3M Innovative Properties Company

Harlan L Krinke

Mark E Reeves

Haiyan Zhang

Electroplating methods and systems employing ultrasonic energy to enhance electroplating processes. The electroplating methods involve sweeping a plating surface with ultrasonic energy having an area of maximum ultrasonic energy density while simultaneously performing electroplating. The systems include movement apparatus providing relative movement between an ultrasonic energy source and a cathode while the ultrasonic energy source and the cathode are located within a plating tank.

Ultrasonically-enhanced electroplating apparatus and methods

A method of forming a stacked laminate mold. The method comprises the steps of: a) orienting a plurality of plates to have their respective major planes at a first angle relative to a fixed reference plane and parallel to one another, each of the plates including opposed parallel first and second major surfaces defining therebetween the major plane of each of the plurality of plates, each of the plates further including a mold surface connecting the first and second major surfaces; b) forming a groove in the plurality of plates, the groove including a groove surface defined by cylindric surface that is the construct of translating a two-dimensional groove profile through the plate along a line that is oblique to at least one of the plate major surface and the plate mold surface, and wherein the groove surface intersects each respective plate first major surface and each respective plate mold surface; and thereafter c) reorienting the plates to have their respective major planes at a second angle relative to the reference for molding. Also disclosed is a stacked laminate mold. The mold comprises a plurality of plates, each of the plates including: opposed parallel first and second major surfaces defining therebetween a major plane of each of the plurality of plates; a mold surface connecting the first and second major surfaces; and a plurality of cavities in each of the plurality of plates. Each of the cavities is open at least to the mold surface and includes a cavity surface defined by cylindric surface that is the construct of translating a two-dimensional cavity profile through the plate along a line that is oblique to at least one of the plate major surface and the plate minor surface, and the cavity surface intersects each respective plate first major surface and each respective plate mold surface. The first major surface of a first one of the plurality of plates is adjacent the second major surface of a second one of the plurality of plates.

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Marine on St. Croix, MN, United States of America

Harlan L Krinke