Why 3D print in metal when you could, more cheaply, plate your 3D prints in metal? Sure there are tons of reasons to 3D print in metal, but, if your goal is purely aesthetic, then coating your prints in a thin layer of metal is an affordable alternative. That’s why Monlith Studio has developed their low-cost electroplating device, the Orbit 1, which they displayed at Maker Faire in NYC this past weekend.
The Orbit 1 uses the process of electrodeposition to coat 3D prints in a thin metal coating. First, an ABS print is polished smooth in a process that may be similar to an acetone vapor bath. Then, it is sprayed with a conductive paint and placed into the tank of the Orbit 1 machine, where a small electrical charge drives the particles of the desired metal (nickel, copper, lead, or gold) to the conductive paint and covers the print in a fine layer. A mechanism on the top of tank causes the object to rotate while the electrodeposition is taking place.…
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