Patent ID: 8551301

Claim:
An electroplating system for electroplating a workpiece, said system comprising: a plating wheel having a side and a cylindrical wall extending from the side, the plating wheel having an interior chamber that at least partially defines a solution chamber that is configured to hold an electroplating solution, the cylindrical wall comprising an opening extending through the cylindrical wall into fluid communication with the interior chamber, the cylindrical wall comprising an exterior face, the plating wheel comprising ribs extending outwardly from the exterior face of the cylindrical wall, the ribs being spaced apart from one another about the circumference of the plating wheel, the ribs being configured to engage the workpiece to space the workpiece apart from the exterior face of the cylindrical wall by an air gap, wherein the ribs are discrete from the opening of the cylindrical wall; an external anode located proximate to and positioned outside the cylindrical wall of the plating wheel to define an electroplating work area therebetween; and an internal anode held within the interior chamber of the plating wheel and positioned to align with the work area.