SurfaceWise - Engineering Design Assistant for Surface Treatment

Use this interactive tool during design and drawing creation to factor in surface treatments, coatings, geometry effects, hydrogen embrittlement, pre-treatment, RoHS/REACH and process specifications. It returns structured guidance you can use in design reviews and drawing notes.

This tool provides a qualitative design-for-treatment checklist. It is not a substitute for customer specifications, detailed standards or design authority approval.
Design inputs
Step 1
Function, Materials, Geometry & Process
Define how the part is used and how it will be treated/coated.
Primary coating function *
This steers whether the guidance focuses on corrosion, wear/fatigue or appearance.
Service environment *
EEE scope (RoHS relevant?)
Base material *
For more detail, add specific grade in the notes below.
UTS / hardness (optional)
Helps assess hydrogen embrittlement risk for electroplated high-strength steels.
Safety / fatigue-critical?
Geometry considerations
These drive throwing-power, current density and entrapment warnings.
Dissimilar metals in contact
Used to remind about galvanic coupling and barrier/isolating measures.
Process family *
Nominal coating thickness
µm (leave blank if not yet defined)
Intended spec / standard
Additional design notes

The logic is rule-based and indicative. Use the output as a structured discussion checklist rather than as an absolute requirement set.

Design guidance
Output
Design-for-Surface-Engineering Guidance
Key risks, pre-treatment, geometry, regulations and drawing prompts.

Overall design risk emphasis

Run the Design Check to see overall emphasis.

When you run the Design Check, this badge will highlight whether hydrogen embrittlement, geometry/coverage, regulatory or general corrosion/wear considerations are dominant.

Key risks & high-level considerations

  • Awaiting input – run the Design Check to see high-level risks summarised here.

Cleaning, pre-treatment & adhesion

  • Cleaning and pre-treatment details will appear here (e.g. etch/zincate, nickel strike, passivation, hydrogen embrittlement relief bake).

Geometry, throwing power & entrapment

  • Geometry-driven guidance (edges, threads, recesses, faying surfaces) will appear here.
Edges & current density (simplified):

  Anode            Part            Anode

   | | |       ___________       | | |
               |         |
Field lines → )         ( ← current crowds at edges
               |_________|

Deep blind hole:

      Opening
        |
        v
    ___________
   |           |
   |           |  ← thicker near opening
   |           |
   |           |  ← very thin / no deposit at depth
   |___________|

Regulatory (RoHS, REACH, environment)

  • RoHS / REACH and environmental reminders will appear here when relevant.

Specifications, standards & special process validation

  • Guidance on referencing specifications and special process validation will appear here.

Suggested drawing notes & checklist prompts

  • Suggested wording and prompts for drawing notes will appear here after running the Design Check.
Use this assistant to support design reviews, RFQs and drawing creation. For critical parts, confirm all assumptions against standards (ISO, ASTM, MIL, BS, OEM) and customer / design authority requirements.