Method for producing metal coatings on plastics material parts

Abstract

A method for producing a metal coating on a plastics material part includes connecting each of a plurality of plastics material parts to a flexible support via a respective connecting part so as to temporarily chain the plurality of plastics material parts together. Each connecting part is attached to a respective one of the plurality of plastics material parts on at least one side. An electrically conductive connection is provided between the flexible support and each of the plurality of plastics material parts via the respective connecting part so as to provide a current supply for producing a galvanic metal coating layer on a conductive layer of each of the plurality of plastics material parts.

1 . A method for producing a metal coating on a plastics material part comprising:
 connecting each of a plurality of plastics material parts to a flexible support via a respective connecting part so as to temporarily chain the plurality of plastics material parts together, wherein each connecting part is attached to a respective one of the plurality of plastics material parts on at least one side; and   providing an electrically conductive connection between the flexible support and each of the plurality of plastics material parts via the respective connecting part so as to provide a current supply for producing a galvanic metal coating layer on a conductive layer of each of the plurality of plastics material parts.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each connecting part is integrally formed with the respective one of the plurality of plastics material parts. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each connecting part is clamped to the flexible support. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible support includes a plurality of clearances formed in the support. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein each connecting part is clamped to the flexible support at a respective one of the plurality of clearances. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each connecting part is attached to the respective plastics material part along a material weakening as a break-off point. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a further flexible support connected to at least one of the plurality of plastics material parts disposed between the further flexible support and the flexible support. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a further flexible support disposed parallel to the flexible support and connected to the flexible support by a plurality of webs disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of plastics material parts. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of webs is connected to a respective one of the plastics material parts. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising winding up the flexible support on a winding form together with the plurality of connected plastics material parts. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the flexible support, the further flexible support and one of the plurality of webs is connected to a spacer having a height transverse to a primary extension of the flexible support and dimensioned such that adjacent ones of the plurality of plastics materials parts are disposed at a distance from one another when the flexible support is in a wound up position. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein a separate reusable plastics material strip is wound up together with the flexible support so as to provide a spacer such that the plastic material strip and the flexible support alternate in a wound up position. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible support includes an electrically non-conductive material. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive connection is formed by a thin chemical metal coating. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive connection is formed by a selective surface roughening of a surface of at least one of one of the flexible support, the plastics material part and the connecting part and followed by producing a conductive surface on the roughened surface. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a sliding contact electrically contacts the flexible support. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the connecting part is connected to the flexible support along a contoured line having a length greater than an extension of the connecting part in a longitudinal direction of the support. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the galvanic metal coating is produced in an electrolytic bath contacting an end face of the flexible support when the flexible support is wound up. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the conductive layer of the plurality of plastics material parts is provided on an entire surface of the plurality of plastics material parts, the conductive layer being produced in at least one of a chemical and a galvanic metal coating process, followed by applying an etch resist and forming an insulation path using a laser so as to expose a region of the conductive layer, and subsequently etching the exposed region of the conductive layer. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a position of the plurality of plastics material parts is optically detected. 
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein a position of the web is detected for a position determination. 
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein a position of the clearance is detected for a position determination. 
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the connecting part is separated from the plastics material part along at least one of a break-off point and a material weakening by a mechanical separation process or an electromagnetic radiation process.