Pneumatic device for lifting a submersible drum for electroplating small parts in bulk

Introduction. The main problems that arise during electroplating processes include, at the design stage of electroplating systems, the challenge of selecting the appropriate type of protective coating from a variety of options, as well as choosing the appropriate equipment from the many different types produced by industry – in particular, installations for the electroplating of small parts in bulk. The purpose of the work is to increase the economic efficiency of installations for the electroplating of small parts in bulk. Methodology. The decision to create an electronic model (digital twin) of the device at the first stage and then its physical prototype was based on the use of system analysis methods, mathematical modeling, and experimental design. A physical prototype was built based on the created electronic model of the installation using graphic editors. At the design stage, the parameters of a pneumatic lifting device for a submersible drum were determined; the optimal lifting time is ensured by the following key parameters: piston rod stroke: 409–410 mm; required force for lifting the drum with parts: 1.80–1.90 kN; and pressure in the compressor system supplied to the pneumatic cylinder: 5.30–5.40 bar. These values were obtained from an experiment using an orthogonal central composite design for a factorial experiment on a physical prototype of the installation. Results and discussion. The proposed design solution differs from other drum lifting mechanisms in that it eliminates manual operation of the lifting mechanism and counterweight. The lifting mechanism is located outside the installation; the main components of the device are manufactured as separate units and assembled into a single structure using bolted connections. The results of the final tests of the physical prototype of the electroplating installation for small parts in bulk using a pneumatic device for lifting a submersible drum demonstrated its high economic efficiency.