There are many types of surface treatment of CNC machined parts that can be used for prototype manufacturing design and production. Not all surface treatments are suitable. Many surface treatments are only used to improve aesthetics and ignore the functions of CNC machined parts, but there are also many people who consider the beauty and practicality of CNC machined parts. In this article, we will focus on the electroplating of CNC machining parts. In the surface treatment design and production of CNC machined parts, in addition to improving the aesthetics, it is more important to improve the performance of CNC machined parts. This article describes the knowledge of electroplating of key CNC machining parts.
Ruisite are exported all over the world and different industries with quality first. Our belief is to provide our customers with more and better high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.
What electroplating?
Electroplating is the process of plating a thin layer of other metals or alloys on the surface of some CNC machined parts using the principle of electrolysis. It is the process of using electrolysis to attach a layer of metal film to the surface of the CNC machined parts to prevent oxidation of the CNC machined parts ( Such as rust), improve wear resistance, electrical conductivity, reflectivity, corrosion resistance (copper sulfate, etc.) and enhance aesthetics. The outer layer of many coins is also electroplated.
Principles of Electroplating of CNC Machining Parts
In the salt solution containing the CNC machined parts to be plated, the base metal to be plated is used as the cathode. Through electrolysis, the cations of the metal to be plated in the plating solution are deposited on the surface of the CNC machined parts to form a coating.
Elements of electroplating of CNC machined parts
1. Cathode: The object to be plated refers to various connector terminals.
2. Anode: If it is a soluble anode, it is the metal to be plated. . In the case of insoluble anodes, most of them are precious metals (platinum, iridium oxide).
3. Electroplating potion: electroplating potion containing metal ions to be plated.
4. Electroplating tank: a tank that can bear and store electroplating solution, generally considering factors such as strength, corrosion resistance, and temperature resistance.
5. Rectifier: A device that provides DC power. Polishing ' polishing ' hanging ' degreasing and degreasing ' washing ' electrolytic polishing or chemical polishing ' pickling activation ' pre-dipping ' electroplating ' washing ' post-treatment ' washing ' drying ' hanging ' inspecting packaging.
What are the electroplating of CNC machining parts?
Gilded
The gold plating layer has a golden appearance, has good chemical stability, discoloration resistance, electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance. At the same time, it has good solderability, low contact resistance, and excellent hot-press bonding performance, which makes electroplating gold The coating can be used as a decorative coating as well as a functional and protective coating. An easy way to impart these important properties to silver and copper metals is gold plating. It has a wide range of applications in improving the conductivity of CNC machined parts (such as electrical connectors).
Silver
Similar to gold plating, silver plating also improves the beauty of related materials. When it comes to silver plating, conductivity also plays a role. Many manufacturers of CNC machined parts choose silver plating because it is cost-effective and cheaper than gold. It can also more fully electroplate copper and CNC machined parts. It is often used in electrical appliances, sanitary ware, furniture and household products, handicrafts, hardware equipment, lighting, fire-fighting supplies, medical equipment, aluminum, steel, fitness equipment, transportation facilities, etc.
Copper plating
When your application requires cost-effectiveness and high conductivity, copper plating is the best choice. This procedure is usually used as the main coating pretreatment for subsequent electroplating surfaces. Copper electroplating technology is the core technology for manufacturing electronic interconnection devices such as printed circuit boards and package carrier boards. Due to its low material cost, the electroplating efficiency is high.
Galvanized
Galvanizing is to coat a layer of zinc on the surface of CNC machined parts or other materials for aesthetics and rust prevention. The zinc layer on the surface is an electrochemical protective layer that can prevent the CNC machined parts from decay. Widely used Machinery manufacturing, electronics, precision instruments, chemicals, transportation, aerospace, etc.
Chrome
This electroplating process usually involves the use of chromic acid and a trivalent chromium bath to create a coating on the CNC machined part. The chromium plating layer has good chemical stability. It has no effect in alkali, sulfide, nitric acid and most organic acids, but it can be dissolved in hydrochloric acid (such as hydrochloric acid) and hot sulfuric acid. In the visible light range, the reflectivity of chromium is about 65%, which is between silver (88%) and nickel (55%). Because chromium does not change color, it can maintain its reflectivity for a long time and is better than silver and nickel. . Mainly in many fields such as metallurgy, automobile, civil engineering, electric power, chemical industry, marine engineering, household appliances, railways, highways, bridges, tunnels, military industry, etc.
Nickel plated
The method of depositing a layer of nickel on the surface of CNC machined parts by electrochemical action. It can be used as a surface coating, but it is mainly used for chrome plating to prevent corrosion, increase wear resistance, gloss and beauty. This electroplating technology is most suitable for aluminum and copper CNC machining parts. It is also suitable for other metal materials, and also used for bottom plating of chromium. Mainly used in petroleum, chemical, electronics, instrumentation, lighting, communications, aerospace and other fields.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website electroplating machine.
Advantages and disadvantages of electroplating of CNC machined parts
Electroplating is an effective and common surface treatment process for CNC machined parts. When using metal electroplating, we should also understand its advantages and disadvantages. Below we tell you its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages: It can be plated with a variety of materials, it has a wide range of specific and architectural finishes, this is a cost-effective finishing technology that provides anti-wear and anti-corrosion protection, provides high hardness and strength, and increases the decorative feel of the material.
Disadvantages: It is easy to break in certain wear environments, it may be very long, and if it is not handled well, CNC machining defects will occur.
Summarize
Our products cover the majority of the most common aluminium alloys. However, the industry is constantly evolving. For an overview table of compositions suitable for anodising, please see our anodising guide.
In this case, the concentration of the colour solution is not high enough. We recommend 10g/L. Also possible: the alloy is not or only insufficiently suitable for anodising. You can find an overview table on this in our instructions for anodising.
When anodising, the surface area of the workpiece is calculated in dm² and multiplied by 1.5. This gives the necessary amperage for your project. As soon as you set this on your machine, the voltage regulates itself automatically.
No. Only the aluminium piece and titanium wire may be immersed in the solution with the anodising bath. The alligator clips must not come into contact with the bath.
Our bluing agents primarily create a black coloured surface that is not a real coating but inhibits the existing surface of steel, stainless steel or aluminium. Corrosion protection is only achieved if the blackened layer is oiled or painted at the end.
This is most likely because the remnants of the bluing agent have not been rinsed off cleanly enough. This causes components of the bluing to crystallise on the surface and form a reddish-brown layer that looks like rust. Make sure that residues of the bluing liquid are completely removed at the beginning and end and that the surface is clean. Repeat the blackening process and wash off the bluing chemical carefully and completely at the end!
Our product range currently allows us to burnish the following materials: Iron, steel, zinc, aluminium and various non-ferrous metals. Check the product detail page for compatibility with the material you have.
You have to multiply the current density recommended for the respective electrolyte by the surface area of the workpiece in dm² and then get the required current intensity. The voltage will readjust when the current is set accordingly.
This varies from electrolyte to electrolyte. If the anodes are made of the same material as the salt in the electrolyte solution (e.g. copper, nickel, silver, zinc), the salt content remains constant because the anode dissolves slowly but steadily. However, the electrolyte is still contaminated at some point and brighteners (if present) are used up.
Certain electrolytes can be diluted. The gold electrolytes Flash and Midas can be diluted in a ratio of up to 1:1. However, the speed of deposition and the shine then decrease rapidly.
The anodes should be at least as large as the surface of the object to be coated. The supply of 2 anodes (left and right) has been proven to give better results.
If you want to coat from both sides at the same time, you should place an anode in the tank on each side and place the workpiece in the middle. The deposition is then more uniform than with the method with only one anode.
The depletion of the electrolyte can be recognised by the slowing deposition. The colouring of the gold electrolyte Midas, for example, does not indicate that the electrolyte has been used up.
Yes, this is possible with the help of our conductive copper varnish. The object is sprayed or brushed with copper conductive paint or copper conductive lacquer spray, which first creates a metallic layer. The object is then given its final conductivity in a galvanic bath with acidic bright copper electrolyte. This creates a continuous, conductive copper layer that can then be further treated like any other copper layer, e.g. by silver plating.
Rust Piranha can normally be painted over or treated further. However, please check on an inconspicuous spot whether the rust converter is compatible with your paint colour.
Our products for electroless silver plating only deposit on copper and brass as a base, as the products can only deposit silver with these materials. Accordingly, the products for electroless silver plating can NOT be deposited on silver. If copper or brass are coated, a thin silver layer of 200 - 300 nm is produced, which is intended for decorative purposes only. If you want a thicker silver layer on your object, the only process left is electroplating!
In principle, it is possible to gold-plate some aluminium alloys with the Gold Star, but so far this only works with a few compositions. The success of the application can therefore not be guaranteed for all aluminium alloys.
The zinc object must be clean and free of residues such as dirt, oil or particles. The object is then degreased, e.g. with the TIFOO Galvano Degreaser. Depending on the size, the object is immersed in the yellow chromate for a few minutes. 3 minutes is a good guideline.
For more information, please visit Hard Chrome Plating Equipment.