How to use this calculator
- Choose the solve mode. Use target-thickness mode to estimate time, or run-time mode to estimate the thickness produced by a planned cycle.
- Choose metal and area. Select a plating metal preset or custom Faraday values, then enter the total cathode surface area.
- Set current density and efficiency. Use the process-sheet current density and cathode efficiency for the bath, alloy and part geometry.
- Check current, time and mass. Review amp-hours, deposited mass, rectifier utilization, power and energy before scheduling the rack.
How it works
Electroplating thickness starts with Faraday law:
m = Q x eta x M / (n x F)
where Q is charge in coulombs, eta is cathode
efficiency, M is molar mass, n is ion valence and
F is Faraday's constant. Thickness then comes from:
t = m / (rho x A)
using deposited-metal density rho and plated area A.
Current is calculated from the part area and current density: I = A x J In target-thickness mode, the calculator works backward from target mass to charge, amp-hours and process time. In run-time mode, it works forward from run time to amp-hours, mass and thickness.
Pair this with the anodizing amp-hour calculator, powder coating coverage calculator, sheet-metal box flat pattern calculator, metal weight calculator and machine shop rate calculator.
Worked example
Verified against the live calculator
For 20 ft2 of nickel plating at 0.5 mil target
thickness, 20 A/ft2 current density and 95%
cathode efficiency, the calculator estimates about 400 A,
202 A*h, 30.3 min and
210 g of deposited nickel.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate electroplating thickness?
Use Faraday law to estimate deposited metal mass from charge, cathode efficiency, molar mass and valence. Divide deposited mass by metal density and plated surface area to get thickness.
Can this solve plating time for a target thickness?
Yes. In target-thickness mode it calculates deposited mass and amp-hours, then divides by the current from surface area times current density to estimate process time.
Can this estimate thickness from a known run time?
Yes. In run-time mode it multiplies current by run time to get amp-hours, applies Faraday law and returns the estimated thickness.
Is this a plating process recipe?
No. It is a Faraday-law thickness and rectifier screen. Real plating depends on bath chemistry, current distribution, throwing power, anodes, agitation, temperature, surface preparation, masking, hydrogen embrittlement and inspection requirements.
Method & assumptions
- Surface area is total plated cathode area for every part in the rack or batch.
- Metal presets provide density, molar mass and a common assumed ion valence for Faraday screening.
- Cathode efficiency is entered separately because it varies strongly by bath chemistry and process condition.
- Voltage affects only power and energy outputs; it does not change the Faraday thickness estimate.
- This does not model throwing power, nonuniform current distribution, anode area, shields, agitation, temperature, bath depletion, dragout, hydrogen embrittlement, deposit stress, masking, surface prep, passivation or inspection limits.