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Calcimator

Plating Thickness Calculator

Calculate electroplating time, current, and metal consumption using Faraday's law.

Inputs

%

Results

Plating time (min)

9.1

Total cost ($)

$0.23

Total current (amps)80
Tank voltage (V)6
Power (kW)0.48
Energy (kWh)0.07
Metal deposited (g)12.62
Metal deposited (lbs)0.03
Anode consumption (lbs)0.03
Metal cost ($)$0.22
Electricity cost ($)$0.01
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter Part surface area (sq ft), Target thickness (mils), and Plating metal (1-7).
  2. Set Current density (ASF), Cathode efficiency (%), and Metal cost ($/lb).
  3. Adjust Electricity cost ($/kWh) as needed.
  4. Review Plating time (min) and Total cost ($) ($).
  5. Use Total current (amps) and Tank voltage (V) to inform your decision.

How the result changes with Target thickness (mils)

Target thickness (mils)Plating time (min)Total cost ($)
1.0130.6$0.78
3.51106.4$2.71
6.5197.1$5.01
9272.9$6.94

What each input means

Part surface area (sq ft)
Total surface area of parts to plate.
Target thickness (mils)
Desired plating thickness in mils.
Plating metal (1-7)
1=Nickel, 2=Chrome, 3=Zinc, 4=Copper, 5=Tin, 6=Gold, 7=Silver.
Current density (ASF)
Amps per square foot.
Cathode efficiency (%)
Plating bath cathode efficiency.
Metal cost ($/lb)
Cost of anode metal per pound.
Electricity cost ($/kWh)
Electricity cost per kilowatt-hour.

What each result means

Plating time (min)
Time required to deposit target thickness.
Total current (amps)
Rectifier amperage needed.
Tank voltage (V)
Typical operating voltage.
Power (kW)
Electrical power draw.
Energy (kWh)
Total energy per batch.
Metal deposited (g)
Weight of metal plated onto parts.
Metal deposited (lbs)
Weight of metal in pounds.
Anode consumption (lbs)
Total anode metal consumed.
Metal cost ($)
Cost of consumed anode metal.
Electricity cost ($)
Power cost per batch.
Total cost ($)
Combined metal and electricity cost.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Part surface area (sq ft) = 2, Target thickness (mils) = 0.3, Plating metal (1-7) = 1, Current density (ASF) = 40 = 7 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Plating time
    Plating time = targetThicknessMils / (effectiveRate * currentDensityAsf)
    9.1 = 9.1
  3. Calculate Total cost
    Total cost = electricityCost + metalCost
    0.23 = $0.23
  4. Calculate Total current
    Total current = currentDensityAsf * partAreaSqFt
    80 = 80
  5. Calculate Tank voltage
    Tank voltage = metal.voltage
    6 = 6

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