Why Electroforming?
Electroforming is a precision metal growth process that eliminates seams and joints that would be necessary in standard machining, significantly reducing PIM risk while increasing performance and durability.
Electroforming can also remove the need for tuning screws in some instances, further reducing PIM risk and increasing RF performance when compared with a machined part.
Finally, for some part designs, electroforming may be the only option to achieve complex morphologies or to achieve the required internal feature or surface finish tolerances.
Electroforming is Difficult — We Use Simulation, Process Control, & Experience to Optimize Results
SIMULATION
COMSOL Multiphysics®
Without simulation, uniform growth over complex parts becomes a guessing game. Our team uses COMSOL Multiphysics® to accurately model the area of parts and predict the current densities required to achieve accurate growth the first time, reducing lead times and eliminating the costs that would result from a trial-and-error approach.
PROCESS CONTROL
TrueChem
Our lab uses TrueChem to control, record, and schedule the analysis of our plating and preparation tanks. TrueChem allows us to digitize our analytical procedures, quickly see trends in analytical results, and automatically send alerts if corrective actions are needed. This allows us to maintain the tight controls required by both Nadcap and AS9100 standards.
EXPERIENCE
Due to the many unique designs required by our custom work, our chemists and platers have 30+ years of experience accurately growing electroforming edge cases. Whatever your design may be, CMi has the tools and knowledge to determine whether electroforming is the right fit, and, if so, to deliver it on time and within your specifications.
Enabling Precision Performance
The tight tolerances of +/- .0002 maintained by our advanced machine shop are directly translated to final electroformed parts, enabling precise RF design performance.
Utilizing our expertise in plating complex parts, we are able to meet your exacting design requirements, including thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and material strength.
Electroplating
- Copper 1: Bright & High Conductivity
- Copper 3: Bright, High Strength & Feature Leveling
- Nickel, Electroless Nickel, Silver, Gold, and Nickel Cobalt