An exemplary embodiment relates to improving a driving speed of a shape-memory-alloy applied as an artificial muscle, and to improving heat conduction and thermal convection by growing copper nanowires on the surface of the shape-memory-alloy to improve a natural cooling rate and a driving speed of the shape-memory-alloy.

An exemplary embodiment relates to improving a driving speed of a shape-memory-alloy applied as an artificial muscle, and to improving heat conduction and thermal convection by growing copper nanowires on the surface of the shape-memory-alloy to improve a natural cooling rate and a driving speed of the shape-memory-alloy.

The present invention is a system and method for electroplating and etching, which provides a solution to the problem of smoothing rough exterior features of a 3D printed or otherwise roughly manufactured object with rough exterior features. The core components of the invention are an acid bath with a first electrode and a target object as a second electrode which are in the acid bath. The first electrode and the target object are connected to a power source that causes a current to run in a first direction to etch the target object and in a second direction to plate on the target object. The amount of different metals dissolved in the acid solution will affect the composition of plated material on the target object.

The present invention is a system and method for electroplating and etching, which provides a solution to the problem of smoothing rough exterior features of a 3D printed or otherwise roughly manufactured object with rough exterior features. The core components of the invention are an acid bath with a first electrode and a target object as a second electrode which are in the acid bath. The first electrode and the target object are connected to a power source that causes a current to run in a first direction to etch the target object and in a second direction to plate on the target object. The amount of different metals dissolved in the acid solution will affect the composition of plated material on the target object.

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 of making a light weight component is provided. The method including the steps of: forming a metallic foam core into a desired configuration; inserting a pre-machined component into an opening in the metallic foam core; applying an external metallic shell to an exterior surface of the metallic foam core after it has been formed into the desired configuration and after the pre-machined component has been inserted into the metallic foam core; introducing an acid into an internal cavity defined by the external metallic shell; dissolving the metallic foam core; and removing the dissolved metallic foam core from the internal cavity, wherein the component and the external metallic shell are resistant to the acid.

A method of making a light weight component is provided. The method including the steps of: forming a metallic foam core into a desired configuration; inserting a pre-machined component into an opening in the metallic foam core; applying an external metallic shell to an exterior surface of the metallic foam core after it has been formed into the desired configuration and after the pre-machined component has been inserted into the metallic foam core; introducing an acid into an internal cavity defined by the external metallic shell; dissolving the metallic foam core; and removing the dissolved metallic foam core from the internal cavity, wherein the component and the external metallic shell are resistant to the acid.

A method of making a light weight component is provided. The method including the steps of: forming a metallic foam core into a desired configuration; applying an external metallic shell to an exterior surface of the metallic foam core after it has been formed into the desired configuration; and attenuating the component to a desired frequency by forming a plurality of openings in the external metallic shell.

A method of making a light weight component is provided. The method including the steps of: forming a metallic foam core into a desired configuration; applying an external metallic shell to an exterior surface of the metallic foam core after it has been formed into the desired configuration; and attenuating the component to a desired frequency by forming a plurality of openings in the external metallic shell.