Some of our Clients we've helped:

About Greystone

Above: Greystone, Inc executives interviewed about the company and asked how, for over 80 years and on an international basis, has Greystone has continued to meet client plating and machining challenges in innovative ways in such industries as aerospace, automotive, medical, and industrial equipment. Interviewed: John Maconi, CEO David Lippy, Owner/President Everett Fernald, Owner/President

• Automotive
  • Anodizing
  • Plate to Size: Tighter Tolerances
  • Extended Wear Coatings for Bearings
  • Preventing Base Material Etching while Chrome Plating Aluminum Parts
  • Chrome Plating for Fuel Injectors
  • Trivalent Chromate Coatings
  • Zinc Plating alternative to Powder Coating
• Medical
  • Medical Chrome Autoclaved Coatings
  • Large Scale Electro-polishing Challenge
  • Plate to Size: Tighter Tolerances
• Aerospace
  • Face Seal and Mating Part Plating
  • Selective Electroless Nickel Plating
  • Large Scale Electro-polishing Challenge
  • Plate to Size: Tighter Tolerances
• Industrial
  • Large Scale Electro-polishing Challenge
  • Plate to Size: Tighter Tolerances

Preventing Base Material Etching while Chrome Plating Aluminum Parts

Overview:

A major supplier to the aerospace industry was in need of both chrome plating and nickel/chrome plating for turbine engine parts made from aluminum. It was desirable to complete all machining operations prior to plating and Greystone was asked to prevent base material etching and maintain all critical dimensions of the finished part during the plating process.

Challenge:

Many aluminum aircraft parts such as Yokes, Actuator Housings, and large Ball Bearings require chrome or nickel/chrome plating for wear and corrosion protection. Most often these parts require selective plating coverage, which is to say they are not plated all over but in particular areas such as only the ID of a housing or only an OD journal at a bearing location. Since aluminum is chemically attacked by mostly all of the cleaning, activation and plating chemicals, the frequent result is a part which becomes etched in areas that do not receive plating coverage.

Approach:

Greystone engineers developed several methods to protect non-plate surfaces from coming in contact with the process chemicals that etch the aluminum base material and cause stock removal. In many cases specialized hard tooling is designed and manufactured by the Greystone team to have a custom fit for each part number and completely seal the part so that plating solutions contact only the area which requires plating coverage. Additionally, Greystone engineers worked with manufacturers of masking materials and tapes to formulate a special blend of material which can be applied to any aluminum part and completely seal the base material from exposure to the process chemicals which lead to etching.

Result:

Greystone innovations in tooling design and a partnership with masking suppliers resulted in the development of a proprietary process to prevent base material etching and stock removal while plating parts made from aluminum. With Greystone's ability to protect all non-plated surfaces and maintain critical dimensions throughout the plating process, our customers benefit from higher yields and reduced operating costs by finishing all machining operations prior to plate.