Machining Motor Casings

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it is a strange electrical process that occurs in water. Google it
 
First, you clean the parts using a water-NaOH solution. If you have parts that have been previously anodized but you want to change the color, they can go through this process too - it'll remove any anodizing on them so you can start off fresh with them.

Then you bathe the parts in a water and electrolyte solution (usually sulfuric acid) and attach electrodes to two opposing side of the part. These wires are usually platinum coated so they don't corrode and fail durng the anodizing process, which would ruin the part.

You then run current through the part (the amperage inreases as the surface area to be anodized increases) and the part "grows" a layer of protective Al2O3 which at first has the structure of a honeycomb, which you can put special dyes into when you take it out of the anodizing bath. You simply dunk it in the dye bath for awhile, then take it out. The final process is to close off the honeycomb structure of the Al2O3 coating by treating it with a special chemical which I have forgotten what it is :rolleyes: . This seals in the dye by closing off the honeycomb structure.

Then the part is ready for use after drying it all off.
 
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