jccaclimber
Stainless
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2015
- Location
- San Francisco
I'm having parts anodized in small quantities (5-10). Parts are 6063 and 6061, both T6. Both parts fit in a 4" diameter 1" thick space. Clear anodize, no cosmetic requirements. The problem we are having is inconsistent growth/shrinkage.
The first time we sent the parts to the anodizer they came back smaller (20 microns) rather than larger. We asked about this and discovered that we needed to specify "clean, no etch", and the parts would come back bigger. The second time they did, but they have been inconsistent since then. I can't keep ruining $2000 batches of prototype parts in anodize. Too much growth would be acceptable as I can do a couple microns of cleanup after the parts are complete if needed.
My company anodizes a similar part as a production operation 24/5 and gets a consistent part growth of 5-11 microns, but does so in Germany so using them isn't a practical option.
1) Is there anything different I should specify, or is this not an achievable thickness requirement?
2) Can anyone recommend a place in the DFW area they recommend? If not perhaps someone I can mail parts to?
The first time we sent the parts to the anodizer they came back smaller (20 microns) rather than larger. We asked about this and discovered that we needed to specify "clean, no etch", and the parts would come back bigger. The second time they did, but they have been inconsistent since then. I can't keep ruining $2000 batches of prototype parts in anodize. Too much growth would be acceptable as I can do a couple microns of cleanup after the parts are complete if needed.
My company anodizes a similar part as a production operation 24/5 and gets a consistent part growth of 5-11 microns, but does so in Germany so using them isn't a practical option.
1) Is there anything different I should specify, or is this not an achievable thickness requirement?
2) Can anyone recommend a place in the DFW area they recommend? If not perhaps someone I can mail parts to?