Thick, highly wear-resistant layers. This process calls for high currents that stay perfectly stable over long periods.
Micronics Systems designs rectifiers suited to this process: controlled voltage, reliable current and sustained performance, even on the most demanding lines.
Hard chrome plating is an electrolytic chrome deposit applied as a thick layer, from a few microns to several hundred microns. Unlike decorative chrome plating, the aim is not appearance but mechanical performance : very high surface hardness, excellent resistance to wear and friction, and good corrosion resistance.
It is found on heavily stressed parts: hydraulic cylinder rods, shafts and spindles, moulds and tooling, rollers, pistons. The chrome layer extends the life of parts and often makes it possible to refurbish worn parts rather than replace them.
The main difficulty of the process is that it calls for high current densities sustained over long periods : building a thick layer takes time, and the slightest variation in current during that time shows up as a defect in thickness or hardness.
Degreasing and activation of the part to ensure the deposit adheres.
The rectifier applies a controlled direct current between the anodes and the part.
The chrome builds up layer by layer; thickness depends on current and time.
Checking thickness and hardness: current consistency determines the result.
There is no hard chrome plating at all without direct current: the comparison is about the quality of that current, between a supply that fluctuates and a regulated rectifier.
Hard chrome plating is one of the most demanding processes for a power supply. It has to deliver a high current, perfectly stable, for hours on end. A current that drifts means an uneven layer, inconsistent hardness and, in the end, non-conforming parts.
Micronics rectifiers are built for this kind of intensive duty: they hold the load continuously, regulate the current finely and guarantee repeatability from one cycle to the next. The result: even deposits, consistent quality and secured production.
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