Summary for bath size for hard chrome plating Discussion
bath size for hard chrome plating is discussed as a practical rather than a sharply defined variable. Manoj Gupta asks what effect bath size has on the process and results. The answer says that, in general, once a chrome tank is large enough, making it even larger does not change the plating process. However, the minimum acceptable size is described as complicated and not clearly defined. The responder adds that the useful rule of thumb is that a practical tank for the parts is usually already big enough, and notes that they have not seen a chrome plating tank that was too small, even though undersized tanks can be a problem in other plating processes. The reply is cautious and does not give a numeric minimum, only the general principle that adequate size matters more than extra size.
Q. What kind of effect does bath size have, on the hard chrome plating process and the results?
Manoj Gupta
Automobile Shock Absorbers – Indore, M.P., India
2004
A. It is generally believed that once a bath size is big enough, the plating process is not effected by being carried out in a still larger bath. But the minimum size is a complicated issue. The saving grace is that, usually, a tank of a practical size for parts is big enough.
I know this wasn’t too much help, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a chrome plating tank that was too small. Tanks that were too small for other plating processes, yes.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
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2004
A. A larger tank than an absolute minimum is nice because your chemistry does not change as fast AND you may be able to avoid having a cooling system. Chrome plating generates a lot of heat as it is a very inneficient plating process. Proper chrome plating should have the temperature held within a couple of degrees. Lastly, I do not care how big a tank you put in, someone will want a job done that is a couple of inches too big to fit.
James Watts
– Navarre, Florida
2004
A. Dear Mr. Gupta,
As a broad thumb rule, the hard chrome plating tanks are designed on the basis of 1 Liter per 1 Amp basis. Obviously, the size of the component is of prime importance. If you have larger volumes, you may actually have to run heating and invent ways to maintain homogeneous temperature all over the bath. If the volumes are smaller, the investment in terms of cooling (Heat Exchanger/Chiller capacity) goes up. Hope this helps.
Paramjit Singh
– Brampton, Ontario, Canada
2004