Summary for metal coated 3-d printed plastic Discussion
The thread source provided does not include the actual discussion content, so the only clear topic is making hand tools from metal coated 3-D printed plastic. Based on the page title and existing meta description, the page appears to concern whether a plastic 3-D printed part that has been metal coated could be used as a hand tool. Because no question details or expert replies are present in the excerpt, no specific technical recommendation can be attributed to an answerer. The safest takeaway is that the archive page is about the concept of using metal-coated printed plastic for toolmaking, but the source excerpt here does not supply enough information to state whether it is practical, durable, or recommended.
March 3, 2013
Q. Hi.
Making hand tools from metal coated 3-D printed plastic? I am working on a small run of tools and am wondering if I use an industrial chrome or nickel finish on a softer material, such as aluminum or plastic, will it be similar to making the part from a better grade of steel? For example, could I make a closed end wrench or socket wrench out of aluminum, ABS, PC, or ULTEM and then have them finished with chrome, nickel or other material? Will they last, somewhat comparably, as long as normal tools? The torques that will be put on the wrenches are not incredibly large but I still need them to hold up just as well as steel wrenches. The main benefit I see from using these materials is weight reduction but I am specifically worried about strength, toughness and wear of the parts if they are plastic. I am asking about plastics because I have access to 3-D printers that can makes the parts out of those materials and it would be easy if I could just plate them and turn them into an end-use product.
Thank you
Jason Chavez
– Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
A. Hi Jason. Although 3-D printing is new, plastics have been around for many decades, and plated plastics have usually been cheaper than metal for almost the same period. Yet we’ve had no plastic sockets because they don’t work.
I think many things can be built from 3-D printed plastics with metal electroplating or electroforming on top of them (ABS would probably be best), but sockets and wrenches aren’t on the list. Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
March 4, 2013