Finishing - May-/June 2021

28 PLATING
Electroplating and electric motors: why
selective plating is the way forward
Electric motors are used to power much
of the machinery we see around us -
from smaller motors in electric cars and
off-road vehicles to huge electric motors that
power industrial manufacturing machinery.
Made up of crucial components such as
bearing journals, shafts, and coils, electric
motors work by converting electricity into
mechanical energy.
While they have far fewer moving parts
than combustion engines, the parts in electric
motors are still subject to wear - particularly in
applications with higher-than-normal
mechanical stress, or those located in harsh or
corrosive environments. The cost of replacing
these worn components can be high, making
repair and refurbishment a cost-effective and
reliable choice.
Electric motor repairs –
Weighing up the options
To carry out these repairs, motors and their
component parts are usually sent to either
internal repair shops or shipped out to
external motor repair shops. On arrival, the
first step is to determine the best method of
repair - usually welding, thermal spraying or
selective plating.
While application requirements, best
practices, costs, and process knowledge are all
key determining factors, the decision is often
based on familiarity, with many job shops
defaulting to welding or thermal spraying
rather than selective electroplating.
For some, the decision is down to
knowledge and skills - sticking to tried and
tested methods can be easier than embracing
change and learning new skills. For others, a
perception shift is required. Despite selective
plating offering a sustainable solution that
poses minimal risk to either operator or the
environment, the use of chemicals labelled
‘hazardous’ means that some operators eye
the process with caution.
In reality though, when compared with
thermal spraying, the process is very safe,
requiring only standard PPE and a commonsense
approach to health and safety. The fact
that the chemicals are applied selectively, to a
defined area, means that waste and disposal
continues on page 30
Finishing - May/June 2021