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Thread: DIY Anodizing.... Success!!

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Lake Geneva, WI.
    Posts
    2,704

    Default DIY Anodizing.... Success!!

    After having a need for the random part being anodized and not wanting to pay the minimum order prices and the long leed times. I decided to do it myself!

    Here is an XYB galvo mount with years of wear and tear not to mention abuse and a hack job of a mod which I milled flat.









    From here the mount was stripped of it's old anodizing in a bath of sodium hydroxide.











    Now the surface is sanded and scrubbed clean and get's dipped in caustic again to prep the surface for anodizing.



    After that, It's time for the anodizing acid bath.









    Towards the end you can see the aluminum starting to develop a different tint and finish.







    From there, the aluminum gets another bath to neutralize the acid.









    Then the piece goes right into hot dye.



    Draws in color really fast!





    After an hour of soaking in dye I moved it to a boiling bath and let it simmer for an hour to lock in the dye.





    After removing the piece looks very matte.







    From there, all you have to do is buff it with a paper towel for a few minutes and BAM! Looks just as good as a professional job. Tough as hell too!











    If anyone is interested in having this done to their parts, let me know. I'm thinking of putting together a large batch anodizing set and running through a bunch of parts at my shop. I can probably offer a way better price than what the anodizing firms are charging.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Bend Oregon USA
    Posts
    3,350

    Default

    I knew you could figure it out...Great Job Adam!!
    Pat B

    laserman532 on ebay

    Been there, done that, got the t-shirt & selling it in a garage sale.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    north carolina usa
    Posts
    224

    Default

    GREAT JOB i have a few mobolazer parts i had made that need a dip if you start something let me know

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Essex, UK
    Posts
    8,648

    Default

    awsome job!

    i feel a mini production line coming along to do other small jobs for people off PL
    Eat Sleep Lase Repeat

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    SOUTHAMPTON U.K.
    Posts
    1,357

    Default

    Excellent job, well done.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    972

    Default

    Nice work... so that's how it's done...
    Thanks for sharing the method you used and the great pics..

    Jerry
    See the LaserBee II and all other LaserBee LPM products here....
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  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    193

    Default Nice !!!

    Looks great Adam. I hope you proceed with a larger scale operation. I have searched in the past to get some small parts anodized and have never been able to find anyone.

    Jim

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Estonia
    Posts
    245

    Default

    Hello Adam,
    That looks really good, what sort of dye were you using. Was looking into this a while back, and read that clothes dye works well, although the process was slightly different to the one that your using.

    Cheers

    Lex

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    the hills
    Posts
    983

    Default

    That looks really good Adam. Nice job.

    I had thought of trying it; my work schedule thought otherwise.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Native Floridian
    Posts
    3,127

    Default

    Nice work Adam, if you start offering this service, I'll have a few things that need to get done soon.

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