| Liquid Development Co.
3748 E. 91st Street Cleveland, OH 44105 U.S.A. Phone: (216) 641-9366 Fax: (216) 641-6416 ldc@bblink.net |
 Newsletter Archives |
W.R. Associates, Inc. 2210
Encinitas Blvd., #W Encinitas, CA 92024 U.S.A. Phone: (800) 348-3287 Fax: (760) 436-9321 coatings@wrainc.com |
Headquarters: Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A. (800) 321-9194
Vol. 1, No. 3 3rd Quarter Review, 1997
Specializing in Selective Plating Development &
Technology
New Products to Note
| Multi-Jack Output Connector In a typical shop environment, the operator must stop between preparatory and preplate steps to switch over the lead wires or handles while simultaneously adjusting the voltage and/or polarity. This can cause delays that lead to adhesion failure. LDC's new multi-jack output connector helps greatly reduce these time delays. With the multi-jack output connector in place, each preparatory |
 Code Description PPA-830 Multi-Jack Output PPA-831 Multi-Jack Banana Plug Kit PPA-832 Multi-Jack 2M Note: PPA-830 fits most brush plating rectifiers up to 100 amps. |
| and preplate anode (up to 4) can be fitted with a handle and connected to an output lead (prior to starting a plating operation). Once the plating technician begins a job, he need only pick up the appropriate tool, and focus on adjusting the voltage and/or polarity when necessary. For added convenience, LDC has created a kit consisting of the Multi-Jack Output Connector and 4 each output leads (6 ft. long). The output leads and output connector can also be purchased separately. Each lead is designed to carry up to 30 amps. |
| New & Improved LDC Rotary Plating Tool LDC has recently taken a good idea and improved it so that it can truly be considered an asset to brush platers. Upgrades to the drive and motor speed controller of the LDC Rotary Plating Tool allow the operator to use very low rotation speeds while main- high torque. This eliminates- the chances of the tool "Locking Up" and burning the deposit. Ultimately, these improvements allow the brush plating technician to plate smaller diameter holes efficiently and with less operator fatigue. Specifications: |
 LDC Standard Rotary Plating Tool (AE-630). Complete unit includes a flexible drives shaft, a rotating handle, and adapter heads for various plating anodes. |
| New Solution Containers Over the next few months, LDC will be slowly phasing in a new and more user friendly 5 gallon (20 liter) plastic drum. The new drum offers several benefits over the old style: 1. Rectangular shape allows the drum to be stored and stacked or laid on its side for dispensing without rolling around (as with round containers). 2. Opaque color enables the operator to see, at a glance, when solution supply is low, helping to avoid any ordering panic and need for costly air shipments. 3. Volume graduations allow the operator to dispense a relatively exact volume of solution, for better solution life tracking. To further expand the convenience of this container, order a pouring faucet (PA-735) for each type of solution. The faucet replaces the shipping/ storage cap. With the faucet in place, the drum can safely be laid on its side and the faucet valve slowly opened, for dispensing an exact volume of solution, and for avoiding troublesome solution spills. NOTE: For those of you still not taking advantage of 5 gallon (20 liter) drums, in addition to the above advantages, you will save on packing charges and shipping charges. |
| Technical
Tips Masking Masking a Shaft: When preparing a shaft for plating, place an o-ring on either side of the area to be built-up. This will keep the solutions from traveling down the shaft and causing contamination. It will also direct the flow downward into the catch basin. Be sure to apply o-rings large enough in diameter to prevent the solution from flowing over it. Always place vinyl tape on the shaft prior to implementing- this o-ring trick. That no solution will be trapped under the o-ring and in contact metal. If you don't have the correct size o-rings, then try wrapping vinyl or tygon tubing around the shaft (forming a ring) and then masking it in place using vinyl tape. This will provide the same protection as an o-ring. Keyways: A situation that has plagued job shops, at one time or another, is masking a keyway or hole. On those jobs that require plating on the surface surrounding- rounding these voids, try using a piece of graphite shaped to the exact dimensions of the void. Graphite is easy to shape to the correct size and contour and has the advantage of being conductive which limits the number of high current density edges that often cause plating problem. Masking for Chrome Plating: When plating with LDC chrome solutions, be sure to mask your part with lead tape (PA-533 or 534). Lead tape will hold up under the chrome solution, whereas aluminum tape will just disintegrate, leaving you with virtually no mask. Always follow up the lead tape masking with LDC's green vinyl high temperature tape (PA-508 or 509). you. |
| Mil-Std 865C Several Customers have contacted us about the status of a much referred to and widely used brush plating standard: the MIL-STD 865C. As of December 9, 1996 MIL-STD-865C (USAF) Selective (Brush Plating), Electrodeposition has been designated "inactive for new design". What does this mean for you as a brush plating professional? As it now stands, very little. The MIL-STD 865C remains the governing brush plating specification for all existing aircraft and components. If new designs come out on the market (such as the F-22) during the period in which the MIL-STD 865C remains inactive, or, if you have any questions about whether the MIL-STD 865C applies to work are you are doing, please first call LDC or W.R. Associates. We may have the answer at our fingertips, as we are closely following any developments with the specification. If we do not have the answer, we will research it for you. To Our Readers: We want to hear from you. Let us know if the new innovations are helpful or wasteful. If you need further information on anything in this newsletter, or if you have suggestions you don't mind sharing, please call, fax, or e-mail us.
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