You would think that lead times for plating work were some kind of secret code but in reality they are not that mysterious. Most delays are caused by factors that the buyer has control over and can have been avoided if he or she had thought about them in the first place.
Batch Size and Queue Position
Batches of larger quantity take longer to load to the tanks. Where parts are of excess size to run individually in the plating line they may need to be run in succession as separate ‘runs’. Urgency is often met by smaller batches of parts for prompt dispatch however these will still be subject to the processors current schedule.
Surface Preparation Adds Days Before Plating Starts
Parts typically are not plated in the “as received” condition. Surface preparation such as degreasing, grit blasting, or acid etching may be required prior to plating. Additionally, parts that are heavily contaminated or corroded may require additional time for cleaning prior to plating. As a rule parts that are cleaned and prepared well in advance of plating will progress through the system the fastest.
Specification Complexity
Processes such as masking holes through which shafts pass, strict tolerances for film thickness, post plating chromate passivation and many others need to be clearly communicated in written form prior to the commencement of work and not discovered mid course. For Zinc Nickel Plating, visit www.poeton.co.uk/surface-treatments/plating/zinc-nickel-plating/.
Quality Checks and Certification at the End
It takes around 240hrs or 500hrs (for required test standard) for salt spray test to complete. Thickness measurement, adhesion test, documentation etc., for sign-off purposes, would take additional time and need to be factored in when scheduling delivery.
What to Supply Upfront
Send the relevant drawing(s), specification(s) and/or standard(s), quantity of parts, and any specific masking requirements, and the test hours required in your initial contact. Guidance on zinc nickel plating states that alloy composition and process controls influence performance, thus ambiguous specifications may lead to costly days of clarification prior to commencing work.
By clearly defining the requirements at the start, lead times are kept as predictable as possible.
Leave a Reply