Top Two Solutions to Prevent Electroplating Racking Damage

At F. M. Callahan, our top priority is to guarantee that your parts deliver peak performance after electroplating.

One issue we often encounter during the plating process is racking damage, which can compromise both the function and appearance of your parts. It can also affect production costs and delay delivery times.

Here’s why racking damage happens

While your engineers design parts for peak performance, instructions for racking these parts during surface treatment are often missing. Without clear guidance, our technicians must make educated guesses about how to rack the parts, which can lead to damage.

To help avoid damage, we recommend two proactive solutions:

1. Solution 1: Highlight Optimal Racking Locations on Instructions Providing clear guidance on racking locations directly in your part’s design drawings ensures there’s no guesswork involved. By indicating the precise areas where the part should be racked, you reduce the risk of damage, minimize reworks, and speed up processing times. See Figures 1 and 2.
2. Solution 2: Engineer Parts for Racking For an even more effective solution, consider engineering your parts with dedicated holes designed for racking during surface treatment. This approach ensures the parts can be racked in optimal locations, preventing damage while allowing for more consistent plating results. See Figure 3 By addressing racking issues early in the design process, you not only protect the integrity of your parts but also save time and money in the long run.

We’re here to help you implement these strategies to ensure flawless plating results every time. If you have any questions or need assistance in optimizing your designs for racking, please don’t hesitate to contact us.