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-----Can you rework an ID on a titanium part by plating?
9th Edition, Vol. 5
"Surface Cleaning, Finishing & Coating"
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Q. I have a titanium casting with an oversized bore (IS: 10.0014", SHOULD BE:10.0005" +/-.0005"). The bore is about 1.00" deep. Are there any plating options that could be used to rework? Note: Would need to hold a 16 finish. Would there be any risks if bore was used in a bearing application?
Rafael ValadezSr Mfg Engr - McKinney, Texas
September 16, 2025
A. Hi Rafael.
The ideal plating would be electroless nickel ⇦ huh? for a number of reasons including surface finish, evenness of deposition, and hardness.
I'm not certain that it would hold the 16 finish, but I think it would. Still, even with the excellent reputation for even deposition which electroless nickel enjoys, I'm not certain that plating with no further machining or honing would promise sufficient concentricity -- when you're looking for a hole that's perfect circle it's hard to beat machining which obtains it by revolving a tool in a circular bath 🙂
So it might be best to plate a bit extra and hone the I.D.
Titanium is, however, more difficult to prep for plating that steel would be. The ASM Metals Handbook ⇨
has an excellent chapter on "Cleaning & Finishing of Reactive & Refractory Metals" if you have access to a copy.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
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