Electrode for use with manufacturing apparatus

Abstract

An electrode for use with a manufacturing apparatus to deposit a material onto a carrier body with the carrier body having a first end and a second end spaced from each other with a socket disposed at each end of the carrier body. The electrode includes a shaft having a first end and a second end. The electrode also includes a head disposed on one of the ends of the shaft for coupling with the socket. The shaft and the head have an exterior surface having a contact region adapted to contact the socket. The electrode further includes an exterior surface and an exterior coating disposed on the exterior surface outside of the contact region, the exterior coating having an electrical conductivity of at least 9×106 Siemens/meter and corrosion resistance higher than silver in a galvanic series based upon room temperature sea water as an electrolyte.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrode for use with a manufacturing apparatus to deposit a material onto a carrier body with the carrier body having a first end and a second end spaced from each other with a socket disposed at each end of the carrier body, said electrode comprising:
 a shaft having a first end and a second end;   a head disposed on one of said ends of said shaft for coupling with the socket;   wherein said shaft and said head have an exterior surface having a contact region adapted to contact the socket; and   said electrode having an exterior surface and an exterior coating disposed on said exterior surface outside of said contact region, said exterior coating having an electrical conductivity of at least 9×10 6  Siemens/meter and corrosion resistance higher than silver in a galvanic series based upon room temperature sea water as an electrolyte.   
     
     
         2 . An electrode as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said head is integral to said shaft. 
     
     
         3 . An electrode as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said electrode defines a cup with said contact region located within a portion of said cup. 
     
     
         4 . An electrode as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said exterior coating is disposed on at least one of said shaft and said head outside of said contact region. 
     
     
         5 . An electrode as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said exterior coating is disposed on said head outside of said contact region. 
     
     
         6 . An electrode as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said shaft is free from a coating disposed on said exterior surface thereof. 
     
     
         7 . An electrode as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said head comprises copper. 
     
     
         8 . An electrode as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said exterior coating comprises at least one of gold, platinum, and palladium. 
     
     
         9 . An electrode as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said exterior coating further comprises at least one of silver, nickel, and chromium. 
     
     
         10 . An electrode as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said exterior coating has a thickness of from 0.0254 to 0.254 mm. 
     
     
         11 . A manufacturing apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said exterior contact region coating has a thickness of from 0.0254 mm to 0.254 mm. 
     
     
         12 . An electrode as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said exterior coating has a thickness of from 0.0254 to 0.254 mm.