Please post your question so I can answer it, there is alot of speculation circling around to the extent of anodizing, how it works, what can and cannot be done as well as tolerances and the effects.
This is a question I was asked:
? I'm told by my frame manufacturer that they recommend against anodizing for the following reason: The etching process prior to anodizing actually removes a slight amount of frame material, so unless the raw material is built up with the anodizing process in mind, i.e. the frame is intentionally "overbuilt," it's not a great idea to have a frame anodized. This particularly relevant to places on the frame where tolerances are tight (bearing seats, etc.).
Do you have any info on this issue?
Answer:
This is a yes/no situation.
1- If a frame is powdercoated we can skip the etch process, all together so ther for no material is removed.
2- If a frame is anodized then the best way to strip it is to first lightly media blast the surface as to break down the nicle seal and ano, then run a 3 min etch at longest this will take the peaks down, and remove the finish without jepordizing any tolerances.
3- We can mask off any areas that are questionable like BB threads, bearing pivots, headtube etc. It will not be effected by any of the solutions in any of the tanks at all.
You have to understand that this industry up until recently was done in dirty warehouses with no mil spec process controls, bad chemistry along with dirty tanks that have not been titrated on a schedueled maintenance program. They run the tanks with hand held timers as well with manual rectifier controls that are not accurate and leave alot of problems in the long run.
Are whole line is computer controlled as well as we have a 2 day rotation for titration and computer controlled rectifiers that digitally read out all output along with a printout that shows the whole process and information in the ano tanks 10 and 11.
We spec all items with a meter that verify the coating thickness of the anodize layer.
You have to understand we do alot of precision military contract that the tolerancs are far superioir to anything in mountain biking so we already have all the necessary items to prevent any fitment problems. Our whole ano line is mil spec computer process control, on top of that we are the only Anodizing shop in the USA to accomodate all 3 process control systems from chemistry, job pro applications and mil spec computer process control. We are also finalizing our ISO 9000's as well as being approved as a Boeing vendor. We work with Lockhead-Martin, General Dynamics and Qualcom just to drop a few of our clients.
Also you can lok at the mtn. bike part of our website I had it updated today for my own sanity. www.absolutefinish.com
This is a question I was asked:
? I'm told by my frame manufacturer that they recommend against anodizing for the following reason: The etching process prior to anodizing actually removes a slight amount of frame material, so unless the raw material is built up with the anodizing process in mind, i.e. the frame is intentionally "overbuilt," it's not a great idea to have a frame anodized. This particularly relevant to places on the frame where tolerances are tight (bearing seats, etc.).
Do you have any info on this issue?
Answer:
This is a yes/no situation.
1- If a frame is powdercoated we can skip the etch process, all together so ther for no material is removed.
2- If a frame is anodized then the best way to strip it is to first lightly media blast the surface as to break down the nicle seal and ano, then run a 3 min etch at longest this will take the peaks down, and remove the finish without jepordizing any tolerances.
3- We can mask off any areas that are questionable like BB threads, bearing pivots, headtube etc. It will not be effected by any of the solutions in any of the tanks at all.
You have to understand that this industry up until recently was done in dirty warehouses with no mil spec process controls, bad chemistry along with dirty tanks that have not been titrated on a schedueled maintenance program. They run the tanks with hand held timers as well with manual rectifier controls that are not accurate and leave alot of problems in the long run.
Are whole line is computer controlled as well as we have a 2 day rotation for titration and computer controlled rectifiers that digitally read out all output along with a printout that shows the whole process and information in the ano tanks 10 and 11.
We spec all items with a meter that verify the coating thickness of the anodize layer.
You have to understand we do alot of precision military contract that the tolerancs are far superioir to anything in mountain biking so we already have all the necessary items to prevent any fitment problems. Our whole ano line is mil spec computer process control, on top of that we are the only Anodizing shop in the USA to accomodate all 3 process control systems from chemistry, job pro applications and mil spec computer process control. We are also finalizing our ISO 9000's as well as being approved as a Boeing vendor. We work with Lockhead-Martin, General Dynamics and Qualcom just to drop a few of our clients.
Also you can lok at the mtn. bike part of our website I had it updated today for my own sanity. www.absolutefinish.com