Metalise 3D parts / prints Has anyone done any metalising of 3D printed parts? Or know of a DIY way to do it? I spotted this company - 3ddc I wonder if it would make PLA higher temperature resistant? and/or stronger. Rich. https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,78919#msg-78919 Sun, 19 Apr 2026 23:03:31 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,79271#msg-79271 Re: Metalise 3D parts / prints https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,79271#msg-79271 murrayd General Sat, 02 Apr 2011 19:56:31 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,79067#msg-79067 Re: Metalise 3D parts / prints https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,79067#msg-79067
Sorry if you already know this, but there is one thing you might want to be aware of if you are doing copper plating to make circuits etc on the printed part. Impurities in the plating will dramatically increase the resistance of the trace. At the very least you will probably want to use electolytic copper (from wire) as the source when electroplating and maybe lab reagent grade copper sulfate (if you are taking that route). For example, plumbing copper just isn't pure enough and may introduce impurities.

http://science.jrank.org/pages/1781/Copper-Making-pure-copper.html

Quote

Extremely pure copper (greater than 99.95%), called electrolytic copper, can be made by electrolysis. The high purity is needed because most copper is used to make electrical equipment, and small amounts of impurity metals in copper can seriously reduce its ability to conduct electricity. Even 0.05% of arsenic impurity in copper, for example, will reduce its conductivity by 15%. Electric wires must therefore be made of very pure copper, especially if the electricity is to be carried for many miles through high-voltage transmission lines.
]]> Cynic General Fri, 01 Apr 2011 07:34:46 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,79061#msg-79061 Re: Metalise 3D parts / prints https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,79061#msg-79061
Rich.]]> richrap General Fri, 01 Apr 2011 06:03:01 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,78983#msg-78983 Re: Metalise 3D parts / prints https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,78983#msg-78983 is applied, the parts were then plated with a process called selectron, which had various solutions, the first layer was copper if I remember correct, it had something like a large cotton bud you dipped into the solution and wiped over the part, the "box" could be set for amps and time etc, but normal plating equipment could be used, the main benefit of plating was the added strength and wear resistance.]]> johnrpm General Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:32:04 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,78981#msg-78981 Re: Metalise 3D parts / prints https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,78981#msg-78981 www.caswellplating.com] has all the info.

The stuff I used is called "silva spray" (sorry for my previous post) it it makes the surface conductive so it will electroplate.

Great website, great stuff]]> CdnReprap General Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:29:27 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,78950#msg-78950 Re: Metalise 3D parts / prints https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,78950#msg-78950
CdnReprap Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> caswell.com electroplating
>
> Smooth / Fill / sand then use the "silver spray"
> on the plastic parts then you can electroplate
> them just like metal parts. Smoother you go before
> silver spraying the parts gives you a better
> finish.
>
> Attached is a pic of a dimension part I did with
> "silver spray" and "copy chrome" from Caswell.]]> gr0k General Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:23:30 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,78942#msg-78942 Re: Metalise 3D parts / prints https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,78942#msg-78942 dissidence General Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:21:38 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,78931#msg-78931 Re: Metalise 3D parts / prints https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,78931#msg-78931
Smooth / Fill / sand then use the "silver spray" on the plastic parts then you can electroplate them just like metal parts. Smoother you go before silver spraying the parts gives you a better finish.

Attached is a pic of a dimension part I did with "silver spray" and "copy chrome" from Caswell.]]> CdnReprap General Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:09:24 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,78921#msg-78921 Re: Metalise 3D parts / prints https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,78921#msg-78921 Coleston General Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:20:19 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,78919#msg-78919 Metalise 3D parts / prints https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,78919,78919#msg-78919 Or know of a DIY way to do it?

I spotted this company - 3ddc

I wonder if it would make PLA higher temperature resistant? and/or stronger.

Rich.]]> richrap General Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:14:52 -0400