Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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What is the capacity of a plating barrel?

How can we know the capacity of barrel from barrel size?

Rengarajan Lakshmanan
Plating field - Ludhiana, Punjab, India
2005

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How many grains of rice are there in a sack? The answer to your question is "it depends". It depends on what you are plating, the plant design and the process being operated. As a simple rule of thumb and all else being equal, the maximum safe capacity of a barrel is about 1/3 to 1/2 the total available volume of the barrel. However, you also need adequate rectification (typically 6-8 A/ft2 for most processes). You also need adequate driving systems; if you have a barrel load of cast iron parts, the capacity will be less than if you have aluminium - simply because of the weight difference.

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2005