SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1962
STP46009S

Electroforming Hardware for Aerospace Vehicles

Source

Electroforming is a process used to manufacture an article by electroplating. However, this process includes more than just a simple electroplating method. It is best described by such descriptive titles as “heavy buildup by plating,” “born-to-shape fabrication,” or “electrofabrication.” In addition to its use in making molds for plastic parts, electroforming is used in the manufacture of wave guides and electronic components. Electroformed parts sail aloft in the Titan missile and such fighter planes as the F-105 Thunderchief and the F-106 Dart. It is a specialized field which is coming of age. There are a number of metals which can be effectively electroformed. Most common of these are copper, nickel, and iron. Others, such as chromium, silver, lead, gold, and alloys of cobalt-nickel and cobalt-tungsten have been used, though less extensively. When the decision was made to enter this metal forming field, manufacturing research and developmental work at General Dynamics/Fort Worth was aimed at various electroforming applications in aircraft and aerospace vehicles. In chosen areas, where time and tried methods of manufacturing were proving to be somewhat costly and often unsuccessful, electroforming was investigated as an alternate method. However, this paper is confined to the description of manufacturing research and developmental ef forts in fabricating sandwich panels, nozzles, pressure vessels, and tools using copper, nickel, and cobalt-tungsten.

Author Information

Ladd, J., C.
Applied Manufacturing Research and Process Development Department, General Dynamics/Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Tex.
Allie, D., L.
Applied Manufacturing Research and Process Development Department, General Dynamics/Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Tex. Lockheed Missile and Space Co., Palo Alto, Calif.
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Details
Developed by Committee: B08
Pages: 124–139
DOI: 10.1520/STP46009S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-6748-3
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-6596-0