Optimization of electroplating bath with additional cathodes and bipolar electrodes

The possibility of reducing the non-uniformity of the plating on the complex shaped parts is studied. The method of plating that combines the use of additional cathodes and bipolar electrodes is presented. The task of optimization of the plating bath, during the solution of which it is necessary to find the number of additional cathodes, bipolar electrodes, their dimensions and the coordinates of the base points in the space of the plating bath, is set. The limits, which must be carried out when solving the problem, are defined. A mathematical model to calculate the distribution of the coating thickness on the surface of the items in the plating bath is designed. The algorithms for determining the number of additional cathodes and bipolar electrodes and the size and location of the additional cathode (additional cathodes) and bipolar electrode (bipolar electrodes), at which the values of non-uniformity are minimal, are developed. The paper considers the example confirming that with the complex geometry of the parts of the cathode the use of additional cathodes and bipolar electrodes provides a more uniform plating surface of the part. It is shown that the nonuniformity of the coating compared to the conventional technology while using (at the optimum number, size and location) only additional cathodes is reduced by 32.48%, only bipolar electrodes — by 6.8%, with their simultaneous use — by 37%.