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Specifying the Various Plating Types

January 16, 2014

Q. We are a mfgr. of metal parts that require various types of plating. Some of our staff use different terminology to relate to our plating vendors. I would like us to all be on the same page. Is there a chart available that shows all the various plating specs and their proper names? This will allow us to better communicate with our platers.

Bob Getz
Tech Mgr. - Norristown, Pennsylvania USA

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Hi Bob. That's a very tall order because there are many different types of plating, and specification writing bodies include the military, ASTM, SAE-AMS, ISO, JIS and many others. But most plating texts like the Metal Finishing Guidebook will give you a list of the most frequently used specs. With that as a guide, you could probably decide which spec your company will stick to for each type of plating.

That assumes, of course, that your people know enough about plating to be able to spec it. If not, you'll need to retain a plating consultant to help get you set up that way. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
January 2014