Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2014 6:34:21 GMT
Hi Fellow Members,
How many of you make your own bits & pieces, many of you I suspect. ATM'ers are a very inventive group of people, and some of the ingenious creations/modifications are really fantastic.
For too many years to remember, I have made much of my gear, I have always had access to machines tools either at the med school or later in life at home. I am not an engineer at all, a self taught hack through necessity, as many of us are. We cannot afford to buy ready made parts, even if they were available!
One of my stumbling blocks has been the lack of any anodising facilities in Tasmania, even if they were, the cost is very high. Having set up and spent he time anodising parts, I can see why it is expensive to have parts done commercially. After a lot of contemplating I decided to set up my own rig. I make many of my parts, including a complete fork mounted 16" f/4.5 Newtonian from a special marine aluminium alloy, used in building sea going catamaran's, by the Tasmanian INCAT boat builders. This aluminium alloy anodises very well, it is made in France, a special mil spec grade which is superb to machine almost like brass.
My setup is fairly extensive because I have many parts of varying sizes to anodise, from tube adapters/extenders to flat bars 500 mm long - these require a set of big tube tanks to do the work.
The problem with any aluminium material is that it oxidises and wears relatively easily, which for moving parts is not good. However, anodising fixes this problem and if dyed produces a very hard wearing and nice to look at finished product.
I can only post a few example pic here of my first set up and results, but they may be enough to create some interest. It would take too long to explain the whole process, so I suggest that anyone interested check out this link www.caswellplating.com.au/anodizing.html for an excellent method and supplies in Australia.
Short manual on how to use the Caswell LCD Method: www.caswellplating.com.au/LCD.pdf
I have adopted the Caswell LCD method, it uses weaker acid solution, uses lower current, produces less misting/fumes, but take double the time of standard type 11 anodising, so 90-minutes instead of 45 approx.
Anyone who is familiar with Ron Newman telescope accessories will know he makes and anodises his own parts. Back in 2002, I bought his book and many of my dyes and chemical from him in the USA. However, he no longer sells his book nor chemicals, so Caswell caters for the home user very well in OZ.
This is the link to my Picasa album:
picasaweb.google.com/109921669020426367250/HomeAnodisingSystem?authuser=0&feat=directlink
And below a few example pics. from the album.
Large plastic tube to do multiple parts at the same time. I have various size tanks depending on what needs to be done.
Submerged aquarium pump to circulate the acid solution. Removed after use, rinsed and dried.
Aluminium plates used as cathodes-removed after use.
Examples of some of the dye colours.
A portable rig I made for the second Transit of Venus I did a public display at and I wanted the rig to look good on TV.
Almost ready for final testing prior to being transported to Campbell Town.
1.2" & 2.0" extension tubes ready for anodising, Red for the smaller & gold for the larger 2".
Bar bones rig out of the workshop ready for anodising-(Red)
Hope some of you find this of interest and maybe tempted to have a go. It can be done more simply than my set up for small runs of small parts.
Clear skies...
Shevill
How many of you make your own bits & pieces, many of you I suspect. ATM'ers are a very inventive group of people, and some of the ingenious creations/modifications are really fantastic.
For too many years to remember, I have made much of my gear, I have always had access to machines tools either at the med school or later in life at home. I am not an engineer at all, a self taught hack through necessity, as many of us are. We cannot afford to buy ready made parts, even if they were available!
One of my stumbling blocks has been the lack of any anodising facilities in Tasmania, even if they were, the cost is very high. Having set up and spent he time anodising parts, I can see why it is expensive to have parts done commercially. After a lot of contemplating I decided to set up my own rig. I make many of my parts, including a complete fork mounted 16" f/4.5 Newtonian from a special marine aluminium alloy, used in building sea going catamaran's, by the Tasmanian INCAT boat builders. This aluminium alloy anodises very well, it is made in France, a special mil spec grade which is superb to machine almost like brass.
My setup is fairly extensive because I have many parts of varying sizes to anodise, from tube adapters/extenders to flat bars 500 mm long - these require a set of big tube tanks to do the work.
The problem with any aluminium material is that it oxidises and wears relatively easily, which for moving parts is not good. However, anodising fixes this problem and if dyed produces a very hard wearing and nice to look at finished product.
I can only post a few example pic here of my first set up and results, but they may be enough to create some interest. It would take too long to explain the whole process, so I suggest that anyone interested check out this link www.caswellplating.com.au/anodizing.html for an excellent method and supplies in Australia.
Short manual on how to use the Caswell LCD Method: www.caswellplating.com.au/LCD.pdf
I have adopted the Caswell LCD method, it uses weaker acid solution, uses lower current, produces less misting/fumes, but take double the time of standard type 11 anodising, so 90-minutes instead of 45 approx.
Anyone who is familiar with Ron Newman telescope accessories will know he makes and anodises his own parts. Back in 2002, I bought his book and many of my dyes and chemical from him in the USA. However, he no longer sells his book nor chemicals, so Caswell caters for the home user very well in OZ.
This is the link to my Picasa album:
picasaweb.google.com/109921669020426367250/HomeAnodisingSystem?authuser=0&feat=directlink
And below a few example pics. from the album.
Large plastic tube to do multiple parts at the same time. I have various size tanks depending on what needs to be done.
Submerged aquarium pump to circulate the acid solution. Removed after use, rinsed and dried.
Aluminium plates used as cathodes-removed after use.
Examples of some of the dye colours.
A portable rig I made for the second Transit of Venus I did a public display at and I wanted the rig to look good on TV.
Almost ready for final testing prior to being transported to Campbell Town.
1.2" & 2.0" extension tubes ready for anodising, Red for the smaller & gold for the larger 2".
Bar bones rig out of the workshop ready for anodising-(Red)
Hope some of you find this of interest and maybe tempted to have a go. It can be done more simply than my set up for small runs of small parts.
Clear skies...
Shevill