Dannywex

Topic: Best process for plating high volumes of 5" steel barrels ???

I'm new to a manufacturing company and have been tasked with increasing the OD of steel barrels by 0.010" (0.005" plating thickness) at a daily rate of 50/day. Processes that have been in discussed are: Electroless, high speed brush or HVOF (where copper/nickel alloy is irrelevant). Start up costs, equipment, time & waste management are all things to consider, but with overall focus on plating uniformity. Any suggestions, comments or concerns with any?

SFA

Re: Best process for plating high volumes of 5" steel barrels ???

What is the measurement of the OD?  Could make a big difference in considerations.  Also any other specifications that you must adhere to will help determine the process.


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Dannywex

Re: Best process for plating high volumes of 5" steel barrels ???

Max cylinder OD is 6".  Only plating 1/2" width at outer rim.  Please see pic.


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  Chrome plated tip.JPG
   cpt.JPG

skelton

Re: Best process for plating high volumes of 5" steel barrels ???

Danny,

Masking the O.D. and I.D. with a topical mask, or the use of caps and plugs will allow for you to accommodate your specification. Depending on the aesthetics you are wanting to achieve where the plated areas meet with the unplated areas, either method can be debatable. With a topical mask, you may get a fine jagged edge with some plating adhering just under the edges. With Caps and plugs, you may also get some leakage underneath the cap and inside the plug, and some plating may apply itself, or just allow chemistry to seep inside the part. With careful sizing of the caps and plugs, along with a good rack design (most likely the good ole wire method), any method of plating will be acceptable. However, due to the significant plating thickness, I believe HVOF may be a better avenue for this part? I am unaware of what plating thicknesses can be obtained via high-speed brush plating? That, and if you will achieve uniformity? Is hard chrome an option? This appears to be a good candidate for this requirement.


I hope this helps.

Skelton



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JASON

Re: Best process for plating high volumes of 5" steel barrels ???

Danny,

One of the ways we do production work (hard chrome) is to stack multiple parts together (if the part is hollow). Determine the max length you could plate. use a 3/4" threaded rod with a plate @ the bottom (same size as the o.d. of part) held in place with a nuts and washers. stack them with same dia facing each other. Put an other plate @ top with the treaded rod extending out about 6". With a L-bar @ the top (1" x 3" bar shaped like an L with a 1" hole to accomidate the threaded rod) Tighten an other nut onto the the rod an tighten it all together. Mask the o.d. areas that you want protected. Also, make sure you clean the faces of the parts you are stacking together to get proper current distribution. These parts look like the are ground after ther plating process due to the rough build up on edge. Hope this helps.

B.L.AGARWAL

Re: Best process for plating high volumes of 5" steel barrels ???

I would like to know achivable hours (white rust/Red rust) under

alkaline zinc plating with trivalent quoting. Please suggest suitable chemical to improve upon.

B.L.Agarwal