is making an "Alox" possible?

[PTRSAK]

7075 alloy can be anodized just as bright as 6xxx aluminum. I did a lot stuff with this alloy.
However, I found 6xxx aluminum to be the best alloy all around.

Yes, it can be done, but as I said... it is a lot more fussy. Even just different tempers give different results.
And it needs different temp and time than say 6061.
Just throwing it in with a batch set up for 6061 would cause either powdering or burning.

[crackout]

Yes of course, a different bath for 7075 is needed, but from there it's straight forward.

[Syph007]

And this is why I have a guy to work the magic.    Plus I dont have any way to do industrial processes at home.. I dont have any way to have a refrigerated bath of sulfuric acid and then needing some super high voltage/current anodizing supply to force the thicker layer of the hard anodize.  That just doesn't feel safe for me to do at home, nor worth it for me.

[papercut]

PTR, how slim do you think the CF scales could get as no outer liner alox replacements. I saw that you used the 2.5mm ones. Would 2.0 be strong enough?

An what about thin steel liners?  Strong enough?

Cheers!

[Syph007]

If you want thin and strong, thin Ti would be nice for structure on an outer scale, then you could put thin anything (CF, G10, wood) over top. 

[PTRSAK]

PTR, how slim do you think the CF scales could get as no outer liner alox replacements. I saw that you used the 2.5mm ones. Would 2.0 be strong enough?

An what about thin steel liners?  Strong enough?

Cheers!

the 2.5mm has certainly turned out to be "bullet-proof" strong. I don't see any reason that going down to 2mm would be a problem. Maybe even 1.5mm, although I'd possibly look at bushing the holes if I went that thin.

I might throw in a sheet of 1mm with my next order and see if even that would be up to the task.
Using 1mm for sides and middle liner with recruit tools would end up 1mm slimmer than a Cadet and they're already anorexic skinny.

[papercut]

In discussion with this guy on Aliexpress about sourcing some prefabbed scales:

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/CNC-cut-carbon-fiber-parts-from-your-drawing/209894_715044611.html

I asked him how many 91mmx17mm shapes can be cut out of a standard sheet of his material (I specified 2.0mm sheets).  He asked me if I had a drawing, but I informed him I do not yet have a drawing.  Hopefully he can give me a rough idea.

Cheers

[papercut]

Hmmm, got a quote for cf scales.  20 pieces @2.3mm thickness materials and cutting for $102 ex works (shipping not included).  That would be 10 pairs so about $10 a pair.  Not too bad and within my expected price range.  Anyone want to get in on this?  We still need to produce the correct drawings, I have some CAD guys here, but we do not have the correct scales (one pair of 85mm evo and a few SIs).

I am thinking to have 85mm wenger and 91mm Vic scales done up on the first batch.  Those plus metric pivots=fun, or alternatively one could hammer on the carbon fiber scales somewhat safely while learning to pin.

Need to ask Great Lakes Waterjet what his prices are.  A sheet of 300mmx100mm cf is about $20 (which makes 7 pairs or so), so if he can beat ~$100 ex works, it might be better to fab in the USA.

[Syph007]

When I used GLWJ for cutting Ti liners, he charged a dollar a part.

[papercut]

Once again, you prove you are the man. That is great right on time info. If that is the case and a sheet of the CF that PTR used can be accepted by GLWJ, then ~$2 a fabbed scale is very realistic (when procuring about 14).

Hot damn!

Also- I have two strong leads on pivot suppliers. More on that in the mod squad thread.

Cheers

[ICanFixThat]

Nice... I like the horizontal ribbed scales.