eddy_kuan55

Topic: what is the best dummy for reel to reel electroplating

I am doing reel to reel electroplating, our plated product is used for connector, Au plating, Ni plating, Sn plating, NiPd plating.

I am facing a problem of dummy when we do setup on reel to reel electroplating, the problem is:

1. dummy only can used up to few time only, due to dummy become crispy and easy to break.

2. currently, we use the dummy from stamping bad terminal, but not always have bad terminal.

hope any reel to reel exprerience guy here can help me...   

platermike

Re: what is the best dummy for reel to reel electroplating

Can you pump the solution to an external tank to dummy, I believe you would get a better result and you possibly filter the solution better when you are pumping in and out.

platermike's Website

DustinGebhardt

Re: what is the best dummy for reel to reel electroplating

You can also try a continuous external dummy. 

-Dustin Gebhardt,
CEF
Plating Engineer
Danaher Tool Group
Gastonia, NC

eddy_kuan55

Re: what is the best dummy for reel to reel electroplating

I am not sure clear about continues external dummy, can you explain more clearly? 

can you give some example? 

platermike

Re: what is the best dummy for reel to reel electroplating

You would need to setup and anode and a cathode in a external tank. The cathode should be a piece of coragated steel.The anode nickel. Then just pump the solution in for it to be dummied. This can be done off shift or even if you have the resources make up another bath and have 1 dummy and the other can be used for plating and switch them weekly or bi-weekly depending on your production.

platermike's Website

eddy_kuan55

Re: what is the best dummy for reel to reel electroplating

I think i should make this more clear, the ' dummy ' i mean here is:

is a ' dummy' that load (carry) my good part from un-reeling to re-reeling, 40 meter long from un-reeling to re-reeling, in the same time, i can use the dummy to adjust how many ampere i needed, and solution level, and angle of accumulator tower.

our product is in reel, we un-reeling it, and go through accumulator tower, and go in 40 meter long plating line( electro-clean, nickel plating, gold plating or tin plating, and follow by some other process). when reach re-reeling side, is a finished plated product.

If i dnt have this so called 'dummy', i cannot carry my good part from un-reeling to re-reeling side, and i cant trial run a sample as well.

now the problem created, when the ' dummy ' used up to few time, it become soft, crispy and easy to break. what is the best dummy?  

DustinGebhardt

Re: what is the best dummy for reel to reel electroplating

When using a "dummy" as you describe, it is pretty common for the dummy to become built up with plating and eventually it becomes useless.  This is the nature of the dummy.  It is a disposable part.


To answer your question, I don't think there is a better dummy than what you are using.  You want a dummy that is a close to your raw material as possible in order to best duplicate how the good material will run in your process.

-Dustin Gebhardt,
CEF
Plating Engineer
Danaher Tool Group
Gastonia, NC

eddy_kuan55

Re: what is the best dummy for reel to reel electroplating

 Thank for reply, what you said is correct. the best 'dummy' is close to my raw meterial.

That why i am looking a better idea for this.

currently, we did think over this problem, instead of this 'dummy', a plastic type dummy i think will be better.

DustinGebhardt

Re: what is the best dummy for reel to reel electroplating

The plastic may work to begin your process and get the product down the line, but I thought you needed it to help you set the bath parameters?

-Dustin Gebhardt,
CEF
Plating Engineer
Danaher Tool Group
Gastonia, NC

eddy_kuan55

Re: what is the best dummy for reel to reel electroplating

ya..... that is the disadvantage for plastic dummy, That why i am looking is there any better ' dummy '.

but, i think very hard to find. but plastic dummy can use up to so many time instead of real dummy.

thank to dustingebhardt. Have you face contact roller problem on reel to reel plating line? peeling issue.... pin bent...