The use of electroforming for engineering tool production

New technologies such as virtual reality modelling, rapid prototyping and concurrent engineering are increasingly being used in the product development cycle together with processes for the rapid production of engineering tools. Methods to produce investment castings, injection mould cavities and spark erosion die sink tools from rapid prototype models form an integral part of these developments. This paper describes recent work carried out to implement the rapid production of injection mould cavities by electroforming technology. This route hold great promise for low cost, fast turnaround tool production.