Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/565949
48 The PCB Magazine • September 2015 Plating Referring again to the article I previously referenced, you can check the list of critical items for plating against their actual hardware (dual rectification, agitation, vibration, com- puter controls, etc.) and you will find that most shops in China actually meet the criteria. How- ever, if you see a bunch of manual hand lines, run. Table II outlines some basics for the copper plating line. While you're in the department, ask for a plating thickness meter that measures plating inside the holes, then measure the corners and middle of a few panels. Hopefully you will find variation of 20% or less, which is a sign that not only do they have the right hardware, but they are maintaining the line properly. A good line maintenance program for high reliability copper plating would include: • Minimum annual full carbon treatment • Minimum half year anode maintenance (dumping out of anodes, tossing small anodes, and installing clean filter bags) • Variation testing • Rectifier calibrations If you start asking these questions and get blank stares, put on your gym shoes and take off, as those guys are ripe for an issue. Most commonly, you will find that they run their an- odes until they turn to powder because it's seen as a waste of money to throw out anodes just because they are down to 1/2" diameter. How- ever, anodes that are this small don't plate out table i: failure modes of incorrect Parameters. table ii: Key Parameters for Plating Quality. BECOMING AN AuTOMOTIVE SuPPLIER—PROCEED WITH CAuTION continues FEAturE