?

[Ken_Shea]

Is it good policy to remove anodizing from aluminum prior to milling or just have at it ?

Thanks
Ken

[wms]

Ken,

You come up with some good ones.

I usually machine my parts then send them out to be anodized, but hey what ever gets ya thru the night.

Your end mills won't even flinch when it comes to the anodizing. It's only a couple mils thick. Unless your are trying to just machine a very, very small amount off, .0003 or so, no big deal.

[Ken_Shea]

Well I am learning that in machining "Ignorance is not Bliss"

I had seemed to recall that anodizing was kinda tough on mills and drills in spite of it's very thin properties and wanted to double check.

Thanks
Ken

[bb99]

What about welding aluminum? Should it be removed?

--Alan

[Ken_Shea]

I can answer that one, yes as it is non conductive.


Ken

[motomitch1]

Originally posted by bb99 What about welding aluminum? Should it be removed? --Alan

Yes it should be removed alum. needs to be very clean to make a nice looking weld.

[motomitch1]

Originally posted by wms Ken, You come up with some good ones. I usually machine my parts then send them out to be anodized, but hey what ever gets ya thru the night. Your end mills won't even flinch when it comes to the anodizing. It's only a couple mils thick. Unless your are trying to just machine a very, very small amount off, .0003 or so, no big deal.

Sometimes you anodized first so it will have a cnc look, they do that all the time with R/C car parts

[avsfan733]

the reason for cleaning aluminum welds is because the outer surface oxidizes very quickly, aluminum oxide melts at 3200 while aluminum melts at 1800 and boils at 2300 if i remember my numbers correctly...so if you don't clean it it can literally explode