FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

MECHANICAL SYSTEM DESIGN

BMM 4623

PROPOSAL 2

Development of two electrode electrodeposition

system for electroplating components.
PREPARED BY:GROUP 11

NAME

MATRIC NO

LEE KAR HUAN

LOW MING HUI
SITI KHADIJAH BINTI ABU BAKAR
LEONG GUO BANG
ANG ZHEN CIA

MH13037
MH13040
MH13056
MH13063
MH13065

PROJECT SUPERVISOR: KUMARAN KADIRGAMA

MSD LECTURER: DR. MUHAMAD MAT NOORDR.

ABSTRACT

This project is designed and fabricated a 3D printed holder to hold electrodes for the structure
of electrodeposited nickel nano wires at an electrode distance of 20mm. The holder should
withstand the magnetic force by the strong magnet attached at the holder even after a period
of time of electrodepositing process. The holder thickness should well calculated and
analysed before fabrication process, that is because if the holder is too thick, it will affect the
strength of the magnetic field and if it too thin, the holder will bend or break easily. The
electrodeposited wire should evenly coated by the pure nickel plate due to the stable magnetic
field. After the fabrication of the holder, it will be tested by running it with the complete
electrodepositing system to make sure the holder is functional.

1.0 INTRODUCTION
The main aim of the project is the design, analysis and production of a 3D printed holder to
hold electrodes for the structure of electrodeposited nickel nanowires at an electrode distance
of 20mm. Electroplating is the process of plating one metal onto another by hydrolysis, most
commonly for decorative purposes or to prevent corrosion of a metal. There are also specific
types of electroplating such as copper plating, silver plating, and chromium plating.
Electroplating allows manufacturers to use inexpensive metals such as steel or zinc for the
majority of the product and then apply different metals on the outside to account for
appearance, protection, and other properties desired for the product. [1].The surface can be a
metal or even plastic. The cathode would be the piece to be plated and the anode would be
either a sacrificial anode or an inert anode[2], normally either platinum or carbon (graphite
form). In this case, the cathode would be nanowire and the anode would be the nickel.[3] The
purposes of electroplating include appearance, protection, special surface properties and
engineering or mechanical properties of the product.

1.1 OBJECTIVE

The main objective of developing the two electrode electrodepositing system is:
1. To create a system to hold the nanowire[4] that connected to cathode of the system.
2. To make sure both the electrodes do not attracted to each other by the power of
magnet[5].
3. To make sure the electroplating system [6]undergoes evenly with the help of magnet
attached to the electrodes.
4. To produce an adjustable electrodes holder[7].

1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT

The electroplating system involve two electrodes that known as cathode and anode.[8] To
make sure the coating on the cathode will occur evenly, a strong magnet will be attached to
the cathode and anode. [9]Since the strong magnet is attached to the cathode and anode, it
may cause the cathode and anode attracted to each other, causing bending on the electrodes.
Besides that, the wire that connected cathode, anode and power source need to be hold in
organized way. A system need to be created so that the wire without attachment but it is hold
or clamped properly.

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

Metal finishing is the name given to a wide range of process carried out in order to
modify the surface properties of a metal, such as by the deposition of a layer of another
metal alloy[10], composite or by formation of an oxide film[11]. Metal electroplating is
the process of electrolytically depositing layer of metal, alloy or metal matrix composite
onto a surface.[12] A simple modification in the electroplating process is the pulse
electroplating (PED). This process involves the swift alternating of the potential or
current between two different values resulting in a series of pulses of equal amplitude,
duration and polarity, separated by zero current[13]. There is also brush electroplating
which localized areas or entire items are plated using a brush saturated with plating
solution.
3.0 METHODOLOGY
3.1 MATERIALS
a) Nickel Plate
b) Magnet
c) Nanowire

d)
e)
f)
g)
h)

Crocodile Clips
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) [14]
Polylactic acid or polylactide (PLA)[15]
Nickel Sulfamate (Ni(SO3NH2)2) solution[16]
Power Supply

3.2 MACHINES

Figure 1: 3D Printer

3.3 Flow Chart

START

OBJECTIVE

LITERATURE REVIEW

STUDY AND GATHER

THE INFORMATION
RELATED TO

DESIGNING

SKETCHING DESIGN
AND DESIGN

CONCEPT DESIGN
PRESENTATION

ANALYSIS THE DESIGN

USING ANSYS OR
SOLIDWORK

MATERIAL PURCHASING

3D PRINTING

ASSEMBLY TO THE
SYSTEM

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

NO

YES

FINAL PRESENTATION
AND SUBMIT REPORT

END

4.0 MANUAL DESIGN CALCULATION AND CAD DRAWING

PRESENT ABOUT THE

WHOLE WORK

Figure 2: Design Holder

5.0 DETAILED COST ESTIMATION

ITEMS

IMAGES

1.
2.
3.

Power Supply (MA) RANGE

Nickel Plate
Nickel Sulfamate solution

ESTIMATED
UNIT PRICE
(PER UNIT)
RM300.00
RM50.00
RM150.00

QUANTIT
Y

TOTAL
PRICE

1
1
1

RM 300
RM 50
RM 150

TOTAL ESTIMATED BUDGET (MAXIMUM RM 500)

RM 500

6.0 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Design the holder by using Solidworks.

Print the holder using 3D printer.[17]
Assemble all the 3D printed parts.
Attach magnets into the holder.
Connect the holder with the electrodepositing system.
Run the electrodepositing process.

7.0 EXPECTED RESULTS

The holder is expected to withstand the magnetic force produced by strong magnet. [1825].The holder will not deform during the electrodepositing process. The electrodes are
adjustable between 15mm to 40mm.

8.0 Conclusion
The objectives and the expected result are satisfied.

8.0 APPENDIX
8.1 PROJECT GANTT CHART
ACTIVITIES

W
1

W2

W
3

PROJECT BRIEFING & GROUP

FORMING
PROJECT PROPOSAL & TITLE
SELECTION
FIRST IDEA & SELECTIVE PRODUCT
RESEARCH ON MATERIAL NEED TO
BE USED
SKECTHING & CAD DRAWING
PURCHASING MATERIALS & TOOLS
ASSEMBLYING PART
TESTING & ANALYSIS
FINAL PRODUCT COMPLETION
REPORT PREPARATION
EXHIBITION

8.2 TEAM ORGANIZATION CHART

W4

W
5

W6

W
7

W8

W
9

W10

W11

W12

W1
3

W14

Leong Guo Bang

Team leader and
designer

Low Ming Hui

Mechanical
designer

9.0 Reference

Lee Kar
Huan
Mechanical
designer

Ang Zhen
Cia
Mechanical
calculation

Siti Khadijah Abu

Bakar
Purchasing
material

1.

LIU, T.-c., et al., Preparation and Magnetic Property of Iron-Nickel Alloy Foils
Produced by Electroplating in Stabilized Magnetic Field [J]. Journal of Iron and Steel
Research, 2008. 4: p. 007.

2.

Zhang, H., Y. Song, and Z. Song, Electrodeposited nickel/alumina composite coating

on NdFeB permanent magnets. Materials and corrosion, 2008. 59(4): p. 324-328.

3.

Wang, S.-J., et al., Use of patterned laser liftoff process and electroplating nickel
layer for the fabrication of vertical-structured GaN-based light-emitting diodes.
Applied Physics Letters, 2005. 87(1): p. 011111.

4.

Cheng, F., et al., HighPower Alkaline ZnMnO2 Batteries Using MnO2

Nanowires/Nanotubes and Electrolytic Zinc Powder. Advanced Materials, 2005.
17(22): p. 2753-2756.

5.

Mohanta, S. and T. Fahidy, The effect of a uniform magnetic field on mass transfer in
electrolysis. The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, 1972. 50(2): p. 248-253.

6.

Cheung, R., et al., In-situ electroless copper seed layer enhancement in an

electroplating system. 2001, Google Patents.

7.

Gorokhovsky, V.I., Plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition in tube having

substrate holders with walls which act as liners to confine arc between anode and
cathode. 1995, Google Patents.

8.

Lowenheim, F.A. and J. Davis,

Modern electroplating. Journal of The

Electrochemical Society, 1974. 121(12): p. 397C-397C.

9.

Schlesinger, M. and M. Paunovic, Modern electroplating. Vol. 55. 2011: John Wiley
& Sons.

10.

Tegart, W., The electrolytic and chemical polishing of metals. Chapter, 1959. 10: p.
96.

11.

Bruno, F., M. Pham, and J. Dubois, Polaromicrotribometric study of polyphenylene

oxide film formation on metal electrodes by electrolysis of disubstituted phenols.
Electrochimica Acta, 1977. 22(4): p. 451-457.

12.

Nrskov, J., S. Holloway, and N. Lang, Microscopic model for the poisoning and
promotion of adsorption rates by electronegative and electropositive atoms. Surface
science, 1984. 137(1): p. 65-78.

13.

Parkin, S.S., M. Hayashi, and L. Thomas, Magnetic domain-wall racetrack memory.

Science, 2008. 320(5873): p. 190-194.

14.

Rodrguez, J.F., J.P. Thomas, and J.E. Renaud, Mechanical behavior of acrylonitrile
butadiene styrene (ABS) fused deposition materials. Experimental investigation.
Rapid Prototyping Journal, 2001. 7(3): p. 148-158.

15.

Giordano, R.A., et al., Mechanical properties of dense polylactic acid structures

fabricated by three dimensional printing. Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer
Edition, 1997. 8(1): p. 63-75.

16.

Grutsch, J.F., Sodium hydroxide solution. 1978, Google Patents.

17.

Herrmann, K.-H., et al., 3D printing of MRI compatible components: Why every MRI
research group should have a low-budget 3D printer. Medical engineering & physics,
2014. 36(10): p. 1373-1380.

18.

Scherer, F., et al., Magnetofection: enhancing and targeting gene delivery by

magnetic force in vitro and in vivo. Gene therapy, 2002. 9(2): p. 102-109.

19.

Sagawa, M., et al., Permanent magnet materials based on the rare earth-iron-boron
tetragonal compounds. Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on, 1984. 20(5): p. 1584-1589.

20.

Schenck, J.F., Safety of strong, static magnetic fields. Journal of magnetic resonance
imaging, 2000. 12(1): p. 2-19.

21.

Halbach, K., Design of permanent multipole magnets with oriented rare earth cobalt
material. Nuclear instruments and methods, 1980. 169(1): p. 1-10.

22.

Oberteuffer, J.A., Magnetic separation: A review of principles, devices, and

applications. Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on, 1974. 10(2): p. 223-238.

23.

Rayleigh, L., XXV. Notes on electricity and magnetism.III. On the behaviour of iron
and steel under the operation of feeble magnetic forces. The London, Edinburgh, and
Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, 1887. 23(142): p. 225-245.

24.

Shi, J., et al., Magnetic clusters in molecular beams, metals, and semiconductors.
Science, 1996. 271(5251): p. 937.

25.

Scholer, M., Strong core magnetic fields in magnetopause flux transfer events.
Geophysical research letters, 1988. 15(8): p. 748-751.