Letter 5083

Lapping Hard Anodize?HELP!!!! 

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I am machining a part made from mic-6 aluminium and there is a "16" finish required after hard black anodize. I have been informed that after plating the smooth finish will be lost and may have to lap somehow. i've tried sanding a sample piece but doesnt seem to be very efective. Any advice?

Steve Jakubowski
- Fremont, CA, 94538

The nice thing about hard coat is "it is hard". Silicon carbide is harder, but on sandpaper the glue or adhesive is not all that strong so the carbide comes off. this is a design function for general use. Hard coat can be lapped, IE: with a hone or diamond paste of decreasing grit size. If you start out with a 6-8 RMS, put on 0.001 per side of hardcoat, you should end up with a finish around 16. Some systems and some anodizers better than common ones are out there also.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

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