We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Machinery

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are the Different Types of Plating Equipment?

By B. Turner
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 8,166
Share

Plating equipment includes all machinery and components used to coat plastic or metal objects. This equipment may be used in gold plating, electroplating, chrome finishing, or anodizing processes. The plating process is used to modify both the aesthetic and functional properties of an object. Plating equipment can be found in a wide variety of industries, including jewelry making, automotive, and manufacturing.

Barrels and tanks are widely used types of plating equipment. These barrels may be made of PVC, polyethylene, or even stainless steel in some types of applications. Companies place objects in these vessels to plate them in a single batch. These tanks can range from very small units used for jewelry and fasteners to very large models designed for plating automotive and machine parts. Plating vessels may also include open racks, where objects are laid out as they are coated with metals or minerals.

Depending on the type of plating process being used, plating equipment may also include the chemicals and additives used during plating. For example, electrolyte solutions are required for electroplating, while anodizing may require special chemicals like copper acetate. Other additives help to ensure an object will receive an even coating, or that the coating will take the desired finish and thickness. Stop-offs like lacquer and wax are used to protect areas that are not meant to receive any plating.

Certain types of plating procedures also require the use of electronic plating equipment and accessories. A power supply, or rectifier, is used to run a current through a vessel during electroplating or anodizing. Copper or steel rods act as electrodes, or cathodes, to help carry the current through an electrolyte solution. Meters and associated wiring are used to gauge the strength of a current and determine how much power is needed to complete the plating process.

The term plating equipment may also refer to highly-specialized machinery and assembly lines that help to automate the plating process. This type of plating equipment may incorporate belts and other transport systems that carry raw materials through a plating unit and beyond for drying and finishing. Commercial plating lines often include several types of plating equipment joined together to maximize capacity and meet production goals. Finally, turnkey plating systems incorporate all equipment needed to apply plating or coatings to a wide variety of materials from start to finish. They include pre-treatment devices, sorting, and plating mechanisms, drying ovens and even systems designed to sort and stock material for shipping.

Share
About Mechanics is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.aboutmechanics.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-plating-equipment.htm
Copy this link
About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.