TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction: vi Chapter 1: Not a Bad Accident 1 Most platers get to be that way accidentally, but few ever leave the profession (voluntarily); this chapter explains why this is so. The “Platers
Creed” is also stated, and the reason why platers take so much gaff from others. Chapter 2: Good Lessons 7 A wise plater learns from experience; a wiser plater learns from the experiences of others. Good lessons can be learned from some unfortunate experiences. Chapter 3: Job Shoppers 21 Job shop platers are the heart of the plating industry, but they have the most stressful careers since the days of Rome when “unarmed slaves had to fight with lions and tigers.” The nature of these stresses is reviewed, and some suggestions made that may help alleviate some of them. Chapter 4: Plating’s Bones 32 Job Shoppers are the heart of the industry; the metal finishing suppliers are its “bones.” Why and how they shape and support it is discussed; and a “very short course” on selling to electroplaters is offered. Chapter 5: Caution 41 Plating can be bad for platers’ health and the health of others. This chapter is an overview of the way it was and the way it is. Several pithy poems carry important messages. Chapter 6: Charley, the Plater; and Gus, the Chemist 48 It seems that most plating shops or plating departments operate successfully because there’s one or more Charley, the Plater employed There are also a whole lot of “Gus, the Chemists” out there keeping platers out of trouble. Chapter 7: How To Clean Up In Plating 54 An in-depth discussion about that part of the plating process that accounts for about 85% of the rejections for, excuse the expression, “Bad Plating.” Metallic ions cannot avoid being attracted to an electrically charged cathode, but they won’t stay there if there’s something in the way. Chapter 8: The Fume Factor 65 An explanation of why platers are so inventive is proffered, and several examples of how platers’ inventive genius enabled an industry to overcome some major technological barriers. HI Chapter 9: A Plating Pot Pourri 78 A collection of three plating essays. “The Magic of Electroplating.” discusses the birth and success of electroless processes; “Hexavalent Chromium, A Champion on the Ropes,” describes how chromium’s future is being effected by stringent regulations; and “Some Platers Make a Lot of Money,” tells how to really make money in plating. Chapter 10: Thru-Hole Plating Makes PC Platers a Bunch of Law Breake rs 93 Some things are not meant to happen, like obtaining a good deposit in the ID’s of holes not much bigger in diameter than the period at the end of this sentence. But happen they do, and it’s the PC platers that are responsible. Chapter 11 :Controlling Gold Usage in Electroplating… 104 In today’s enlightened plating industry, a lot of the yellow stuff is going down the drain or other places where it doesn’t count. This chapter provides instruction about preventing that sort of unpleasantness. Chapter 12: Old Platers Never Die 112 They become consultants and the chapter suggests how to go about making the transition. Chapter 13: Platers Don’t Celebrate 140 There are so many reasons why plated parts can be defective that experienced platers don’t get too enthused just because parts come out of the plating tank looking great. The situation is not so bad as it used to be now that programs like Statistical Process Control have become tools used by platers. Chapter 14: Plating and Surface Finishing Revisited 147 A collection of four articles that appeared in Plating and Surface Finishing Magazine during the ’80’s. “Two Equals One” refutes the statement that “Tin is as good as Gold.” “Dewetting? Blame It On Newton!” explains why soldering to gold is not as simple as electronic engineers believe. “Solderability; A Psychological Test?” comments on how to obtain a solderable coating and how to keep it that way; and “Speaking of Pelicans,” suggests that Metal Finishing Suppliers need to convince the ultimate users of plated coatings what to specify. Platers can only do what they’re told. Chapter 15: A Few Closing Remarks 161 This chapter talks about the problems that face anyone or any company planning to shut down a plating company or a plating department. A decontamination project is described. tv Chapter 16: The American Electroplaters and Surface Finishers Society (AESF) 167 Since the Job shop platers are said to be the heart of the plating industry, and the suppliers its bones, it’s only right to say that the AESF is its soul. The importance of the society is discussed and how it accomplishes its objective is explained. Chapter 17: Quo Vadis? 174 Once believed by some to be a dying industry, plating is no less important than it ever was for several reasons, not the least of which is the way that computers enable platers to produce parts of better quality, quicker and at less cost. The future for plating is sound. Chapter 18: A Final Important Message: 179 From a technical view, this chapter has morality. There may be an important message. Acknow ledgements … 183 v
