Copper Plating Aluminum

AMS 2418, MIL-C-14550

Copper Plated Electrical Components

Accurate Precision Plating is here to solve your plating needs, using the most efficient and economical method for your needs. Copper plating offers a great source of conductivity at a more economical price. Copper is often plated on top of a range of metal substrates, including steel, stainless steel alloys, aluminum, Inconel and copper alloys.

What does Copper Plating Provide?

Our copper plating services offer excellent electrical conductivity to electrical components. As a result, it is widely used in the electrical and electronics industries. It is an inexpensive coating for products such as printed­ bolts, circuits, connectors, and steel alloys. Copper plating is also a soft, ductile ideal for a decorative finish and products that require slight flexibility, while also offering good solderability. It can also be applied as an undercoat or strike between substrate and final deposit to cover substrate defects such as holes and splinters. When used as an undercoat, copper plating also provides nickel or aluminum products with good corrosion resistance. Learn more about our copper plating services and capabilities for copper plated electrical components below!

Copper Plating Capabilities

  • Precise plating thickness to exact tolerances of +/-.000025" {25 micro inches)
  • Copper Barrel plating
  • Rack Plating
  • Custom masking services
  • Fast turnaround, with most products delivered within 3-5 days (24--4-8 hour turn around available)
  • Quantities from short run to full production runs

Copper Plating Options

  • Copper Plating Aluminum
  • Copper Plating Steel
  • Copper Barrel Plating
  • Anti-Tarnish Copper Plating

When To Choose Copper Electroplating

Copper electroplating is an ideal choice when electrical conductivity, solderability, or a smooth underlayer is required. It’s often selected for copper-plated electrical components such as contacts, terminals, and printed circuit board tabs where consistent current flow is critical.

You should also consider copper plating services when you need an economical, highly conductive layer before applying additional finishes like nickel, silver, or gold. As an undercoat, copper provides excellent adhesion and helps cover minor substrate imperfections such as porosity or surface pits. In many cases, copper electroplating is used as the foundation for multi-layer plating systems, ensuring both durability and reliability in demanding applications.

Benefits of Copper Electroplating

Choosing copper-plating services offers a wide range of functional and economic advantages:

  • Superior Conductivity: Copper provides one of the best conductive surfaces, essential for reducing energy loss in electrical assemblies.
  • Enhanced Solderability: Its natural solder-friendly surface ensures secure, reliable connections during manufacturing or repair.
  • Corrosion Resistance: As a strike or undercoat, copper electroplating enhances the corrosion resistance of metals like nickel, steel, or aluminum.
  • Flexibility & Ductility: Components that need to bend or flex can benefit from copper’s softness without risk of cracking.
  • Surface Refinement: Copper plating can fill in micro-defects, producing a smoother finish that prepares the part for additional coatings or decorative layers.
  • Cost Efficiency: Compared to precious metal finishes, copper plating services offer a highly economical solution while still providing excellent performance in electrical applications.

These benefits make copper electroplating not only a functional solution but also a versatile one for parts requiring both performance and cosmetic appeal.

Industries That Utilize Copper Electroplating

Because of its versatility, copper electroplating is used across a broad range of industries that require copper-plated electrical components and high-performance finishes:

  • Electronics & Electrical Manufacturing: Connectors, switches, circuit boards, and bus bars depend on copper plating for conductivity and solderability.
  • Aerospace & Defense: Lightweight aluminum or Inconel components are often copper plated to enhance conductivity and prepare them for multi-layer finishes.
  • Medical Devices: Precision instruments and diagnostic equipment benefit from copper’s conductivity and smooth plating surface.
  • Oil & Gas: Copper plating services are used on parts that need conductivity and corrosion resistance in harsh environments.
  • Automotive & Industrial: Motors, transformers, and power distribution components often rely on copper electroplating for efficient electrical performance.

By serving so many diverse sectors, Accurate Precision Plating demonstrates the flexibility of copper electroplating as both a cost-effective solution and a technical necessity.

Accurate Precision Plating is here to adapt to the needs of our customers. Please contact us for any of your plating needs. 

Copper Plating Services

Copper plating thickness is measured on actual articles a non-destructive testing in accordance with ASTM B 568. Our precise plating thickness is capable of accomplishing a close tolerance of +I- .000025" {25 micro inches). Using Fisherscope X-Ray equipment, we can measure the copper thickness with a margin of error less than 1%. APP meets industry and regulatory standards, including AMS 2418 which replaces copper plating per Mll-C-14550. All our processes are certified to ISO 9001:2015.

Accurate Precision Plating is here to adapt to the needs of our customers. Please contact us for any of your plating needs.

Contact Accurate Precision Plating
click to request a quote or call us at 866.598.8063