Engineering Tools
Surface Finish Selection
Turn substrate and use environment into a plating grade and acceptance test for your drawing.
Calculator
- Service condition
- SC2
- Decorative Ni+Cr standard
- ASTM B456 / ISO 1456, SC2
- Acceptance test
- CASS (ASTM B368) hours per B456 for this grade
- Zinc die castings need a copper strike under the nickel to protect the zinc from acidic plating baths.
- Casting porosity shows after plating: mark cosmetic surfaces on the drawing so they are inspected before plating.
- Specify trivalent chromium (Cr³⁺) passivation or chrome plating: hexavalent chromium is restricted for export.
- Prolonged skin contact (buckles, pendants, caps): check nickel release per EN 1811, or choose a nickel-free finish.
- Neutral salt spray on decorative plating mainly reveals porosity and correlates poorly with real outdoor life.
Notes
Plating and painting are done by our qualified finishing partners and accepted against the grade on your drawing. Service conditions follow ASTM B456 / B604 / B633 (SC1 mild to SC5 very severe).
Need a formal quote or DFM review?
Email us your 3D model or drawing. Our engineers will reply with a feasibility review and quotation.