hollow metal components. Micro-wire core molds placed in a liquid flow stream are prone to positioning deviations or wobbling under the influence of electrolyte flow, causing flow field fluctuations on the deposition surface and severely affecting the surface morphology and coaxial accuracy of the electrodeposited hollow metal components. In this invention, for the micro-wire core mold, one end is placed on top of the electrode nozzle and fixed by a core mold clamping block, while the other end is placed in a radial positioning hole in a horizontally placed cathode substrate. By adjusting the vertical and horizontal motion stages, the taut wire core mold is made coaxial and collinear with the center line of the electrode nozzle, effectively avoiding eccentricity and wobbling problems of the micro-wire core mold and improving the forming accuracy of the hollow metal components.

[0024] 3. Excellent process operability and high core mold removal efficiency. Removing the micro-wire core mold after electrodeposition is a technical challenge. The core mold used in this invention is a non-conductive core mold, eliminating the need for pretreatment processes such as conductive coating on the core mold surface. Furthermore, the micro-wire core mold is preferably made of highly elastic nylon wire, which is conveniently clamped at both ends and reliably positioned, resulting in excellent process operability. After the three-dimensional hollow metal component is formed, a certain external force is applied to pull the outer end of the core mold. The core mold undergoes axial elastic contraction, causing its outer surface to detach from the inner surface of the hollow metal component. The core mold can then be extracted, thus quickly and efficiently removing the core mold from the three-dimensional hollow metal component. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the liquid flow jet formed between the electrode nozzle and the cathode substrate in this invention.

[0026] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the columnar hollow metal component electrodeposited on the cathode substrate in this invention.

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the working process of the electrodeposited three-dimensional hollow metal component of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 4 This describes the working state of the liquid flow jet in this embodiment of the invention.

[0029] Figure 5 This describes the working state of the columnar hollow metal component deposited by the liquid flow jet in this embodiment of the invention.

[0030] Figure 6 This describes the working state of the liquid flow jet electrodeposition three-dimensional hollow metal component in this embodiment of the invention.

[0031] Numbers and names in the diagram:

[0032] 1. Vertical motion stage; 2. Motion control unit; 3. Electrodeposition power supply; 4. Cathode substrate fixture; 5. Cathode substrate; 6. Horizontal motion stage; 7. Electrolyte tank; 8. Electrolyte circulation system; 9. Three-dimensional hollow metal component; 10. Liquid jet; 11. Nozzle; 12. Anode; 13. Electrode nozzle; 14. Core mold block; 15. Line core mold; 16. Columnar hollow metal component Detailed Implementation

[0033] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0034] In the embodiment of the electrodeposition apparatus of the present invention, a platinum tube with an outer diameter of 2 mm and an inner diameter of 1 mm is used as the anode 12 and is built into the cavity of an acrylic electrode nozzle 13. The upper side of the electrode nozzle 13 has an electrolyte inlet communicating with the electrolyte circulation system 8, and the bottom has a circular nozzle 11 with an aperture of 0.5 mm. A copper rod with a diameter of 1 mm serves as the cathode substrate 5 and is placed below the nozzle 11 of the electrode nozzle 13. The outer cylindrical surface of the copper rod has radial positioning holes consistent with the wire core mold. The electrode nozzle 13 is fixed on a vertical motion stage 1 and moves up and down along the Z-axis, while the cathode substrate 5 is fixed in a cathode substrate clamp 4 on a horizontal motion stage 6. The horizontal motion stage 6 can make linear displacements along the X and Y axes, and the cathode substrate 5 can rotate along the axis A of the cathode substrate clamp 4. (See [reference]). Figure 3 As shown. A 0.05mm outer diameter nylon filament serves as the core mold 15. One end is pressed against the top of the electrode nozzle 13 by the core mold pressing block 14, and the other end passes through the internal flow channel of the electrode nozzle and the platinum tube anode 12, exits from the nozzle 11, and is placed in the radial positioning hole of the cathode substrate 5.

[0035] A high-precision DC power supply serves as the electrodeposition power source 3, with its positive terminal connected to the anode 12 and its negative terminal connected to the cathode substrate 5, providing a constant current in the milliampere range for the electrodeposition process. The electrolyte is a nickel-containing electrolyte solution containing nickel sulfamate (500 g / L), nickel chloride (5 g / L), and boric acid (20 g / L). An electrolyte circulation system 8, consisting of a magnetic pump and a filter, supplies electrolyte to the electrode nozzle 13. After flowing through the anode 12 and the electrode nozzle 13, the electrolyte flows out from the nozzle 11 of the electrode nozzle, forming a steady-state liquid jet 10. After covering the cathode substrate 5, it flows back to the electrolyte tank 7. (See [reference]). Figures 1 to 3 The electrolyte circulation process is shown.

[0036] The method for preparing hollow metal components by electrodeposition using the present invention is as follows:

[0037] The electrode nozzle 13 is vertically fixed on the vertical motion stage 1, and the cathode substrate 5 is fixed in the cathode substrate clamp 4 on the horizontal motion stage 6, positioned horizontally below the nozzle 11 of the electrode nozzle 13. The wire core mold 15 passes through the internal flow channel and nozzle 11 of the electrode nozzle 13 and is placed in the radial positioning hole of the cathode substrate 5. The upper end of the wire core mold 15 is fixed to the top of the electrode nozzle by the core mold pressing block 14, and the lower end is restrained by the positioning hole of the cathode substrate. The displacement and rotation of the vertical motion stage 1, the horizontal motion stage 6 and the cathode substrate clamp 4 are controlled by the motion control unit 2 to finely adjust the relative position of the electrode nozzle 13 and the cathode substrate 5, so that the wire core mold 15 is coaxially placed on the center line of the nozzle 11 of the electrode nozzle 13, and the initial distance between the nozzle of the electrode nozzle 13 and the cathode substrate 5 is 2mm.

[0038] When the electrolyte circulation system 8 is activated, the electrolyte enters the electrode nozzle 13, flows through the anode 12 and the nozzle 11, forming a steady-flowing liquid jet 10 that wraps around the wire core mold 15. After covering the cathode substrate 5, it flows back to the electrolyte tank 7 and enters the electrolyte circulation system. The working state of the liquid jet in this embodiment of the invention is shown below. Figure 4 As shown.

[0039] The electrodeposition power supply 3 is turned on, generating an electrodeposition current of approximately 2 mA between the anode 12, the liquid flow stream 10, and the cathode substrate 5. At the electrode interface of the cathode substrate 5, nickel ions undergo an electrochemical reduction reaction to produce an electrodeposited metal layer. Under the confined electrodeposition effect of the liquid flow stream, the electrodeposited metal layer continuously accumulates and grows, evolving into a columnar hollow metal component 16 that is internally generated within the liquid flow stream and surrounds the linear mandrel. The corresponding cross-sectional schematic diagram and the working state of the embodiment are shown below. Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown.

[0040] When the electrodeposited metal height reaches twice the nozzle diameter, i.e., 1mm~1.5mm, the motion control unit 2 drives the vertical motion stage 1, causing the electrode nozzle 13 to slowly rise along the Z-axis according to a predetermined program. The liquid jet 10 continues the confined electrodeposition process, and the columnar hollow metal component 16 continuously grows around the wire core mold 15. The corresponding embodiment's operating state is as follows: Figure 5 As shown.

[0041] Then, to further achieve three-dimensional structure forming, the motion control unit 2 drives the vertical motion stage 1, the horizontal motion stage 6, and the cathode substrate clamp 4 to respectively drive the electrode nozzle 13 and the cathode substrate 5 to make linear displacement or rotation along a preset trajectory. This causes the liquid jet 10 and the linear mandrel 15 to continuously move or rotate slowly with multiple degrees of freedom relative to the deposited hollow metal structure. At the same time, the flow pattern of the liquid jet at the nozzle 11 is kept stable, and the linear mandrel 15 is always at the center of the liquid jet. This induces the electrodeposited metal layer to continuously grow along the preset forming trajectory, forming a structure that is consistent with the desired shape. Figure 3 and Figure 6 The three-dimensional hollow metal component 9 shown has a spatial bending structure.

[0042] Once the shape and dimensions of the three-dimensional hollow metal component meet the design requirements, the electrodeposition power supply 3 and the electrolyte circulation system 8 are sequentially shut down. The wire core mold 15 above the three-dimensional hollow metal component is cut off, and the cathode substrate 5 is removed from the cathode substrate clamp 4. A certain external force is applied to pull the outer end of the wire core mold 15. After the wire core mold undergoes axial elastic contraction, its outer surface separates from the inner surface of the hollow metal component, and then the wire core mold is extracted. Finally, the three-dimensional hollow metal component is separated from the cathode substrate 4, completing the processing.

[0043] The scope of protection of this invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Any obvious improvements, substitutions, or changes that can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the essence of this invention are within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for electrodeposition of a three-dimensional hollow metal component, comprising an electrode nozzle, an anode, a cathode substrate, a cathode substrate clamp, a wire body mandrel, a horizontal motion worktable, a vertical motion worktable, a motion control unit, an electrodeposition power supply, an electrolyte circulation system, and a liquid flow beam, characterized in that: The anode is placed inside the electrode nozzle; the cathode base is fixed in the cathode base clamp and placed horizontally below the nozzle of the electrode nozzle; the electrode nozzle and the cathode base clamp are respectively arranged on the vertical motion workbench and the horizontal motion workbench; the wire body core mold is an equal cross-section linear structure, passes through the internal flow channel of the electrode nozzle from the top of the electrode nozzle and is collinear with the center line of the nozzle, and is placed in the positioning hole of the cathode base; the liquid flow beam flows out of the nozzle to cover the cathode base and wrap the wire body core mold; the motion control unit drives the horizontal motion platform and the vertical motion platform to make linear displacement, and drives the cathode base clamp to rotate along the preset axis.

2. An apparatus for electrodepositing a three-dimensional hollow metal member according to claim 1, wherein: The cathode base is a copper rod.

3. An apparatus for electrodepositing a three-dimensional hollow metal structure according to claim 1, wherein: The anode material is an electrochemically inert metal.

4. An apparatus for electrodepositing a three-dimensional hollow metal structure according to claim 1, wherein: The nozzle diameter is 0.2mm to 2mm.

5. An apparatus for electrodepositing a three-dimensional hollow metal structure according to claim 1, wherein: The cross-sectional shape of the wire body core mold is circular, square, triangular or polygonal, and the diameter of the circumscribed circle of the cross-section is 0.05mm~0.5mm.

6. An apparatus for electrodepositing a three-dimensional hollow metal structure according to claim 1, wherein: The material of the wire body core mold is a high polymer.

7. An apparatus for electrodepositing a three-dimensional hollow metal structure according to claim 1, wherein: The number of wire body core molds is 1 to 4.

8. A method for electrodeposition of a three-dimensional hollow metal member by the device according to any one of claims 1-7, comprising the following steps: S1, vertically fixing the electrode nozzle on the vertical motion workbench, fixing the cathode base clamp on the horizontal motion workbench, adjusting the cathode base clamp to place the cathode base horizontally below the nozzle of the electrode nozzle, and the distance between the cathode base and the nozzle is greater than twice the nozzle diameter; S2, placing the wire body core mold in the positioning hole of the cathode base in a vertical state from the top of the electrode nozzle, passing through the internal flow channel of the electrode nozzle and being collinear with the center line of the nozzle; S3, starting the electrolyte circulation system, and the liquid flow beam flows out of the nozzle to cover the cathode base and wrap the wire body core mold; S4, connecting the anode and the cathode base to the positive and negative electrodes of the electrodeposition power supply respectively to charge, under the action of the liquid flow beam confined electrodeposition, an electrodeposition current is generated between the anode, the liquid flow beam and the cathode base, specific metal ions in the electrolyte generate an electrodeposited metal layer on the surface of the cathode base, and with the continuous accumulation and growth of the electrodeposited metal layer, a columnar hollow metal member surrounding the wire body core mold is formed inside the liquid flow beam; S5, when the height of the columnar hollow metal member reaches twice the nozzle diameter, the motion control unit drives the vertical motion workbench, the horizontal motion workbench and the cathode base clamp to drive the electrode nozzle and the cathode base to make linear displacement or rotation along the preset trajectory respectively, while maintaining the stable flow pattern of the liquid flow beam at the nozzle, and the wire body core mold is always at the center position of the liquid flow beam, the hollow metal member under the liquid flow beam confined electrodeposition continues to grow along the preset forming trajectory, and the electrodeposition forms a three-dimensional hollow metal member; S6, when the configuration and size of the three-dimensional hollow metal member meet the design requirements, the electrodeposition power supply and the electrolyte circulation system are turned off in sequence, the wire body core mold above the three-dimensional hollow metal member is cut off, the cathode base is taken out from the cathode base clamp, then the wire body core mold in the three-dimensional hollow metal member is extracted and separated from the cathode base, and the processing is completed.

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