Small Electroplating Drum (Core Component of Electroplating Barrel) and Electroplating Barrel
The Small Electroplating Drum and the Electroplating Barrel are critical equipment used for barrel electroplating small, batch workpieces (such as screws, nuts, washers, etc.). They ensure uniform plating by allowing the workpieces to roll inside the drum during the plating process. Below is an introduction to the core structure, working principle, features, and application scenarios.
Drum: The core part of the electroplating barrel, typically a perforated cylindrical container made from materials like PP (polypropylene), PVC, or stainless steel, which are resistant to acid and alkali corrosion. The surface is perforated to allow the electroplating solution to circulate, and it holds the workpieces to be plated.
Plating Tank: A tank that holds the electroplating solution. It works in conjunction with the electroplating drum, containing both an anode (usually metal or inert electrode) and a conductive system.
Drive System: An electric motor drives the drum’s rotation via gears or chains. The speed of rotation is adjustable, typically between 5 and 30 revolutions per minute.
Conductive System: This system includes conductive components like conductive shafts or brushes that transfer the current to the workpieces, forming the electroplating circuit. The workpieces act as cathodes, and the anode in the plating tank serves as the positive electrode.
Auxiliary Equipment: This includes filtration systems for the plating solution, temperature control devices to regulate the solution’s temperature, and other supporting devices.
Once the workpieces are loaded into the drum, the drum is submerged in the electroplating solution and slowly rotated. As the drum turns, the workpieces continuously roll and collide with each other, ensuring that they evenly interact with the solution. The conductive system completes the circuit, with the workpieces acting as cathodes and the plating tank’s anode providing the positive charge. Through the electrochemical process, metal ions from the plating solution deposit evenly on the workpieces, forming a uniform coating. The drum’s rotation ensures that all areas of the workpieces come into full contact with the solution and electrical current, avoiding uneven coating.
High Batch Processing Efficiency: The drum can load a large number of small parts (from hundreds to thousands) at once, eliminating the need for individual clamping. This is ideal for large-scale production and significantly reduces labor costs.
Good Coating Uniformity: The workpieces in the drum continue to roll, minimizing the issues of overlap and shielding. This is especially advantageous for small parts. However, it is important to control the drum speed—too slow may cause accumulation, and too fast may lead to wear or result in darker coatings.
Compact Equipment Structure: The drum is relatively compact in size, making it suitable for high-density workshop layouts. It is particularly ideal for medium and small-scale processing plants.
Strong Process Adaptability: By adjusting the drum’s rotation speed, current density, and plating time, it can be adapted to a variety of plating processes such as zinc plating, nickel plating, copper plating, and tin plating, meeting different requirements for corrosion resistance and decorative finishes.
The Small Electroplating Drum is primarily used for batch electroplating of small rigid workpieces, such as:
Hardware Standard Parts: Zinc plating (for rust prevention), nickel plating (for wear resistance) of screws, nuts, washers, small springs, etc.
Electronic Components: Tin plating (to improve solderability), copper plating (for conductivity) of small connectors, pins, and other electronic components.
Daily Consumer Goods: Decorative electroplating (such as chrome or copper plating) for small hardware items like zipper pulls, keychains, and small fittings.
The Small Electroplating Drum (including the electroplating barrel) is an efficient piece of equipment for batch electroplating of small workpieces. Although its adaptability to delicate or easily damaged items (such as microelectronic components) may be limited due to potential wear from collisions, it is widely used in standardized small parts production. As a result, it plays a key role in improving production efficiency in the electroplating industry, particularly for mass production of hardware and standard small components.
