| CPC C25D 1/003 (2013.01) [B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12)] | 21 Claims |
|
1. A method of electrochemically forming a part, the method comprising steps of:
determining a capacitance of a capacitive sensor, comprising:
a first electrically-conductive layer, at a known location relative to a cathode; and
a second electrically-conductive layer, at a known location relative to a printhead, which comprises a plurality of deposition anodes;
determining a distance between the first electrically-conductive layer and the second electrically-conductive layer in response to the capacitance of the capacitive sensor;
determining at least one of a position, orientation, or planarity of the cathode and the printhead, relative to each other, in response to the distance between the first-electrically-conductive layer and the second electrically-conductive layer;
adjusting at least one of the position, orientation, or planarity of at least one of the cathode and the printhead, relative to each other, in response to a corresponding one of the position, orientation, or planarity of the cathode relative to the printhead being outside of a threshold;
electrochemically forming a layer of material onto the cathode;
at least partially submerging the cathode and the printhead in a fluidic dielectric, wherein the capacitance of the capacitive sensor is determined when the cathode and the printhead are at least partially submerged in the fluidic dielectric; and
replacing the fluidic dielectric with electrolyte solution such that the cathode and the printhead are at least partially submerged in the electrolyte solution, wherein the layer of material is electrochemically formed onto the cathode when the cathode and the printhead are submerged in the electrolyte solution.
|