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Poor Surface finish on electropolished parts

2007

Hello All,
We are having a cosmetics finishing problems with an electropolish process and I'd like to have your comments and suggestions about.
We're electropolishing a 304 SS 0.006 and 0.005 thickness metal.
27" x 23" width and high respectively. Actually we're using the next parameters:
Acid solution Temperature is 122 F
Current is 95 Amp
Tension is 3.7 volts
Time is 4 mins
Basically, the surface of the SS metal looks pretty bad. I'd like to know if we are using the correct parameters for this specific process and how can improve the finished?
I really appreciate the help than you can provide me. Thanks in advance.
Best Regards,

Alberto Barajas
Quality Eng - Jalisco, México

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Please review the electropolishing chapter of the Electroplating Engineering Handbook [on AbeBooks or eBay or Amazon] as a first step, Alberto, but it sounds like your current is about a tenth of what it needs to be.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2007

Your material is a poor conductor of electricity and is extremely thin for your surface area. (IE: it will not carry the required amperage)It will require multiple points of contact on both the top and bottom and possibly on the sides also.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2007

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Lower your Amperage and voltage.
Keep stable the pH solution.
Increase T.

Let me know if I still can be help you.

Suerte

Jose Castellanos
- Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
2007