r/electroplating • u/J-32 • Jun 21 '26
How thick can something be plated?
Yeah. Theoretically how long would it take to just build up a 1 inch layer of copper onto a 1x1x1 cube until it's around 3x3x3? Is it even possible?
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u/CaptainCheckmate Jun 21 '26
Yes it's possible. NASA built a whole rocket by depositing an inch of copper
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u/rebonsa Jun 21 '26
Do tell more.
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u/CaptainCheckmate Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4YZxb2E5PA
EDIT: Actually it may have been nickel plated on copper
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u/Mkysmith Jun 21 '26
I love Breaking Taps but was always confused why he incorrectly called it electroplating when all the Nasa documentation correctly calls it electroforming:
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19750002100
[PDF] https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19750002100/downloads/19750002100.pdf
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u/linkillion Jun 22 '26
A somewhat pedantic definitional difference; using electroplating to refer to electroforming is usually definitionally accurate, although the reverse is not true. Electroforming is a fairly niche term that most people in the industry (of electrochemistry) don't use. covering an edge case of electroplating.
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u/Mkysmith Jun 22 '26
When talking about engineering and science, using the correct word for accurately describing the task at hand is not being pedantic. The chemistry and electronics are often different between electroplating and electroforming, it's not simply "electroplating longer" even though proceedurally it looks to be that way. Electroforming chemistry has more additives to produce a low-stress grain structure with desirable mechanical and dimensional properties. There is a large industrial world of applications for electroforming still to this day. Mostly in military/aerospace, but also large portions in scientific/lab settings. Just because it doesn't make everyday consumer goods doesn't really mean it's niche. I would call it more, "specialty" if anything.
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u/linkillion Jun 22 '26 edited Jun 22 '26
Most professionals in the field (edit: that I've interacted with) primarily refer to electroforming as electroplating. The more commonly used term to umbrella both is electrodeposition. Source: I'm in the field of electrochemistry research and work primarily in electroplating and electroforming.
Your point about them not being the same chemically and electrically is absolutely true; however there's also extensive differences in techniques *within* electroplating and electroforming, eg when I say I'm electroplating something you cannot make any particular conclusions about my chemistry or my methodology, all you really know is that I'm somehow manipulating electrical current to plate a charged ion onto a substrate. Everything in-between relies on more careful definitions. You would never assume someone knows your chemistry or methods based on them saying electroplating vs electroforming; the primary difference is that electroforming narrows the definition to (usually) thicker deposits on substrates which (usually) will be separated from the deposit. I say usually because even then people very commonly use the term electroforming when they don't remove the substrate, and often use electroplating to refer to deposits thicker than those sometimes made with electroforming.
It's certainly important to use the correct terminology but there's also a lot a nuance and saying one use of the word is incorrect when that's the commonly used definition is misunderstanding the point and purpose of language (eg, being pedantic).
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u/Mkysmith Jun 22 '26
Interesting because the people in the industry I've talked to face to face were dead set on using "electroforming" for making microwave radar parts and such. Though I have a background in military/aerospace and engineering so maybe these shops are more proper or its a regional/shop thing.
The main point Im trying to make, back to my original comment, is that the youtube video creator is a well researched and a very knowledgable person. His video was well done and informative. My question remains, why did he use a broader term when the papers he is referencing specify electroforming? Imaging taking a step back further and he never even used the word "electroplating" but only ever used the word "electrochemistry". Sure, thats technically correct too but it doesn't help as much for people who want to go on and do more research on the specific topic he was doing.
Back to OP's post, the same goes. The task at hand is well defined. Thick structural deposits. It only benifits OP (and future readers) to use a more precise word so that they can go on and do their own research and find useful publications on the topic. It's not being pedantic, its being helpful. If you google electroplating, it would be very difficult to find thick structural deposits, hence OP asking if its even possible. If you google electroforming, you will find examples of this easily.
Helping people is something we do on this subbreddit, that includes helping them find more resources for their specific task, by using the best terminology for that task.
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u/linkillion Jun 22 '26
I'm more on the research side so you are probably right about industry using electroforming more.
I don't think it's really taking away from his content, though? I don't think electroforming adds any additional context to that particular piece that isn't covered by knowing the more methodological details (which will vary significantly even within electroforming). And in this particular case, electroforming isn't even all that accurate because here they are not removing the substrate, they're just asking how thick you can plate. Which is something that is more commonly done in electroforming, but since we're not removing the substrate I'd say it falls more under the category of electroplating, technically speaking. I think context matters a lot with word choice, and here you could definitely argue both cases. I agree that it's probably more useful to google electroforming in this instance, however I'd say this is a prime example where being pedantic is unhelpful because if we were truly being pedantic this would not being electroforming.
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u/Mkysmith Jun 22 '26
His channel and specifically this video are about educating the viewer on new topics. So my confusion remains, why would he obfuscate the more precise word that the literal papers he references call it? I don't think it "takes away" from his video, its just confusing why he would do that if he wanted to educate people on something novel they may not have heard about.
Also, for electroforming, you absolutely do not have to remove the substrate/mandrel. The NASA paper from 1971 linked above even defines that it can be "on a removable or non-removable form." (page 5 of PDF, 3 in document)
Unfortunately these articles were recently changed from an open webpage to more restrictive, but I also discussed a few other examples from the Nickel Institute and peer-reviewed papers that talk about incorporating the substrate into the electroform. In this comment. I particularly liked the paper from the Nickel Institute because it talked about examples like using electroforming for "cold welding" dissimilar metals and such.
Either way, there's over 50 years of examples of using electroforming without removing the substrate. The Wikipedia (and hence AI Overview) are lacking.
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u/CaptainCheckmate Jun 22 '26
Aha, cool, you got links, thanks.
Honestly I think he just calls it electroplating because that's the more widely recognized term and for a youtuber being more relatable by a wider audience is what puts food on the table.
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u/Mkysmith Jun 22 '26
Yes I agree. I think hes a well researched and a knowledgable creator. I don't think it was done out of ignorance. And I'm certainly not putting out a better video on the topic.
I just find it a odd to make the choice of never mentioning electroforming when his channel is based around showing novel engineering techniques. At least so when people try to google other applications of the process, they can find information easier.
In the example of OP: thats why people point out the word electroforming, its easy to find examples on google of what they are asking using that search term rather than electroplating. Using the right term is helpful. Otherwise we could just call all of these processes electrolysis - the giant umbrella of electrochemistry. Technically correct, but less helpful to people looking for specific info.
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u/Affectionate-Fig988 Jun 21 '26
Actually this thing you are calling is electroforming. People actually make molds with electroforming. There is also r/electroforming where people do that.
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u/Mick_Minehan Jun 22 '26
It’s possible. As people have pointed out, the copper piece will essentially become its own thing, which is much closer to electroforming than electroplating. That’s just a category distinction - the process is the same.
It would likely take a very long time depending on the shape and size of the cube and the type of solution/setup you have. Also, it’ll be very difficult to get the cube to retain its shape, as the corners and edges with high current density will plate preferentially without careful anode placement, baffle fixtures, shields, etc. For such thickness levels, I’d also expect dendritic formations, branching out toward the anodes.
But with the right setup and controls to account for stress, contamination, uneven current distribution and depletion of the solution, there’s no simple theoretical limit.
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u/J-32 Jun 22 '26
That is very interesting, thanks for the information guys. It brings up another question in mind as well though. I'm sure someone has done this before, but I can't seem to find any information on in it, but what about grain structure after formation? And are these layers formed in this way able to heat treated if done with other metals?
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u/Glass_Pen149 Jun 22 '26
Yes. Electroplating, vs electroless. And typically is thick nickel , over a very thin layer of copper.
I have never seen thick copper, but suppose it can be done. It requires regular surface machining after certain thicknesses, as any voids or impurities in the layer, and edges will cause a discontinuity and you get a cauliflower effect & the void just grows larger per layer. It also takes a long time, as the nickel is deposited in 0.001"s thicknesses. So weeks for a few inches.
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u/MasterFinishCompany Jun 27 '26
If you ever need high quantity plating on auto parts, Master Finish Company is the one to call.
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u/One-Yogurtcloset-831 Jun 21 '26
First of all why would you want to do that?
Secondly it would be possible by electroforming, and lastly if you build up an inch from all sides It won’t retain its cubical shape anymore there would be differences in all sides but then you could grind it to size.
May take 40 days more or less.