Surface Area vs. Current

[shorton]

Just signed up for the manual today In regard to current vs area to be plated, what do you do if it's going to take a 3D cad model to calculate the surface area - or in other words I won't have a clue as to actual surface area?

I'd be happier if there was a way to monitor the voltage and current and adjust so they were at some specific value. What's the best way to handle when you don't know the surface area? It's an unreplaceable part so I'm aprehensive about trial and error/guess.

Thanks,
Scott

[mcaswell]

An approximate estimate is usually sufficient.

Imagine covering the part with a fishnet with 1" square mesh, then simply count the squares.

[shorton]

An approximate estimate is usually sufficient. Imagine breaking the part up into cubes, then add the area of the cubes together.

Another technique is to cover the part with paper, then remove the paper and arrange it into a rectangle. Calculate the area of the rectangle.

I'm a mechanical engineer - and on top of that genarally pretty good at visualizing things (many of my peers aren't ), but this isn't something eaisly calculated without some serious geometry. Unfortunately little cubes isn't gonna do it.

So it's not to sensitive to errors? How far off is too much?

[mcaswell]

Start by estimating low, then if you don't see a reaction (no plating forming) simply turn up the amps until plating occurs.

If you're within 10%, you'll be close enough to make small adjustments.