Key principles.
Mark on part
Part hangs in plating bath via wires. Contact points on part. Designate non-cosmetic locations.
Internal cavities
Plating solution must drain. Hidden cavities trap solution causing future corrosion.
Coverage issue
Internal corners have lower current density (electroplating). Less plating thickness. Round corners help.
For hard steels
Steel > 60 HRC absorbs hydrogen during plating. Bake at 190°C × 8-24h after plating to drive out.
Account for thickness
Plating adds 5-50 µm per surface. May affect bearing fits, mating clearance.
Plate inside?
Holes < 1.5× wall thickness: poor internal plating. Specify if internal coverage critical.
FAQ
Chrome: hardest, wear surface. Nickel: corrosion + decorative. Zinc: cheapest, sacrificial steel protection.
Uniform thickness on complex geometry. Heat-treatable to 900+ HV. Corrosion + wear in one.
25-50 µm typical decorative. Hard chrome 25-50 µm functional. Specify per application.
Steels above ~50 HRC. Can crack days after plating from absorbed hydrogen. Bake-out essential.
Plating mirrors substrate finish. Polished base = mirror plate. Rough base = rough plate. Pre-plate finishing matters.
Hex chrome (Cr6+) regulated. Trivalent chrome (Cr3+) increasingly used. Consider environmental compliance for new designs.
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