Seiko Instruments Inc

Reiko Irie

Tatsuaki Ataka

Masayuki Suda

Toshihiko Sakuhara

A part fabricating apparatus has a holder for holding an object to be machined immersed in an electrolytic solution. A machining electrode subjects a surface of the object to an electrochemical reaction to electrolytically machine the surface of the object. The machining electrode has a sharp-edged tip and is coated with an insulator except for the sharp-edged tip. A spacing changing unit detects and changes a spacing between the surface of the object and the machining electrode. A potential/current control unit controls a potential/current on the machining electrode. An electrolytic solution changing unit supplies a first electrolytic solution for subjecting the surface of the object to be machined to a removal process to fabricate a cast mold, supplies a second electrolytic solution for depositing a first metal on a surface of the cast mold to form a first metal layer, and supplies a third electrolytic solution for depositing a second metal inside the cast mold to form a part.

Part fabricating apparatus

A part fabricating method comprises the steps of machining an object to fabricate a part cast mold, depositing a first metal on a surface of the cast mold to form a first metal layer, and depositing a second metal different in kind from the first metal inside the cast mold to form a part. The first metal layer is then selectively removed to take out the part formed inside the cast mold.

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Chiba, Japan

Reiko Irie