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Hard Chrome - Rotating Cathode

adv.

Q. Our company is currently working with a customer to eliminate the Mercury from their existing rotating crank "fixture". Currently the Mercury is transferring the current to the shaft. We are required to transfer 6000 Amps to the rotating shaft beneath the hard chrome bath. If anyone could suggest the best way to achieve this it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Steve K [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
Engineering Manager - Chatham, Ontario, Canada
2004

A. I suppose the project could be handled with a carbon brush arrangement, Steve -- although it sounds inherently more gangly and trouble-prone than the mercury approach.

Are you sure that you should feel obligated to get the mercury out of this system when doing so will probably increase maintenance personnel exposure to carcinogenic hexavalent chromium? The mercury can be completely sealed away from operator exposure and the environment; the chromic acid unfortunately can't be. Should we increase exposure to a real environmental hazard in order to address a probably imaginary hazard? Maybe, but it requires examination.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Ted is available for instant help
or longer-term assistance.
2004

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