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Silver plating to differential thicknesses on the same part

December 17, 2010

Silver plating to differential thicknesses on the same part

Is there any established technology for coating different amount of silver at different geometry of same part?
if so, how is it done and any companies who can do?

Nikhil Makuny
Plating Shop - Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

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Hi, Nikhil. Please look into Faraday's Law of Electrolysis and you will see that the thickness of the plating at different areas will essentially be in exact proportion to the primary current distribution. Thus, through the use of careful anode shape and placement, and non-conductive plastic shields between the anodes and the work, and even thieves (current robbers) if necessary, it is theoretically possible to get the exact thickness distribution you seek.

On top of this, you can mask selected areas after a sufficient silver plating thickness is reached. The question becomes whether it is affordable to you to put this kind of engineering effort and workmanship costs into the item that you are plating. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
December 20, 2010

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Dear Nikhil
We have developed the process of selective plating or plating thickness variation on same part at our shop, but the tooling for every job will be different.

Prasad Patwardhan
- Ahmadnagar, Maharashtra
December 22, 2010

December 23, 2010 Hi Prasad, We know that it can be done, but your post says nothing about how, which we would all like to know, or at least have a hint. Whenever I see "selective plating" I think of brush plating which is a good way for silver with proper equipment and operator training. James Watts - Navarre, Florida Prasad: Can you pl give a small info as how its done. Also, is it foe experiment or production that you have tried? Nikhil Makuny Plating Shop - Mumbai, Maharashtra, India December 27, 2010