Electroforming Electroforming is actually the same process as electroplating. It is simply called electroforming if the plated layer is the object itself rather than a coating on the object. The nickel molds/stampers for vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, etc. are electroformed. So too are bellows, waveguides, and other items which might be very difficult to machine.

If a metal item is the shape of a Coke bottle it might be very difficult to manufacture by conventional methods, but an aluminum or wax mandrel can be electroplated and then the aluminum or wax melted away.

Electroforms are generally much thicker than the plating on other objects, so, although the principles remain the same, the formulation of the plating solution and the operating parameters may be altered because issues like stress and potential dendrite formation which might be small issues for thin coatings can become major issues when the electrodeposited layers are very thick.