An Overview of 3d Print Electroplating

An Overview of 3d Print Electroplating

3D printing provides a great deal of flexibility in design and material selection.3d print electroplating Unfortunately, it also tends to be less durable or resistant to external conditions and effects, mainly due to the fact that printed parts are typically made from plastic materials. Fortunately, the addition of a metal finish can dramatically increase a print’s durability and resistance to damage. One common way to accomplish this is through electroplating, which involves applying a layer of metallic metal to a plastic part. While this may sound like a daunting task, it is not as difficult as one might expect. This article will provide a brief overview of 3d print electroplating, including some basic guidelines and a look at how this process can be used to achieve a wide variety of functional and aesthetic results.

The type of 3D printer used for a particular print job does not generally have much impact on the electroplating process, since all plastics can be plated using this method.3d print electroplating However, it is important that the surface of a print be free from dirt, voids, loose powder or uncured resin to ensure that the copper conductive lacquer applied prior to plating can adhere properly. Ideally, the lacquer should be deposited evenly and dried thoroughly between coats. Also, any internal features or complex geometry that will be plated should be designed to allow access for the plating bath (such as through holes, slots or other accessible areas). The plating bath itself can also be quite harsh and must be carefully controlled to prevent damage to the plastic and to the underlying metal coating.

Besides increasing a part’s durability, the added metal layer can provide several functional benefits.3d print electroplating These include EMI shielding, higher temperature capability, increased strength and stiffness, electrical conductivity and corrosion protection. In the case of a specialized medical device, an electroplated metal part can even add an aesthetic treatment that is as appealing as it is functional.

In the case of an experimental piece of equipment, such as a beam splitter at EPFL, the addition of the metal finishing step significantly reduced the time that was required to build and prepare the device for use.3d print electroplating As a result, the EPFL scientists were able to get to work on their experiment a lot more quickly, thereby potentially accelerating their research.

As a general rule, the first metal that is plated on top of a plastic part will usually be nickel or copper, though gold and silver can be deposited as well.3d print electroplating These initial layers are typically plated through an electroless deposition process, although more advanced methods that involve chemical treatments can be employed to deposit even thicker metals. With these methods, it is possible to plate a variety of metals onto an AM-printed plastic part, ranging from gold to zinc to palladium. As a result, there is a vast range of possible uses for this powerful additive manufacturing postprocessing step. The only limit is the designer’s imagination and the needs of the specific application.

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