Methods, apparatuses, and systems for forming deposited features on workpieces are provided herein. Generally, the techniques herein employ a deposition head to define an electrical field that facilitates electrochemical deposition. Other systems and controllers can be employed, which can assist in aligning or positioning the deposition head in proximity to a workpiece and controlling the size and location of the deposited feature.

Device for vertical galvanic metal deposition on a substrate comprising a first and a second device, arranged vertically parallel to each other; the first device comprising a first anode having a plurality of through-going conduits and a first carrier having a plurality of through-going conduits; wherein said first anode and said first carrier are connected to each other; wherein the second device comprises a first substrate holder adapted to receive a first substrate to be treated, wherein said first substrate holder at least partially surrounds the first substrate along its outer frame, wherein the first device further comprises a plurality of plugs, each plug comprising a through-going channel, each plug arranged such that it runs from the backside of the first carrier through a through-going conduit of the first carrier and further through the conduit of the first anode element, and the plugs are detachably connected to the first device.

A micronozzle assembly, comprising a reservoir, an array of structures comprising micronozzles, a porous structure positioned between the reservoir and the array, and an electrode within the reservoir, wherein the electrode comprises any of a mesh, a frame along the perimeter of the cavity of the reservoir, or a rod extending into a cavity of the reservoir.

An electroplating apparatus is provided that minimizes unplated regions when an alloy plating layer is provided on the surface of a thread on a steel pipe. An electroplating apparatus (10) includes an electrode (1), sealing members (2, 3), and a plating-solution supply unit (4). The electrode (1) faces the thread (Tm). The sealing member (2) is positioned within the steel pipe (P1). The sealing member (3) is attached to the end portion of the steel pipe (P1) and, together with the sealing member (2), forms a receiving space (8). The plating-solution supply unit (4) includes a plurality of nozzles (42). The nozzles (42) are positioned within the receiving space (8) and adjacent one end of the thread (Tm) and arranged around the pipe axis of the steel pipe (P1). The plating-solution supply unit (4) injects a plating solution between the thread (Tm) and electrode (1) through the nozzles (42). The direction in which plating solution is injected from the nozzles (42) is inclined at an angle larger than 20 degrees and smaller than 90 degrees toward the thread (Tm) relative to a plane perpendicular to the pipe axis.

A hydrogen evolution assisted electroplating nozzle includes a nozzle tip configured to interface with a portion of a substructure. The nozzle also includes an inner coaxial tube connected to a reservoir containing an electrolyte and an anode, the inner coaxial tube configured to dispense the electrolyte through the nozzle tip onto the portion of the substructure. The nozzle also includes an outer coaxial tube encompassing the inner coaxial tube, the outer coaxial tube configured to extract the electrolyte from the portion of the substructure. The nozzle also includes at least one contact pin configured to make electrical contact with a conductive track on the substrate.

A photovoltaic cell is proposed. The photovoltaic cell includes a substrate of semiconductor material, and a plurality of contact terminals each one arranged on a corresponding contact area of the substrate for collecting electric charges being generated in the substrate by the light. For at least one of the contact areas, the substrate includes at least one porous semiconductor region extending from the contact area into the substrate for anchoring the whole corresponding contact terminal on the substrate. In the solution according to an embodiment of the invention, each porous semiconductor region has a porosity decreasing moving away from the contact area inwards the substrate. An etching module and an electrolytic module for processing photovoltaic cells, a production line for producing photovoltaic cells, and a process for producing photovoltaic cells are also proposed.

Methods and apparatus for electroplating substrates are described herein. In some cases, an ionically resistive element is positioned near the substrate, creating a cross flow manifold between the ionically resistive element and the substrate. During plating, fluid may enter the cross flow manifold upward through the channels in the ionically resistive element, and (optionally) laterally through a cross flow side inlet. The flow paths combine in the cross flow manifold and exit at the cross flow outlet, which may be positioned opposite the cross flow inlet. In some embodiments, the ionically resistive element may include two or more flow regions, where the flow through each flow region is independently controllable. In these or other embodiments, an electrolyte jet may be included to flow additional electrolyte toward the substrate at a particular radial location or locations during plating. In some embodiments, the ionically resistive element may be omitted.

The invention relates to a system for the local surface treatment of an aeronautical part (1) to be treated.

Said system is characterised in that it comprises a plurality of containers (18, 19, 20, 21) each comprising a treatment product (22, 23, 24, 25), at least one bath enclosure (102a, 102b) suitable for delimiting a fluid-tight space (26a, 26b) between this bath enclosure (102a, 102b) and a portion (101a, 101b) of the part to be treated, and a controlled circuit (10) for supplying said fluid-tight space (26a, 26b) with treatment product (22, 23, 24, 25) the containers (18, 19, 20, 21) connecting at least this container (18, 19, 20, 21) to said fluid-tight space (26a, 26b) and comprising valves for managing the supply to the fluid-tight space by one or more containers from the plurality of containers.

A three-dimensional (3D) printing apparatus using selective electrochemical deposition is provided. The 3D printing apparatus is used to selectively deposit a metallic material on a substrate using a nozzle for jetting an electrolyte at a predetermined pressure to enhance 3D printing speed of a metallic product stacked on the substrate. The 3D printing apparatus is configured in such a way that a metallic product is 3D-printed as a metallic material is selectively deposited on the substrate while the electrolyte is continuously jetted at a predetermined pressure and, thus, 3D printing speed of a metallic product stacked on the substrate is remarkably increased compared with the case according to the prior art (Korean Publication No. 10-2015-0020356) in which plating is performed only when a meniscus is formed. Accordingly, the 3D printing apparatus is also applied to 3D printing of a bulk type of a metallic product with a comparatively large shape.

An apparatus and a method suited for metal plating aircraft engine components that allows the creation a local environment for plating by covering a localized area to be plated so that the localized area to be plated is sealed from remaining parts of the component, thereby eliminating the need for masking remaining parts of the component prior to plating.