The Chemistry of Precious Metal Electroplating: How It Works
Electroplating is a chemical process that deposits a thin layer of metal onto a surface through an electrical current. While this technique can be used with a variety of metals, precious metals like gold, silver, palladium and rhodium stand out for their aesthetic appeal, conductivity and corrosion resistance. Learn how electroplating works at a chemical…
What Is Precious Metal Plating?
If you’ve ever driven a car, relied on electronics or admired the gleam of gold jewelry, chances are you’ve encountered the work of precious metal plating. This specialized process, also known as electroplating, involves applying a thin layer of a precious metal like gold, silver, palladium or rhodium to a base material such as metal,…
Silver Electroplating: An Alternative to Gold in the Connector Industry?
As gold prices continue to rise, industries that depend on gold-plated connectors are exploring alternatives. One that’s catching the attention of automotive, aerospace, defense, and medical sectors is silver electroplating. Gold has earned its place in critical applications thanks to its excellent conductivity, corrosion resistance and dependability. Yet with silver also boasting impressive conductivity at…
How Manufacturing Lot Identification and Traceability Impacts Electroplating Lot Sizes
One of the more common questions we get from customers is, “What’s the ideal lot size we should send to maintain traceability during electroplating?” It’s a great ask with a straightforward answer. Electroplating shops have a range of equipment, each with its own ideal capacity. They will divide your manufacturing lot into optimal sizes based…
Benefits of Electroplating Palladium for Electrical Connectors
When it comes to electrical connectors, the plating material you choose can have a significant impact on performance, durability and cost. While gold has been a go-to for electroplating connectors due to its conductivity and resistance to corrosion, palladium is quickly gaining ground as a strong alternative with many advantages. Cost-Effectiveness One of the main…
Benefits of In-House Plastic and Metal Fabrication
Electroplating plays a big role in manufacturing. This method adds a layer of metal onto a base material to enhance a product’s appearance or durability. For companies that offer electroplating services, having the ability to do both plastic and metal fabrication in-house can be a real game-changer. In-House Plastic and Metal Fabrication to Maximize Efficiency…
Silver Electroplating on Stamped Reel-to-Reel Parts
Silver electroplating on stamped reel-to-reel parts is a popular choice for many industries due to its numerous benefits. It is found in applications ranging from consumer goods to countless mission and safety-critical uses in aerospace, telecommunications and other markets. It provides durable and corrosion-resistant finish that enhances the component’s appearance and functionality. Today, we’ll look…
Nadcap Accreditation and Its Merit Levels
The National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (Nadcap) is a global accreditation program that evaluates, tests and certifies processes used in aerospace and defense manufacturing. Nadcap offers two merit levels for its best performing suppliers: 18-month merit and 24-month merit. Merit allows Nadcap-accredited suppliers to reduce their audit frequency to every 18 months or,…
Plating Coverage Problems: Their Causes and How to Avoid Them
Screw machined parts with blind holes, present many challenges. Full electroplating coverage is just one of the challenges, but you can be sure your customer has a high expectation that full plating coverage is easily attained. Risks should be identified and communicated early on, preferably during the quoting or contract review stages. Luckily some design…
Plating Thickness Variation Problems: Their Causes and How to Avoid Them
One common challenge in electroplating is coating thickness variation, especially when plating loose parts like screw machined or stamped components. For mission- and safety-critical industries, aerospace, defense, medical and automotive, there is practically no room for error. Repeatable process ranges are the only way to meet process capability index (Cpk) requirements for Production Part Approval…