Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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E-nickel coating tolerance

I have a part that we manufacture the called out to be "Electroless nickel plated to spec 2404 .0003 thick" What thickness tolerance should I expect my plater to achieve. Plus or Minus ?

Doug Wright
- Fremont, California
2006

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First of three simultaneous responses --

It really depends on the quality of the plating shop and the operator on that day, plus what you are paying for the job. Tighten the tollerances and you will pay more at most shops due to the increased QC.
Any decent shop should be able to hold a =/- 0.0001" on the parts. Size and geometry affect ease of handling, racking and processing which will have an effect of quality in most shops.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2006

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Second of three simultaneous responses --

+- .0001" is easy, +- .00005" is doable.

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
2006

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Third of three simultaneous responses --

You must expect that he will interpret an apparently open or vague specification in his favor. And that generally means less plate (less time, chemicals, labor, etc.).
It seems that the specification is what isn't up to the expectations.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
2006