Electroplating 3D Prints | Thermal Detonator

[@luciddelusions1786]

Thank you for bankrupting me I've ordered a 3d printer based on an impulse decision as a direct consequence of watching this video I hope you're happy.

[@hen3drik]

🤣 Mission accomplished!

[@luciddelusions1786]

@@hen3drik any recommendations on filament? I'm particularly interested in nylon X for making utilitarian items

[@hen3drik]

@@luciddelusions1786 nylon is cool, I use PLA for almost everything. I did some carbon filaments and I find them difficult to print on my setup. But they are strong!

[@pedroazuajebolivar603]

you make the right choise pal

[@cavemandanwilder5597]

You’ll make your money back in no time. I think my printer paid for itself within a month.

[@CNCKitchen]

Beautiful! I need to try that out!

[@wantafastz28]

Yes, yes you do!

[@lamerekeklerek]

oh yeah, you sure have to and if you can please check how it affects strength of the part

[@Reth_Hard]

I wish I could say the same thing about his accent, it's like if I had two red-hot icepicks moving in and out of my ears. Otherwise it's a very interesting video... lol

[@wantafastz28]

@@Reth_Hard he sounds fine to me. Obviously not his main language and he does just fine.

[@t_c5266]

Try it it with additive manufacturing too. That's how they used to make rocket engines

[@AlphaPhoenixChannel]

Absolutely fantastic! The evenness of the overall mirror shape is incredible. I gotta try out a resin printer someday…

[@ZsoltBottka]

Yesterday we met under the Tom Stanton V22 Osprey video, now here :) KZbin recommendation AI at its finest. What a time to be alive! Very nice results, huge improvements over the ones in the ILMS video with not much effort.

[@NicosLeben]

@@ZsoltBottka I can feel you also like Two Minute papers. 😀

[@Holagrimola]

I am so grateful you actually take your time and explain the actual process, far too many youtubers just show off what they've done, leaving nothing but guesses of how they done it. And you've even made such a great explaination of the process, and now you have recieved a very well deserved like from me! I just wish you did other things than electroplating 3d prints :P

[@WestBerlinCustoms]

Großen Respekt, Du entwickelst das Thema Oberflächen-Finish von 3D-Drucken wirklich in Richtung Perfektion. Sehr spannend, die Tests und Ergebnisse zu beobachten. Danke für das Teilen Deiner Erfahrungen. 👍😉👍

[@beauarthur2617]

This is one of the coolest things I've ever seen someone reproduce. Never thought I'd see one of these, thanks!!

[@williamowens5144]

70 likes? This is amazing! How does this not have more likes?

[@N.E.U.R.O]

It's crazy how these kinds of manufacturing techniques are just available to the average person now, 12 years ago this all felt super impossible

[@hen3drik]

My thoughts every day…

[@orakeljoe9611]

Ich finde deine Videos hinsichtlich dieser Methode wunderbar! Sie sind verständlich, auf das wesentliche reduziert, kein unnötiges Gequatsche unsw. und daher sind sie wunderbar informativ und nützlich! Danke für deine Mühe!

[@hen3drik]

Vielen Dank!

[@Xiaomila]

That looks awesome! The way you present the project is so nice and detailed!

[@hen3drik]

Thank you!

[@tomsmith3045]

Beautiful work. I always knew this was technically possible, but didn't know that it was realistic to achive in a home shop. Thanks!

[@Loneman_OG]

Now _that's_ how you take 3d printing to the next level! Subscribed! 👍😎

[@SinanAkkoyun]

I love your content, this is by far the best result and most comprehensive electroplating guide out there! :)

[@DevinTheDude93]

That is awesome! Surprised it doesn't have more views yet

[@AsthmaQueen]

this would be a super cool technique on medium scale prints/model components/cosplay items

[@squigglez5827]

You could make a bubbler to agitate the solution tanks. That would help even out the plating and/or allow you to increase the current.

[@hen3drik]

That's an interesting idea. I'll think about that.

[@bucurionutrusu3260]

Oh, just in time for my Zafiro Anejo Cork 3d print😊😊❤❤Great video, Love it

[@forerunner75]

I never thought it could be possible. Well, i have a 3d printer and an electroplating device... I guess the week will be quite busy trying to do some plating !! Thanks a lot for all the clear and detailed explanations !

[@hen3drik]

Good luck!

[@terrykull1370]

how did it turn out?

[@tinkerman1790]

Can‘t wait to try this out!!! Thx for sharing!!!

[@bertpierey3655]

Wow. Again learned something new. Need to watch this vid a few more times i think to understand and then get the paint and materials. Need to try this.

[@sunsetpark_fpv]

I never knew this was possible.....it looks absolutely amazing 🤩

[@coregeek]

This is some incredible work! Really makes me want to try this process. Especially after using so many different types if chrome paints over the years. This is next level!

[@baljazz]

Finally been trying to figure out a good process

[@davesenor3146]

Beautiful....once again!!

[@agepbiz]

Great work as always!

[@hen3drik]

Thanks buddy! 😃

[@franzolielectronics]

Incredible!

[@eazyonewiththeforce]

A shopping list would be awesome!

[@brendanarmstrong7802]

Fascinating stuff. I'm not super familiar with the costs and material properties of electroplating, but it's worth noting that you can get a pretty equivalent look using certain chrome paints through the airbrush. Molotow chrome immediately comes to mind. That one works especially well because it's formulated in such a way that you want to absolutely flood the surface to allow it to self-level, resulting in a very smooth result, even over unsanded prints.

[@hen3drik]

I do a lot of alclad II chrome paintings, too, but comparing these techniques is actually not the point of this video. But the difference between a painted chrome and a real metal layer is more than the look, it also feels way different as you touch it: it feels very cold (as it‘s metal) and you cannot rub it off. It also adds quite some weight to small parts and makes 3D print incredible strong. 😃

[@brendanarmstrong7802]

@@hen3drik Oh, for sure. I just think it's helpful for anyone watching this video to know that if they're only looking for the visual effect, it's possible to achieve with less hassle.

[@Wayne_Nero]

Wild! Love it!!

[@encouragingthings]

This is great work. I can't think of anything I'd want to electroplate right now, but it's nice to know that it's possible. Thank you!

[@JKTCGMV13]

Definitely need to try this!

[@AlexanderOster]

Looks amazing. I just got into resin and FDM printing this year. Taken a bit to figure them both out. The post work on some is what kills me. I don't want to do all that hand sanding!😄 Been wanting to do this though. However, I think this is one project I'd prefer to farm out.

[@Manbo3D]

Top, Great result 👍

[@nerdiix]

Ich bin Absolut begeistert :) Ich möchte das Thema Electroplating auch angehen aber bin mir noch super unsicher ob es nicht zu kompliziert ist für ein blutigen Anfänger :) Könntest du evtl. mal zeigen wie man eine schöne Lombardi Trophy damit macht ? :)

[@mpro8246]

Jup. I'll also have to try this. Very cool

[@OnnieKoski]

Amazing finish. Thanks for sharing!!

[@juanrambler]

very nice work thanks for share with us your experience from argentina Juan Manuel

[@diy_wizard]

Ein super Video, ich bin sehr beeindruckt von deiner Videoqualität und natürlich von dem Projekt! Ich muss ja zugeben dass ich meine Drucke selten wirklich viel abschleife 😅 aber bisher mach ich auch kein Elektro Plating ;)

[@hen3drik]

Vielen Dank!🙃

[@cameronyoung2004]

Dear God I've been long for this solution for years

[@ryangill9518]

awesome job. Looks amazing!

[@ronarudo_design]

wow. very beautiful :)

[@Willis3DDruck]

Great Video Thanks👍

[@DanceInGold.official]

Einfach bester KZbin account Deutschlands 😂

[@DRB-Octane]

< claps and nods up and down in approval , as if a hero just rescued a kitty from a tree =D very good vid and results, you Sir have my deep respect and admiration.

[@Geeksmithing]

Awesomeness! Subbed!

[@Fbiking40]

Wonderfull and awesome !!!! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@brandonbadua]

Wunderschön und Pröst!!!

[@muttvette1982]

Now do titanium nitride coating! That's the one we REALLY wanna see!

[@TheColombianSpartan]

wow that is _amazing_

[@Mandomarc]

defitnetly my next one

[@MakenModify]

so shiny ;) nice👍

[@austins.andrus5622]

I have been enjoying your tutorials so much and I'm looking forward to my first electroplating project soon! I have two questions: 1) What amperage do you start at? You have mentioned in prior videos the voltage you start at, and this time you mentioned the amperage you ended at, but I'm not sure what amperage you began with. 2) My upcoming project has a high surface area to volume ratio. I have heard that this affects the ideal electroplating parameters. How do you find that complex shapes with high surface area behave during plating, and how do you compensate for it? Thank you very much!

[@hen3drik]

Hi, you don't have that much control over the current, the object takes what it needs. There are calculators that do the math for what's the best current. I set the volatage to around 0.2-0.3V at the beginning and make sure that there is some current flowing. This current increases over time, because the layer is growing thicker. complex shapes bring problems like anode shadowing and current spikes but i haven't noticed anything regarding the surface to volume ratio. I noticed that small objects, where the surface to volume ratio is greater, you'll have to be carful with the max. voltage. I'll investigate in this thing.

[@austins.andrus5622]

@@hen3drik Thanks so much for the response! I'll start experimenting and hopefully I can find the right technique soon. Thank you again for your videos; they have been very helpful.

[@marcus_w0]

Nice one. You should coat the finished nickel plating with a clear coat to prevent it from getting dull over time.

[@jonsnothere84]

Can’t you just build more plating layers? Is there a limit to how much you can plate something, I would love to build up like 2mm of the stuff as like a full enclosed pseudo forging process, is that possible though?

[@hen3drik]

2mm is possible for copper electrolyte.

[@cerberes]

dang that looks great! Any ideas on how to get a very rough and darker copper coating. I'm working on a train project with my dad and the cars we're working on hold 300 copper anodes which were electroplated or such back in the 60s. They came out rough and darker. I thought it would be cool to actually copper plate the individual anodes.

[@hen3drik]

Thanks, you could try this method here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2G3o2ygnKisjrs

[@patprop74]

Fantastic job. Looks amazing, it looks like a commercially fabricated product.

[@hen3drik]

Yes, I’m pretty happy with it. The weight and haptics are pretty great, feels like the real deal!

[@eugeniogibertini5140]

Can you please wrote down the name and provider of copper paste you are using ?thank you this is amazing

[@omnistudeo]

It would be nice to do something more functional, because this turned out really well. For example, a car headlight reflector.

[@hen3drik]

Is a sword considered to be a functional item? 😉 but yes, I’ll figure out what‘d be a good example.

[@milesdysonsphere752]

I'd be curious as to how it would hold up, something makes me think it wouldn't weather well, but I could be wrong. Automotive pieces would be better suited to be printed from solid metal, but that's super expensive so if this is sturdy enough it would be an excellent alternative.

[@geeksdontpanic]

The way he said "Thank God!" at 1:55 LMAO

[@makershustle]

Nice💪 maby deforming from cold temperatures..got video in pipeline with small heater ✌

[@hen3drik]

Jepp, too cold + few support common cause for me 🙈

[@すどにむ]

The end result is magnificent and immaculate so I suspect that's why, but why not just go with electroless plating processes? There are certain "specialized silver lacquer paint" for modelmaking that actually aren't a paint at all but are easy handling plating solutions.

[@hen3drik]

Thanks, I don’t do electroless plating on this channel, yet. So please understand when it takes a while before I’ll show that 😃

[@MrGTAmodsgerman]

Can you make a whole video just about the safety aspects of electroplating? Obviously it doesn't look like healthy chemicals you work with and there are some things that people should avoid or take care of.

[@hen3drik]

I cannot answer safety aspects since I’m just a hobby user following the rules written on the bottles/chemicals. But I can tell what safety measures I take regard these things (gloves, respirator, glasses, ventilation). I think it won’t be a dedicated video, but a safety part of each video. I actually don‘t believe it‘s more harmful than working with other paints etc.

[@MrGTAmodsgerman]

​@@hen3drik ok, i see. Sorry, I thought you came from commercial field of galvanic since you are seem to have so much knowledge about it which itself isn't covered a lot on KZbin. Well i just wondering since i have seen articles about heavy health risks regarding Galvanik aka electro plateing and there is a lot of things involved, like avoiding putting stuff down the drain. Or the ventilation aspect. But also like the actual differences on what chemicals getting used. But also i thought about for a video like simple stuff to avoid. Like what should be done to avoid burning for ex. while it's electro plateing. Like tips and tricks list of what you know that you can share to avoid certain mistakes you experienced yourself when you started all this.

[@evolutionxstudios]

Richtig gut! Abo dagelassen :)

[@imranjavedjoura7028]

Good work. Please share links where we can order these items, conductive paint, electrolyte etc. Thanks

[@cameronyoung2004]

Ditto

[@davidjulia4828]

"Thank you so much for your videos, the quality is great! I was wondering, what brand and type of resin do you use?? I tried using Sunlu ABS-like resin, but it seems to be incompatible with the electrolyte solution. After several hours in the bath, the piece comes out softened and the copper and paint peel off. Thank you for your help!"

[@Shenanigans3D]

Well this is interesting 🤔

[@paulonatali5614]

Awesome ! How thick could reach the copper on this case ? Thinking on use only the copper to transmit electricity in a 3D part.

[@hen3drik]

120micrometers in this case

[@PrimalEdge]

Groovy

[@user-ft5qk4nv4f]

Love the flag in your logo

[@hen3drik]

That wasn‘t actually on purpose but it a good one 👍🏻

[@hughbeauchamp]

Looks amazing! How large a part could you plate with this method? I have a resin cast of a daft punk helmet sitting in storage that I would love to chrome plate.

[@hen3drik]

Ha, me too. My actual resin basin is 5l. The problem is that for these giant surfaces you‘ll need very high currents from a fat power supply. Also very hi wire gauge and many liter of electrolyte and different clamps and giant anodes. And I bought all of these last week 😉I guess I’ll have to find out.

[@hughbeauchamp]

@@hen3drik Hah! Good to know I’m not the only one. Are you doing the helmet electronics as well? The LED grid is pretty time consuming! Looking forward to hearing how the plating goes.

[@carbide1968]

so cool, this makes want to print again. but there will costs to this, but i have grown old to printing useless knick knacks.

[@lionardo]

Super video. 😎 Hast du ein Service indem man dir die 3d prints zum galvanisieren schicken kann?

[@hen3drik]

Nope 😉

[@angelsvsdevils4444]

Where to order the conductive coating. GRAPHITE?

[@unchainedwiththecapt]

If you can do this, a sentinel from Phantasm should be no problem.

[@L2740G2CG]

My lovely Mr. Singingclub.

[@MrGTAmodsgerman]

Kann man eigentlich mit Galvanisierung auch einen Aluminuml/Edelstahllook hinbekommen? Also wie beispielweise bei einem Waschbecken?

[@hen3drik]

Kind of: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHfEoqhseN2ga7M Try copper, sanding 1600grid, then nickel/chrome/palladium. All the metals have very similar looks. It also depends on how much voltage is applied when using a galvanic brush. But it’s kind of „wrong“.

[@MrGTAmodsgerman]

@@hen3drik Ok thanks. But what do you mean by "But it’s kind of „wrong“."? Isn't worth it? Are there better alternatives? I thought, electroplating gives the most realistic appearance when it comes to metal, chrome etc. So aluminium look should maybe work too

[@hen3drik]

@@MrGTAmodsgerman oh no, i mean regarding the galvanic brush. You can go higher voltage as it‘s supposed to with the galvanic brush and kind-of „burn“ the plating to darken the deposed material. Aluminium can be anodized (colored), but I don‘t think that’s what you‘re looking for, right?

[@MrGTAmodsgerman]

@@hen3drik Oh ok, then this makes sense. Thanks. And no, i am just looking for a authentic solution of scale model sink look. Just a thought, nothing serious.

[@cosmefulanito5933]

Using an Arduino Nano to blink three LEDs is like using a supercomputer to play pac-man.

[@hen3drik]

Hey, at least it wasn’t a pi0 😉

[@fluxcapacitor]

Wonderful! Is there any disadvantage to electroplating a copper object on the copper primer paint, and stopping there? Without going to the nickel stage? To have a copper object

[@hen3drik]

Oxidization + developing patina. And it‘s very soft.

[@chipcode5538]

Nice again

[@3D_Printing]

0:17 While watching, I thought it was my own reflections at first :) Looks like you could make a reflexive telescope using a magnifying mirror

[@hen3drik]

Wow, this would be a nice project!

[@thomasheisler]

hey i had a crazy idea what if you came up with a design that you electrocoated in stainless steel, then turned around and then did sand casting where the purpose was to remove the plastic and basically replaced it with aluminum, then finished it off with say gold or silver or another metal? cause i was thinking that the stainless steel coat would hold up with hot aluminum then you would have a pure metal 3d print and would be strong as hell, maybe need to use a vacuum to get all the air out, but i think it could be done.

[@hen3drik]

I actually did that and it‘ll be part of one of the next videos 😃

[@thomasheisler]

@@hen3drik NICE

[@christinennennaorji4704]

Please I reside in Nigeria, we have a 3d printer and interested in electroplating; how do we get this material

[@hen3drik]

Can’t hardly say. I buy my electrolyte from a vendor that ships EU only. Look out for „sulfuric acidic copper electrolyte“.

[@Don_Meggi]

WOW

[@fairstnaimelastenaime1346]

Xmas ornament...or Phantasm II (ball of death)

[@Ray-bd2rv]

I can't find the Tiffoo conductive paint anywhere in the United States. I tried using a graphite/b-72/acetone paint recipe, but that paint cannot be airbrushed and it bubbles up after being submerged in the solution for a while. I also tried Modern Masters copper paint but it has zero conductivity. The search continues!

[@hen3drik]

Yeah, that‘s difficult. Try commercial conductive graphite spray and polish it to get around 1.7kohm for 1cm. The bath plate very slowly.

[@milesdysonsphere752]

Thanks for the heads up, otherwise I might have tried this eventually. If you can't buy it in the US it's for a good reason. It must me super toxic. While I've messed with ultra toxic things before this kind of hobby showpiece probably isn't worth exposing yourself to. Who knows how much of it is rubbing off with each touch not to mention off gassing.

[@qwertyqwerty9587]

This is beautiful work, How much stronger are the prints Could you break them with your bare hands

[@hen3drik]

I didn’t try, but these became stronger.

[@antennasbc]

Love the videos. I cannot find that conductive paint anywhere. Do you have a link please?

[@hen3drik]

Leitlack Kupfer/Kupferleitlack (200 ml) - Silberleitlack-Ersatz - z. B. für Kunststoff-Galvanik amzn.eu/d/2niBbuj

[@TheMichaellathrop]

Other than needing more sanding and having lower resolution would this work on plastic filament 3d prints?

[@hen3drik]

Yes, it does very well!

[@GoddyLP]

Hi...womit verdünnst du den Kupferleitlack so dass er so gut durch die Airbrush gun sprüht?

[@hen3drik]

Moin, Acetone.

[@GoddyLP]

@@hen3drik Hatte schon in einem anderen Video von dir gehört, dass Aceton oder Nitro Reiniger geht. Hab es gestern noch mit Nitro probiert und klappte super. Nächste Schritt für meine Testobjekte nun: Baden gehen :-)

[@Rkenshin00]

I have more questions about the health hazard aspect. Which part is dangerous exactly?

[@hen3drik]

It‘s okay if handled in a ventilated or open area. Nickel electrolyte is the really bad stuff. In case of my supplier, some former hazardous electrolyte such as chrome have been replaced with less harmful variants. This is, afaik, due to strict german regulations of these chemicals for consumers (nickel)

[@mrt1r]

If you were to print using an FDM printer using PLA and smooth it with acitone, would it make the finish cleaner?

[@hen3drik]

No. You‘d also have to make it even. I couldn‘t achieve this.

[@AdamBaird]

I really enjoed this video! It gave me a great idea for a collaboration project we could do between our 2 channels. Let me know if you are interested and how best to contact you about it.

[@SuperRobertson79]

Diese Englisch Lehrer gehören bestraft! Ich habe fast Ohr bluten bekommen.

[@angelsvsdevils4444]

please share ling where to buy conductive coating. GRAPHITE

[@kvl3r]

What if you paint over the nickel? Would the colour look more metallic? I have finished priming and sanding a pokeball and I would love to make it look metallic.

[@hen3drik]

If you paint over you can kind of feel the metal beneath the paint but the color wouldn’t look metallic.

[@kvl3r]

@@hen3drik thanks a lot

[@ei23de]

Cool! Tschüss! Hehe

[@greggv8]

Make the triangular flying drone from early in the Tom Selleck SciFi movie "Runaway".

[@lilsquidgaming39]

I really want to learn how to do all this redoing the whole garage rn to retrofit my 8 3d printers I have alot of resin just need a great resin printer I have 3 resin printers as well but dont like them cause their 2nd hand and just nasty dirty the person who owned them didnt take care of them lol

[@evil_voctor]

Awesome work! I will try to do it but I´m cofused, I dont know if I must thin conductive paint with something or how much preasure I need to paint with airbrush. If you can answer me I will be very grateful! Thanks in advance

[@hen3drik]

Thanks! Thin the paint 1 paint :2 acetone. Spray with around 200 kpa.

[@evil_voctor]

@@hen3drik Thousand of thanks! It works! In a few days I will show you what I´m making! (sorry if my English level is low)

[@hen3drik]

Please do, try instagram or twitter to contact me!

[@domasannevanwijk6402]

Dear Hendrick, thank you for your helpful electroforming videos. Thanks to your videos I have had success with some of my parts producing a shiny thick copper coating; however, others which are slightly larger have resulted in a dull finish with stains and spots. How can I recover these parts? Would re-grinding them to the plastic and starting again be the best approach, or is re-immersion in the solution the better option? I look forward to your response.

[@hen3drik]

If it‘s just dull you have to recheck the current (1.5A/dm^2 surace) and use constant current. Recovering is always tricky. I try to avoid these things (haha, I know). Try grinding, then degrease and pickle with citric acid. You really have to pick the right current to avoid these problems. When doing the mandalorian helmet I reached almost 3V at 31A.

[@domasannevanwijk6402]

@@hen3drik, thanks so much for your quick response!

[@domasannevanwijk6402]

​@@hen3drik I have an object with an area of 31.96 dm^2. This means I need 47.94 A of electricity. In your videos, you always gradually increase the volts. Should I gradually increase to 47.94 A or start there right away? Sorry for all the questions, but you really help me a lot with them.

[@hen3drik]

I did the gradually in the past. But you should start there right away. Be sure to use constant current, not constant voltage. In case of doubt google how to set it on your power supply. You can start at 1A/dm^2 for the first 30 mins and observe the results.

[@CheeseWithMold]

Hallo! I watched a video recently that made use of this process (though they used FDM printing, not SLA resin), and near the end it was shown that the electroplated print made a metallic ring when hit with another metallic object. Is this real? I have a hard time believing that mere millimeters (if that) of a metallic coating on a plastic object can produce this sound. I was wondering if your electroplated projects make this sound? Danke schön!

[@hen3drik]

It does sound like metal. Electroforming millimeters is possible and creates this sound even better. Can you give mir the link to the video?

[@CheeseWithMold]

@@hen3drik Sure! He actually did use resin printing not FDM like I thought, but here's the video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYq9hnV9Yr5_mZI The electroplating starts around 9 minutes. He's a bit... unprofessional, but the metal sound really caught my interest. Thanks for confirming!

[@hen3drik]

Sounds a bit extreme, but I guess it‘s because of the snail house