| FEA specialist HNKTech has developed a package to simulate electroplating processes.
The group has research centres in Seoul, Korea and at the Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre (IMRC) at the UK’s University of Bath. HNKTech Europe provides clients with FEA systems that can either be delivered as a consultancy service or as bespoke software. And it has now developed a simulation process it considers unique.
Electroplating is an essential finishing process for many manufactured products but more often than not, costly trial and error, grinding and polishing methods are used to achieve uniformity. FE simulation of this process is achieved by mapping the current density field using finite element methods to determine the amount deposited on discrete parts of the component. The obvious difficulty from this for industry is the skill level that is usually involved in FEA analysis.
HNKTech Europe claims that its customised user interface (CUI) requires only limited training before an operator can build a FEA model. The various configurations are customised to the component, allowing the expert the freedom to change the size of the plating jig and electrode distances via the CUI while the results are generated. When these results are implemented by the engineer, highly accurate uniformity is achieved.
As well as providing a CUI for electroplating, HNKTech also has the technology to provide highly accurate uniformity for other plating methods including PVD, plasma, plastic and spray coatings though not for titanium.
“Dr Hyun Jeon, who started HNKTech Europe two years ago, developed this unique electroplating simulation technology,” says company director Stephanie Pakenham. “The usual procedure is plating then grinding to achieve the perfect result, but our simulation technology enables the user to achieve a 95% result.
“Every coating is customised. The client sends us the geometry blueprint or the data from which we simulate the plating. We then send them the results showing the best procedures saving them a great deal of time and expense.”
A good area for automotive applications is in bearings and piston rings, says Pakenham. “It is not just about which coating should be used where, but the level and degree of coating that needs to be applied to a particular component. It can be used by the manufacturers to improve the quality of their products and because of the simulation, the actual process and even the factory layout can be changed to accommodate what has been learnt about the coating process.”
HNKTech Europe is currently working with Messier-Dowty, the global aerospace landing gear company, but sees opportunities in the automotive field, especially in the design and development of engines.
“There are various parts of the powertrain, such as the various bearings and piston rings, where it would be very beneficial to simulate the coating,” says Pakenham.
“However, wherever a vehicle is coated, whether it is the body frame or individual coatings, our coatings simulation technology will help the OEM save both time and money.”
|
|
