1. Q: Can Anodizing Technologies anodize my parts?
A: No. We do not do anodizing or plating. ATI designs and builds anodizing and other types of metal finishing systems.
2. Q: Can ATI sell us some new tanks to go in our existing anodizing line ?
A: Yes, Anodizing Technologies can provide new tanks that are custom designed and built to fit in your existing line. They can be made of co-polymer polypropylene, stainless steel, or carbon steel. The tanks can be lined, if required. Examples of lined tanks could be polypropylene lined with stainless steel, stainless steel lined with polypropylene, polypropylene lined with Kynar, or just about any tank material lined, or unlined.
3. Q: We are having some trouble with fixturing (racks) for some of the parts we anodize. Can you help us with this?
A: Yes, we can. Anodizing Technologies personnel have extensive, hands-on experience with parts racking and tooling for fixtures. With prints of the parts and other specific processing information, we can design aluminum and/or titanium racks to meet your requirements. We can also put you in touch with a reliable source for building the racks.
4. Q: We would like to install either a Boric-Sulfuric acid (BSA) or a Tartaric-Sulfuric (TSA) anodizing system in our existing anodizing line. We need to get the system aerospace certified. Can you do this?
A: ATI can design and build a system that will meet the requirements of whatever specification you are using. It could be a complete, stand-alone line, or it could be integrated into your existing anodizing line.
5. Q: Our anodizing and plating shop needs a new ventilation system. Part of the new system would have to meet the new EPA requirements for hex chrome emissions. Is this something you could do?
A: ATI can provide exhaust ventilation and fume scrubbers to meet all of the latest environmental requirements for metal finishing. We can also provide your shop with make-up air systems that automatically provide the correct volume of conditioned make-up air to balance the exhausted air.
6. Q: I am looking at setting up a chrome plating line for medical instruments. When I hear the word “chrome” I worry about the EPA. Can you help?
A: Not to worry. Anodizing Technologies provides anodizing and plating facilities that will meet the latest EPA requirements for air emissions and waste water discharge whatever the process.
7. Q: Our anodizing line has both a Type II and a Type III anodizing tank. We would like to replace both systems with new tank, rectifier, cooling, bus bar, etc. We want to do this one system at a time so we don’t have to shut down the line completely. How much “down time” can I expect to have if we shut down one of the anodizing tanks at a time and replace it with a whole new anodizing tank system?
A: That depends, of course, on the size of the system. There can also be unforeseen difficulties that come up when you are working with existing systems. Much of the work can be done in our shop. On-site we will work nights, weekends and holidays, if necessary, to get the job done and get you back in production as soon as possible.
8. Q: Sometimes our water-cooled rectifier is damp inside. We know that this is condensation from the cooling water. What can be done about this? Can you fix a problem like this?
A: Yes, ATI can fix this problem for you. We design and build custom, closed loop rectifier cooling systems that deliver cooling water to the rectifier at the correct temperature (above the ambient dew point) so there will be no condensation inside.
9. Q: We would like to be able to anodize all of our own aluminum parts. We have never done our own anodizing. Please tell me exactly how the size of my parts and the production volume affects the design of the new anodizing facility.
A: The size and design of any anodizing line starts with the proper sizing of the anodizing tank(s). The size of the anodizing tank is determined by both the physical size and the surface area of each of the parts to be anodized as well as the total volume of parts to be finished. You must also determine the time period that you want to utilize to anodize these parts. In other words, are you thinking about a one, two, or three shift operation? Any extra capacity that you want to build in for future growth also plays a part in determining the physical size and production capacity of the new facility.
10. Q: Is it possible to use my Type II anodizing line for hardcoat (Type III) anodizing ?
A: Sometimes the best way to do this is to modify the existing anodizing system by installing a higher voltage rectifier and additional cooling. Sometimes it is best to add another anodizing tank system specifically designed for Type III anodizing to your existing line. It depends on the situation. If you contact ATI, we can help you work out the best method to follow. Then we can design, build and install the new equipment required. In some cases the existing equipment can be modified to do the job.
11. Q: I’ve heard people using the term “plating” when they talk about “anodizing”. Are these terms interchangeable? If not, what is the difference between plating and anodizing?
A: Plating and anodizing are not the same process so the terms should not be used interchangeably. In fact, the two processes are exact opposites electrically and chemically. Plating is a chemical reduction reaction where the parts being plated have a negative electrical charge. The metal anodes hanging in the tank are positively charged.
Plating is a chemical reduction reaction where the parts being plated have a negative electrical charge. The metal anodes hanging in the tank are positively charged. The plating bath is a solution (actually a metal salt) that contains the metal being plated in its dissolved (or ionic) state. During the plating process the dissolved metal in the bath is attracted to the negatively charge parts and is “reduced” from its ionic state in the bath to its metallic state on the parts. An example of this would be parts being copper plated in a bath of copper sulfate.
Anodizing is an oxidation reaction where the parts being anodized have the positive electrical charge and the negatively charged metal cathode hangs in the tank. A typical electrolyte (anodizing bath) might be a dilute solution of sulfuric, or other type of acid. By virtue of having the positive electrical charge the parts are oxidized. This oxidation process converts the surface of the aluminum to aluminum oxide which is a very hard, durable finish. Instead of a metal being plated onto the parts the aluminum oxide is an integral part of the aluminum substrate.
Call or email Anodizing Technologies with your requirements (317) 253-5725 or mail@anodizingtechnologies.com
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