CPC C25D 3/02 (2013.01) [C25D 17/007 (2013.01); C25D 21/14 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |
1. An electrochemical-deposition apparatus for forming a part, comprising:
an initial electrode;
a transitional electrode, wherein the initial electrode and the transitional electrode are coplanar and a first plane passes through the initial electrode and the transitional electrode;
a target electrode, wherein a second plane passes through the target electrode and does not pass through the initial electrode nor the transitional electrode, the second plane being offset from and parallel to the first plane, and wherein the initial electrode and the transitional electrode are individually addressable and form part of an electrode array of a printhead;
an electric-power supply circuit, electrically couplable with the initial electrode, the transitional electrode, and the target electrode; and
a controller, configured to, sequentially:
direct the electric-power supply circuit to establish a first electric current through an electrolytic solution, the initial electrode, and the transitional electrode when a surface of at least a portion of the initial electrode is in direct physical contact with the electrolytic solution, and a surface of at least a portion of the transitional electrode is in direct physical contact with the electrolytic solution, so that a quantity of an electrically charged material in the electrolytic solution is converted to a quantity of an electrically neutral material, which is electroplated, as a deposit, onto the surface of at least the portion of the transitional electrode, direct the electric-power supply circuit to terminate the first electric current through the electrolytic solution, the initial electrode, and the transitional electrode, and
direct the electric-power supply circuit to either:
establish a second electric current through the electrolytic solution, the transitional electrode, and the target electrode when a surface of at least a portion of the deposit is in direct physical contact with the electrolytic solution, and a surface of at least a portion of the target electrode is in direct physical contact with the electrolytic solution, so that:
a quantity of the electrically neutral material from the deposit is converted to a quantity of the electrically charged material, which is dissolved into the electrolytic solution, and
a quantity of the electrically charged material in the electrolytic solution is converted to a quantity of the electrically neutral material, which is electroplated onto the surface of at least the portion of the target electrode, wherein the quantity of the electrically neutral material electroplated onto the surface of at least the portion of the target electrode forms at least a portion of the part, or
establish a third electric current through a second electrolytic solution, the transitional electrode, and the target electrode when a surface of at least a portion of the deposit is in direct physical contact with the second electrolytic solution, and a surface of at least a portion of the target electrode is in direct physical contact with the second electrolytic solution, so that:
a quantity of the electrically neutral material from the deposit is converted to a quantity of the electrically charged material, which is dissolved into the second electrolytic solution, and one of:
a quantity of the electrically charged material in the second electrolytic solution is converted to a quantity of the electrically neutral material, which is electroplated onto the surface of at least the portion of the target electrode, or
a quantity of a second electrically charged material in the second electrolytic solution is converted to a quantity of a second electrically neutral material, which is electroplated onto the surface of at least the portion of the target electrode wherein the quantity of the second electrically neutral material electroplated onto the surface of at least the portion of the target electrode forms at least a portion of the part.
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