Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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OUTDATED SPECIFICATIONS?

We are a small machine shop catering to all industries. In our most recent endeavors we have come across "generic" call-outs on drawings such as: "Passivate per ASTM A967, practice optional".

Is it incumbent upon our plater(s) to choose and certify to the most recent rev level or release of that spec? It apparently is too costly (or time consuming) for the originator of the document to keep the documents up to date; hence the abbreviated call-out.

Larry Redden
Buyer of services - Granby, MA, USA
July 8, 2009

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Larry

I think you would benefit from having a good working relationship with your plating supplier and knowing what they will do in the event that documentation is not well defined. A number of specification put a burden on the purchaser as well as the supplier with regard to what must be done. Talk to them so you know what you can expect from them. I find it reasonable to expect them to be processing i.a.w. the current revision, if it is not specified.

Willie Alexander
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
July 11, 2009

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Generally the revisions aren't dramatically different from the old versions, but ideally yes, processors should be up to date or close to it. In this case "practice optional" probably means they don't care whether nitric or citric passivation is used.

Ray Kremer
Stellar Solutions, Inc.

McHenry, Illinois

July 14, 2009