I saw the article about electroplating ABS... I decided to try Electroplating PLA models.

3D Printing
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I saw the article about electroplating ABS… I decided to try Electroplating PLA models.

You can use THF and graphite (solution) to paint the graphite coating onto the PLA then use whatever metal you want to electroplate it. We used copper since it is simple and less nasty chemicals are involved.
The THF is nasty so use a mask or a vent hood to deal with it. at 0.25 amps it took about an hour to get this far. I am going run it a little longer for better coverage.
With Conductive filament starting to be available you do not need to mess with the chemical bath/graphite paint (the THF in this case). You would just directly electroplate the printed object.

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88303472458ff31cbb4af4acd33e5804.jpeg3264×2448 1.58 MB

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Note, most conducive filament are not conducive enough. I have been trying to get that to work for a while now

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Ive been asked to print a replica of a trophy as a prop. This may come in handy.

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if it is just for looks this seems interesting http://www.alsacorp.com/products/chromefx/ or hydrochrome extreme.

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Thanks @Camerin_hahn ​ I’ll find out :slight_smile:

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@marc_kerger ​​ that is a heck of a setup there :slight_smile:

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@Mark_Tomlinson yeah well thats what it takes I suppose… it is not paint but true silver plating with some chemical process.(activators, solutions, wetting agents, fixators etc…)