BJS Company Ltd
Electroforming in Copper, Silver and Gold
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PRECISION ELECTROFORMING
 
Copper - Silver - Gold

Copper Datasheet

Silver Datasheet

Gold Datasheet

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Silver Electroforming Tank

The process of electroforming was first practiced in 1840, initially for the purpose of producing artifacts and printing plates and so originally became known as "electrotyping".

By the turn of the Century the demand for artifacts had greatly diminished and there were few products by electroforming. Whilst the process stagnated for use with the decorative market World War 2 encouraged some production of nickel electroformed tooling. In the 1960's BJS involved in the electroforming of Prince Charles' Coronet initiated a development programme of precious metal electroforming. During the intervening years the industry has considerable expanded both physically and technically and is regarded today as "an alternative manufacturing process".

The process employs the technique of electro-depositing metal on to a mould* or mandrel+. The metal is subsequently separated from the mould and the free standing metal replica is the "electroform".

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             Metal Mandrel
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      Copper Electroformed
        on to Metal Mandrel
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 Copper Electroform after Metal
Mandrel has been dissolved out

The mandrel and moulds can be made from a variety of materials. Mandrels can be made of stainless steel, aluminum or by casting and/or machining low melting point alloys. Moulds can be made from a wide selection of polymers and waxes.

Most mandrels and moulds have the advantage of being inexpensive to manufacture and are generally re-usable. Therefore due to low tooling costs the process lends itself to low and medium volume production levels.

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      Plaster Master Pattern
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        Metalised RTV Mould
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    Electroform on RTV being
      removed from Solution
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     Mould & RTV seperated
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        Trimmed Electroform
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      Electroform polished &
          Rhodium Plated
 

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HM The Queen unveiling The Victorai and George Cross Memorial Westminster Abbey London

Through the use of computer control, both the quality and average thickness of deposit can be closely monitored and controlled; enabling reproducible manufacture of highly specified complex components in copper, nickel, silver and gold.

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All electroforming is tracked monitored and controlled by computer

The process is now widely used in the manufacture of high precision components for electronics, defence and bio-medical equipment, as well as, in the manufacture of  production tooling used to make both industrial and decorative components.

Copper has a wide range of applications, which include spark erosion tools, moulds, industrial gloves, mandrels and again numerous electronic and aerospace components.

Silver electroforming is widely used by silvermiths across Europe and the USA in the manufacture of complex silverware. It is the only technique that can accurately replicate simultaneously, engraving and chasing.

It is also used industrially for its exceptional thermal and electrical conductivity. BJS is the largest global supplier of silver electroforms for thermal control market particularly in the bio-engineering field.

Gold electroforms produced are used in the medical field including prosthesis and for scientific and instrumentation applications, as well as, for the manufacture of fine gold objet d'art.

Electroforming costs are based on surface area and the thickness of the required deposit.

* Non-conductive surface which is metalised prior to deposition taking place
+ A solid metallic conductive surface

BJS COMPANY LTD
65 BIDEFORD AVENUE 
PERIVALE GREENFORD
MIDDLESEX UB6 7PP ENGLAND

Telephone +44 (0)20 8810 5779  
Fax +44 (0)20 8810 5883