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Is Controlled Chrome Plating possible?

2005

My name is Hari Surti, Manager (Strategic Sourcing) for an Indian manufacturing facility for a Cincinnati, Ohio company.

I am also catering to the new vendor development activity; we carry out hard chrome plating on strain rods of our plastics injection moulding machine, lately we came across a new process called Controlled Chrome Plating.

We are told that, we can avoid final OD grinding operation post chrome plating.

We need your advise on following:

1. Whether process is possible or not? A brief process description if available mentioning sequence of process flow.
2. What are the necessary equipments?
3. What controls are necessary?

We await your advise & help.

Thanks & regards,

Hari Surti
- Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

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2005

In math there is an old saying" figures do not lie, but liars figure". I think that you are being given information that most chrome platers will not agree to until more is known.
If it is hard chrome, how thick is it?
What is the surface finish before chrome?
what surface finish is required after plate?
What is the allowable variation?
Chrome can be applied on parts with a lot of tweaking of conforming anodes and robbers to maintain a very close tolerance on something like a rod, but not on a part with a lot of variable geometries.
The only people that can tell you all of the information are the ones that want to sell you their product. It may be true, but I would want to see a lot of samples, over time before I dropped a lot of money into their system. I would also want money back guarantees if you installed it and could not duplicate the work.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

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2005

Hari

Plating Hard chrome is a fairly straightforward operation.

Obtaining uniform thicknesses without belling on the ends that necessitates back grinding to uniformity is a bit more difficult if you don't know how its done.

This Controlled Chrome plating is another name for plating hard Chrome to exact thickness without back grinding.
It is entirely possible and has been done before. It is a reasonably straightforward process and simple to run.
regards,

Asif Nurie [deceased]
- New Delhi, India
With deep regret we sadly advise that Asif passed away on Jan 24, 2016

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I agree with Asif to a point. Yes, it can be done, to a point. How much per side is to be plated is one critical point. Another point is what are the tolerances. the third point is shape. The thicker the plate and the tighter the tolerances, the more difficult it becomes. This is not a "dip it" operation. It takes a good person to develop the fixtures and platers that will follow instructions and be observant.
Readers should believe that it is possible, but approach with due caution until it can be verified that it is applicable to their facility and their part(s).

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2005

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Sir,

We have Round Bars starting from ø 45 to ø 200, & length from 2.00 mtr to 4.5 mtrs which are to be plated.

Pre plating the rods are ground, 0.003 per side.

Thanks for your response.

Hari Surti
Manager (Strategic Sourcing)

Hari Surti
- Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
2005