Orificeplater

Orificeplater is a neologism commonly used to describe either a specialized machine or a tradesperson engaged in the fabrication and surface treatment of orifice plates, devices that create a metered restriction in a fluid flow stream for measurement or control. The term blends "orifice" (a controlled aperture) and "plater" (one who plates or coats), and is typically applied in industrial contexts where precision apertures require corrosion resistance, wear protection, or surface finishing.

In practice, an orificeplater’s work spans cutting or forming the aperture to tight tolerances and applying protective or functional coatings. Manufacturing techniques include laser cutting, electrical discharge machining (EDM), precision punching, and subsequent finishing processes such as electroplating, thermal spraying, or thin-film deposition. Coatings can be chosen to resist abrasion, chemical attack, or galling, and finished plates are often calibrated to ensure flow coefficients meet specified standards. Quality control may involve dimensional inspection, surface roughness measurement, and flow testing against reference orifice data.

Orifice plates treated by orificeplaters are used across water treatment, oil and gas, chemical processing, HVAC, and laboratory flow measurement. Advantages of plated orifice plates include improved longevity in harsh service and consistent flow characteristics when properly produced and maintained. Limitations center on the need for precise manufacturing and calibration, potential alteration of aperture dimensions by plating thickness, and suitability depending on fluid characteristics and measurement requirements. The term remains informal and is most common in trade and workshop contexts.