If you wish to apply a coating to a base metal substrate, finishing and coating companies offer you a wide variety of methods from which to choose. Thin film coating, electroless plating and electroplating are some common means of accomplishing this. Within the wider scope of electroplating, you have different procedures. Along with barrel plating, you can find another type – rack plating.
What Is Rack Plating?
Rack plating is a form of electroplating, although racks are employed in electropolishing as well. It is a popular method for plating nickel and chrome. What differentiates this form of plating from others is the equipment. A rack (or jig) is employed. The parts are placed or hooked on to metal racks. They are kept in place through the use of any of several items including:
* Screws
* Spring fingers
* Metal hooks
* Bands
* Wires
These mechanisms keep the components still as they are placed within the tank ready for electroplating.
The fabricator or finisher establishes the choice of device. He or she determines what will prove to be the most effective by considering such things as the configuration, weight and/or size of the object to be plated. In many instances, the company may have to create a customized rack. This is particularly true if the major concern is to establish constant electrodeposits in deep cavities.
When Is Rack Plating Employed?
Rack plating is not used in all electroplating situations. It is reserved for circumstances where appearance is important but the object has certain design constraints that might prevent other methods of plating from being effective. In general, this type of coating procedure is for components that are
* Large
* Complex
* Fragile
* Irregular
In such instances, rack plating offers several advantages over other methods.
What Are the Advantages of Rack Plating?
Rack plating offers several advantages over other methods. Among them are included:
* Protection of fragile components
* Even plating of complex contours
* High quality finish
* Selective depositing or partial coating
* Capable of plating large parts
These positive characteristics of rack plating have resulted in finishers and coaters using it for a variety of parts including those provided for the military, automotive, medical and electronics industries.
Rack Plating
Electroplating components that are large, complex and/or fragile can pose a problem. While certain methods may provide a satisfactory result, they may not produce the desired finish. In order to arrive at the best result possible, the preferred method and choice is obvious. It is rack plating.
