Letter 42009

Sizing of Plating Tanks [Colombia] 

August 24, 2006

Good mornig Dr/Sr

We want to process 3 pieces at a time (electroplating on aluminum with copper and tin). The biggest piece has a surface area of the 9600 cm² (surface area 9600x3 cm²)

We know the importance abaut pretreatment. (alstan or zincating)

My question is:

Exists one formulate approximate to know the capacity of the tanks (liters) knowing
the surface area for 3 pieces (bath for 3 pieces at a time)

pretreatments tanks
plating tanks

Thanks,

Juan David
- Colombia

Hi Dave,

I'm not a plater .... but for your 9.6 M° plates, rather than a 'wide' tank, wouldn't it be best to use a narrow tank about 6" longer than the parts and l2" higher, too ... why l2"? That's because you don't want too high a liquid load, say 6" freeboard.

Width wise? No idea. Maybe 3" clearance on each side.

Does that make sense?

Freeman Newton
- White Rock, B.C. Canada

Thanks Freeman

The pieces that We need electroplated are very long

3000x152x10 mm

are 3 pieces for bath

Juan David
- Colombia

Hi Juan,

As your pieces are long but only very narrow, why don't you consider a ROUND tank? Dig a long vertical hole !!!

I'm not sure about your temperature but if under l40°F (60° C), consider using some standard PVC pipe of say 12"Ø (actually you'd only need 8"Ø but then there's the anode size to consider)

Just an idea. And if you did that, your ventilation system would be far smaller than using a rectangular tank.

Food for thought, anyhow.

Freeman Newton
- White Rock, B.C. Canada

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