Electroforming of gold, traditionally used in jewellery
manufacture is now being used to produce industrial components
A new patented electroforming technology allows ABSSAC
Ltd in the UK to now supply solid gold electroforms. This
unique combination of properties makes gold a vital component
in many medical, industrial, and electrical applications.
In the application below, electroformed gold contacts were
used in a circuit testing machine:

Electrodeposited products are formed by machining a precision
mandrel to the shape of the desired form (or inside of the
bellows) and then depositing the correct thickness of quality
metal on to the mandrel. The mandrel is then dissolved away
leaving the precision finished product behind. Enabling
the use of gold within applications has allowed some remarkable
properties of the material to be exploited.
For example, gold is the most non-reactive of all metals.
It is benign in all natural and industrial environments.
Gold does not react with oxygen, which means it will not
oxidize or tarnish. Gold is among the most electrically
conductive of all metals and is able to convey even a tiny
electrical current in temperatures varying from -55° to
+200° centigrade. Gold is also the most reflective and least
absorptive material of infrared (or heat) energy. High purity
gold reflects up to 99% of infrared rays but is it also
an excellent conductor of thermal energy or heat. Lastly,
Gold is ideal for invasive or implantable medical devices
as it is one of the least rejected materials in the human
body.
By refining the gold electroforming technique Abssac can
supply extremely intricate parts with unusual shapes, thin
walls, deep crevices and other design features. The electroforming
process is especially crafted for tolerance-critical miniature
parts and makes them suitable for both flexible bellows
and rigid electroformed components.
The controlled electroforming process can also vary the
wall thickness in different places on the same part for
selective rigidity and flexibility allowing hollow parts
with walls as thin as 0.0005' [0.012 mm] for miniature applications
including electrical bellows contacts and precision instrument
applications.
CONTACT:
ABSSAC
The Bond Industrial Estate
Wickhamford
Evesham
Worcestershire
WR11 7RH ENGLAND
Tel : (+44) 01386 833301
Fax : (+44) 01386 831500
www.abssac.com
sales@abssac.com