Barrel Plating

Barrels are mechanically agitated containers that rotate within cleaning and plating solutions to improve the uniformity of plating operations.  This method of plating is recommend for parts with simple geometries, small-sized parts, and/or projects that require large volumes or parts to be plated.

Unfortunately, not all parts are amenable to the barrel processing. Careful consideration must be given to each part in order to discern whether nesting, knotting, or threading of the part through exterior holes will be problematic to the plating process and in turn the appearance/functionality of the plate.  A Square has invested in barrels in a large variety sizes and thus can accommodate almost every part suitable for barrel plating, from a few millimeters to several inches in length.  Contact our engineering team to discuss whether barrel plating would be beneficial for your current project.

BENEFITS OF Barrel PLATING

  • Reduced labor costs 
  • Absence of rack marks
  • More uniform plating distribution 
  • Rotating action mechanically cleans parts 

DRAWBACKS OF RACK PLATING

  • Not suitable for all parts: The shape, size, and material of the part to be plated could prohibit the use of barrel methods. A Square analyzes each and every part before we plate them to determine whether they will work well for barrel processing.  Although it is always nice to have a sample part in hand, many times we can perform this analysis based on prints and drawings.  This analysis prevents problems from arising due to part incompatibility with the barrel plating process.
  • Superficial scratching: The tumbling action of the parts causes the parts to strike each other while being processed.  Minimal scratching is apparent as a result of this process.  For parts that require a scratch-free surface appearance barrel plating is not recommended.
  • Prohibits selective plating

Contact us to further discuss any questions, comments, or concerns, you have regarding the barrel-plating process or to discuss which plating method is most suitable for your projects specific requirements.