Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a nickel shape or shell employs nickel vapor deposition onto the inside surface of a closed, multi-part mandrel. The closed multi-part mandrel eliminates the need for a separate deposition chamber and the nickel vapor deposition creates a nickel shell in the shape of the complete or multi-part partial mandrel internal surface resulting in a hollow or partially hollow nickel product.

Abstract: An air cooled or heated blow mold is shown having a mold cavity shell and a mold holder. The mold cavity shell is made by a process of nickel vapour deposition and so requires no hand finishing or polishing. The mold cavity shell has a cavity portion with a front face defining a cavity in the shape of a portion of a product to be molded. The mold holder is located rearwardly of the mold cavity shell and defines an inner wall spaced from the mold cavity shell cavity portion to define a heat transfer passage between the inner wall and the cavity portion. In use, air is passed through the heat transfer passage to transfer heat to or from the mold cavity shell.

Abstract: A method of forming a nickel shell for a mold insert to reproduce an article surface, and a novel nickel shell insert are disclosed. The method comprises securing the article to be reproduced to a base having a perimeter, forming a dam about the perimeter, filling the interior of the dam with a silicone, mounting a register plate over the article within the dam in contact with the silicone, and allowing the silicone to cure whereby the silicone forms a negative master of the article surface, removing the negative master from the article and positioning a steel mandrel over the negative master to define a cavity therebetween, feeding a silicone which is not adherent to the negative master into said cavity to fill the cavity and allowing the silicone to cure whereby the silicone forms a positive master which adheres to the steel mandrel, removing the negative master from the positive master, and depositing a layer of nickel by nickel vapour deposition onto the positive master to form a nickel shell.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a nickel shell mold by nickel vapour deposition onto a mandrel in a deposition chamber is disclosed. A nickel shell mold assembly is produced having a liquid and vapour-tight cavity co-extensive with the mandrel for receiving a heating fluid, preferably a liquid such as oil, for flood heating of the mandrel to a uniform surface temperature.