An electroplating system includes an enclosure with an interior, an anode lead extending through the enclosure and into the interior, and a porous body. The porous body is supported within the interior of the enclosure for coupling an electroplating solution within the interior with a workpiece. A conduit extends through the enclosure and into the interior of the enclosure to provide a flow of nitrogen enriched air to the interior of enclosure for drying and removing oxygen from the electroplating solution.

An electroplating system includes an enclosure with an interior, an anode lead extending through the enclosure and into the interior, and a porous body. The porous body is supported within the interior of the enclosure for coupling an electroplating solution within the interior with a workpiece. A conduit extends through the enclosure and into the interior of the enclosure to provide a flow of nitrogen enriched air to the interior of enclosure for drying and removing oxygen from the electroplating solution.

Provided is a method for forming a metal film capable of forming a homogeneous metal film having a uniform film thickness by stably ensuring a fluid pressure of an electrolytic solution during film formation. The method places a substrate on a mount base. While sucking a gas between the substrate and a porous film through which the electrolytic solution can pass from a suction port of a suction passage formed on the mount base, the method brings the porous film into contact with the surface of the substrate. The method interrupts the suction passage while the porous film contacts the surface of the substrate. While interrupting the suction passage, the method allows the electrolytic solution to pass through the porous film while pressing the porous film against the surface of the substrate with a fluid pressure of the electrolytic solution and deposits metal from metal ions in the passed electrolytic solution on the surface of the substrate, thereby forming the metal film.

Provided is a film forming apparatus and a film forming method for forming a metal film capable of reducing the occurrence of discoloring or alteration of the metal film caused by drying of an electrolytic solution remaining on the surface of the formed metal film. A space where the metal film exists is sealed between a housing and a mount base in a state where the solid electrolyte membrane is in contact with the metal film. The film forming apparatus includes a water supply unit supplying a wash water to the sealed space such that the wash water flows onto the surface of the metal film being in contact with the solid electrolyte membrane, and a water discharge unit discharging a wash water from the sealed space such that the wash water having flown onto the surface of the metal film flows out from the surface of the metal film.

The present invention relates to a plating apparatus and a plating method for partially forming a plating film on an object to be plated. The plating apparatus includes: a rotary electrode configured to be rotatable; a plating solution holding unit arranged to the rotary electrode and configured to hold a plating solution; and a power supply unit configured to apply a voltage between the portion to be plated and the rotary electrode.

Provided is a technique that ensures suppressed invasion of particles generated at a bearing of a rotation mechanism into a plating tank.

A plating apparatus 1000 includes a labyrinth seal member 50. The labyrinth seal member includes an inner labyrinth seal 53 arranged below a bearing 33 to seal the bearing, an outer labyrinth seal 54 arranged outside in a radial direction of the rotation shaft 32 with respect to the inner labyrinth seal, a delivery port 55configured to supply air to an inner seal space 60 formed inside in the radial direction with respect to the inner labyrinth seal, and a suction port 56 configured to suction air in an outer seal space 65 formed outside in the radial direction with respect to the inner labyrinth seal and inside in the radial direction with respect to the outer labyrinth seat

A method for producing round stock (10) which is provided with at least one inscription and/or marking (16), at least the surface (12) of the round stock (10) consisting of a metallic material, in particular of chromium or steel, for example of hardened steel, chromium-plated steel or stainless steel. In order to improve this method such that disadvantages and shortcomings are avoided, the method includes the following steps: placing on the surface (12) at least one cover (20) which is adapted to the shape of the surface (12) and in particular has the inscription and/or marking (16), such that the region to be provided with the inscription and/or marking (16) is not covered by the cover (20),—exposing the round stock (10) to a first electrolyte (30) together with the cover (20), material being removed from the surface (12) by said electrolyte in the region to be provided with the inscription and/or the marking (16) while producing depressions (14), and—exposing the round stock (10) together with the cover (20) and the depressions (14) not covered by the cover (20) to a second electrolyte (32) by which the depressions (14) are filled to produce the inscription and/or marking (16) which differs from the surface (12) optically, in particular with respect to color. The present invention also relates to round stock (10) which is manufactured from a metallic material, with the round stock being provided with a correspondingly produced inscription and/or marking (16).

A method for producing round stock (10) which is provided with at least one inscription and/or marking (16), at least the surface (12) of the round stock (10) consisting of a metallic material, in particular of chromium or steel, for example of hardened steel, chromium-plated steel or stainless steel. In order to improve this method such that disadvantages and shortcomings are avoided, the method includes the following steps: placing on the surface (12) at least one cover (20) which is adapted to the shape of the surface (12) and in particular has the inscription and/or marking (16), such that the region to be provided with the inscription and/or marking (16) is not covered by the cover (20),—exposing the round stock (10) to a first electrolyte (30) together with the cover (20), material being removed from the surface (12) by said electrolyte in the region to be provided with the inscription and/or the marking (16) while producing depressions (14), and—exposing the round stock (10) together with the cover (20) and the depressions (14) not covered by the cover (20) to a second electrolyte (32) by which the depressions (14) are filled to produce the inscription and/or marking (16) which differs from the surface (12) optically, in particular with respect to color. The present invention also relates to round stock (10) which is manufactured from a metallic material, with the round stock being provided with a correspondingly produced inscription and/or marking (16).

A method and system for manufacturing an optical article is provided. The method may comprise providing at least one ophthalmic lens substrate having a surface; applying at least one conductive coating on at least a portion the ophthalmic lens substrate; and electroplating the ophthalmic lens substrate to form a plating layer that is in a contacting relationship with the conductive coating of the optical article. Other layers may also be applied.

A method and system for manufacturing an optical article is provided. The method may comprise providing at least one ophthalmic lens substrate having a surface; applying at least one conductive coating on at least a portion the ophthalmic lens substrate; and electroplating the ophthalmic lens substrate to form a plating layer that is in a contacting relationship with the conductive coating of the optical article. Other layers may also be applied.