NP1 Course Outline
Objective
This course will teach students the basics of electroplating, specifically nickel plating. Students who successfully complete this course will have learnt how to prepare metal for electroplating, buff and polish, degrease, work out surface area, apply Ohm's law, apply current density calculations, setup a nickel plating tank, observe cautions and use personal protection, use the Caswell metal's chart, use Zincate and pickels, electroplate nickel onto copper and aluminum.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Materials Needed
To complete this course successfully, students require:
- A Caswell Nickel Plating Kit
- A DC power source, preferably an adjustable rectifier, 0-5 amps. Students with other DC power sources may encounter difficulties because the lessons are geared around the recommended power supply.
- The Nickel Plating E-Class Accessory Package.
- Distilled water (about 5 gallons should be enough). Walmart sells it in 5 gal drums, as do most grocery stores
- Two clean, empty 1-2 Gallon plastic buckets
- An electric drill, or similar rotary tool capable of spinning 4" wheels at approx 3500 RPM.
- A plastic or wooden stir stick (that you don't plan on using for food prep any more
- About a gallon of automotive battery acid (buy at NAPA stores or other auto parts suppliers) (optional)
Weekly Outline
Week 1
Lesson Objectives:
- What is electroplating.
- What is nickel plating.
- History of nickel plating.
- Different types of nickel plating.
- Understanding MSDS, diamond labels, NFPA ratings and other warning symbols
- Using personal protection
- Government regulation and disposal of wastes.
Practical:
- Examine contents of nickel plating kit.
- Identify components and ensure all required equipment is available.
Evaluation:
- Multiple choice quiz
Week 2
Lesson Objectives:
- The importance of surface preparation
- Buffing and Polishing
- Rust removal
- Blasting
- Abrasive Wheels
- The Caswell Metals Chart
Practical:
- Polish one piece of aluminum and copper with the polishing kit.
- Use the abrasive wheel on a piece of aluminum and copper to give a matte finish.
Evaluation:
- Multiple Choice Quiz
Week 3
Lesson Objectives:
- Mixing the electrolyte
- Mixing the degreaser
- Installing the anodes
- Making electrical connections
- Mixing Zincate
- Making acid pickles
Practical:
- Setup the nickel plating tank and chemicals
Evaluation:
- Multiple Choice Quiz
Week 4
Lesson Objectives:
- Working out surface area
- Understanding current density
- Using degreaser
- Nickel plating onto a piece of copper
Practical:
- Use the nickel plating kit to plate onto copper.
Evaluation:
- Multiple Choice Quiz
Week 5
Lesson Objectives:
- Using Zincate
- Nickel plating onto aluminum
- Making a butler nickel finish
- Nickel Plating Troubleshooting
Practical:
- Plating onto aluminum
- Altering the nickel plating finish by altering the surface prep
Week 6
Lesson Objectives:
- Stripping nickel by reverse plating
- Check basic chemistry
- Brightener replenishment and reversing contamination
- Storage and disposal
Practical:
- Using the pH tester
- Electrostripping
Evaluation:
- Multiple Choice Exam