Short answer
Standard Micro-Metallizer pens build up to 1.5 to 1.8 µm; heavy-duty pens reach 3 to 3.6 µm. On a 1 in² copper surface, a gold pen deposits about 0.5 µm in 2 minutes. Each pen holds 10 ml of solution and covers roughly 300 square inches. Operating voltage ranges from 5 to 12V DC depending on the pen.
Plating rate by metal
| Pen type | 2 minutes | 3 minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 0.5 µm | 0.8 µm |
| Palladium | 0.5 µm | 0.8 µm |
| Silver | 0.5 µm | 0.8 µm |
| Rhodium | 0.7 µm | 1.0 µm |
| Nickel | 0.4 µm | 0.6 µm |
| Black Nickel | 0.5 µm | 0.6 µm |
| Copper, Zinc, Tin, Chrome Color | 0.3 µm | 0.5 µm |
| Gold Heavy | 0.8 µm | 1.2 µm |
| Silver Heavy | 0.8 µm | 1.2 µm |
| Copper Heavy | 0.6 µm | 1.0 µm |
| Nickel Heavy | 0.8 µm | 1.2 µm |
Maximum thickness and coverage
- Standard pens: 1.5 to 1.8 µm maximum
- Heavy-duty pens: 3 to 3.6 µm maximum
- Each pen: 10 ml of concentrated solution, roughly 300 square inches of coverage
Operating voltage by pen
Power comes from the Micro-Metallizer variable DC supply (110V/60Hz or 220V/50Hz input) or your own variable DC supply up to 12V at 0.1A. The part connects to the negative lead and the pen to the positive lead.
| Pen | Catalog no. | Voltage (DC) | Plates over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absorbent / Degreaser | PL-1002 | 10 to 12V | Cleans all metals except stainless steel |
| Stainless Steel Degreaser | PL-1014 | 10 to 12V | Cleans and activates stainless steel |
| Gold 24K / 18K / 14K | PL-1003 / 1004 / 1005 | 6 to 8V | Gold, nickel, silver |
| Gold 24K / 18K Heavy | PL-1016 / 1017 | 6 to 8V | Gold, nickel, silver |
| Nickel | PL-1006 | 5 to 6V | Copper (copper flash other metals first) |
| Nickel Heavy | PL-1020 | 5 to 6V | Copper (copper flash other metals first) |
| Black Nickel | PL-1007 | 8 to 10V | Copper (copper flash other metals first) |
| Silver | PL-1008 | 5 to 6V | Any metal except aluminum or chromium |
| Silver Heavy | PL-1018 | 5 to 6V | Any metal except aluminum or chromium |
| Copper | PL-1010 | 6 to 8V | Any metal except aluminum or chromium |
| Copper Heavy | PL-1019 | 6 to 8V | Any metal except aluminum or chromium |
| Tin | PL-1012 | 6 to 8V | Any metal except aluminum or chromium |
| Zinc | PL-1013 | 6 to 8V | Any metal except aluminum or chromium |
| Chrome Color | PL-1009 | 6 to 8V | Copper (copper flash other metals first) |
| Rhodium | PL-1011 | 8 to 10V | Nickel (copper, then nickel, on other metals) |
| Palladium | PL-1015 | 6 to 8V | Nickel (copper, then nickel, on other metals) |
Frequently asked questions
How thick can brush plating get?
Standard Micro-Metallizer pens reach 1.5 to 1.8 µm. Heavy-duty pens reach 3 to 3.6 µm.
How fast does a gold plating pen plate?
About 0.5 µm in 2 minutes and 0.8 µm in 3 minutes on a 1 in² copper surface. The heavy-duty gold pen does about 0.8 µm in 2 minutes.
How much area does one plating pen cover?
Each pen holds 10 ml of concentrated plating solution and plates roughly 300 square inches.
What voltage does brush plating use?
Between 5 and 12V DC depending on the pen: 10 to 12V to degrease, 5 to 6V for nickel and silver, 6 to 8V for gold, copper, tin, zinc and palladium, 8 to 10V for rhodium and black nickel.
Not sure which pens your part needs?
Tell us the substrate and the finish you need. The people who build the system will tell you the sequence.