Application of Electroplating Process on Prototype Model
By NICE Rapid | Feb 20 , 2020

The prototype model is the first sample after the product design drawing is confirmed. The prototype model is different from the mass-produced finished product, and all processes of the mass-production process have a clear division of labor. A product is processed by multiple manufacturers and each part is responsible for processing the part that they are good at. Then the assembly plant completes the assembly of the finished product. The process involves plastic injection molding, metal processing, sheet metal processing, post-processing, etc ... 


Various processing methods and post-processing are centralized processing to present customers with the model closest to the finished product. Therefore, the prototype factory needs to have the ability of various processing methods, such as 3D printing, CNC processing, sheet metal bending and stamping. And not only need to have many kinds of processing capabilities, but also need to have more complex post-processing processes. Product design is changing with each passing day. With the improvement of consumer spending power, more and more attention is paid to the appearance of products. The prototyping plant must have the processing capability to meet the current process. For example, some experienced prototyping plants such as Mo Shijia also need to have the ability to develop new processes, so as to meet the current technological needs of many customers.


Among the many post-treatment processes, the electroplating process is currently widely used. Every morning, you can see that the faucet is electroplated. The interior and exterior trim of the car you travel by, such as door handles, and decorative parts are electroplated. In design, it is even more inseparable from electroplating; therefore, a good prototype factory must have good electroplating processing capabilities.

 

Electroplating is a method of covering a conductor with a metal layer using the principle of electrolysis. In a salt solution containing a pre-plated metal (such as nickel, gold, etc.), the product to be plated is used as a cathode, and the cations of the pre-plated metal in the plating solution are deposited on the surface of the base metal through electrolysis to form a plating layer. Kind of post-treatment process. The coatings of different metal materials will have different characteristics. Can be divided into decorative, functional and protective coatings. Increase hardness, prevent abrasion, improve conductivity, smoothness, heat resistance and beautiful surface. Shouban factories also need to have a variety of electroplating capabilities. There are currently two types of electroplating: water plating and vacuum plating. The two can exhibit very similar appearance effects, but have completely different processing methods.

   

Compared with vacuum plating, water plating has strong adhesion, good gloss, stable performance, scratch resistance and friction resistance, etc., and good electrical conductivity. General functional hand parts are relatively more plated with water. The disadvantage of water plating is that the color selectivity is small, and there is also a very high requirement for the smoothness of the surface of the material, and the concealing ability is very weak. Generally, water-plated products require surface polishing, and cannot have seams. This is why the unit price of water-plated prototyping products is relatively high.

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