CU has been away recently therefore I am currently overseeing several Enthone projects, including this one with Hong Chiao.
I know your team at Enthone has been working hard trying to get a calibration and also getting details for us through the GDOES machine.
May you please help clarify the following questions for me:
1. You had mentioned that the x-ray reading will be inaccurate. Fischer, Hong Chiao, and other experienced plating companies are questioning why this is the case. We have done several x-ray analysis and then compared it to a cross-section examination. Our Xray readings match the cross-section examination. Therefore we would like to know why would both the Xray and cross-section not be an accurate reading in comparison to GDOES? Please see attached report.
2. While in Thailand you had mentioned that the calibration is easy and will only take 1-2 days to completed. Hong Chiao has now waited 3 weeks for an answer. They have work commitments themselves as well therefore they are giving us tremendous pressure now. I would like to have a deadline as to when this calibration can be done.
3. When will Fischer Singapore contact Fischer Thailand? Or is this step unnecessary now?
4. I am curious as to how the plating speed and thickness were determined in the TDS. Was it through the GDOES machine?
5. Up until now after several tests we are still unable to plate according to the TDS' specifications. Is this because of an operational error? Should we be aware of anything special while plating? For example in the operating conditions the TDS states 0.5-1.5 amps to be used. Our tests indicate that only 0.2 amps with 1.7 voltage can be used where the substrate will not burn. However if more than 10 minutes the substrate will still burn.
6. An extension to the operational error question is that initially when the sample test was first done in Thailand- Hong Chiao had measured the thickness by using an Xray reading. The TDS had not warned that the industry practice of using an Xray reading is inaccurate. Hong Chiao had originally had a reading of 0.25 microns with 18k green gold color therefore went ahead and purchased 10kg. Maybe from then on we are not operating it correctly?
7. Fischer Thailand recommended that we obtain the composition percentage of gold, phosphorous etc. This way Fischer Thailand can set the xray and get an 'accurate' reading. May we have this information please?
8. I would like to request that you send a daily email to us so that we know where the progress is at. I want us to keep a healthy communication channel so that we can work together to resolve this problem. If I remember clearly Enthone has a culture of when a problem arises, fix it. I am merely problem solving and looking for different solutions so that the problem is fixed.
9. Currently we are able to reach the required thickness by plating at 2.0 volts. But this causes the color to change to a red gold instead of the 18k green gold. As we cannot sit idly pending an answer for the calibration, tomorrow we will try testing auroflash jin by diluting it 25% and 50%. Maybe if the iron content % is lowered the 18K color can be maintained and the thickness still reached? Do you think this is a right direction?
10. In addition, we would also like to try separating the plating process to two: first plate auroflash jin at 2 volts to reach a thickness of 0.25 microns but with red gold. Then plate auroflash jin at 1.7 volts for the 18k green gold for the color. Our tests indicate that although at 1.7 volts the gold peels off without the matt gold in the process: copper-nickel-auroflash. But with 2.0 volts the gold does not peel straight after nickel. Therefore we would like to try: copper-nickel-2.0 volts auroflash-1.7 volts auroflash. Do you think this is feasible?
As you can see we have many questions. Some of them are operational. May I request for your assistance next week to come back to Thailand again? While we wait for the calibration at least if you are here in Thailand we can do further tests and try to help Hong Chiao meet the customer's requirements. This will also show Hong Chiao we are not just sitting around not doing anything. Please let me know if next week you may come back to Thailand.
Lastly, I would also like to propose a conference call possibly this Friday? I would like to have a end-of-week update and discuss if this is not resolved as soon as possible and Hong Chiao comes back and refuses to pay for the 10kg lot, what will be our next actions?