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world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


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Startup Costs, anodizing and electrofinishing

I work for a medium sized aerospace machine shop, and due to the multiple problems we encounter with job-shoppers in the anodizing and electrofinishing areas, my boss has asked me to find out what kind of startup costs would be encountered in these two disciplines. I am NOT savvy in this area, so any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Joe Fitzpatrick
Use job shops frequently - Saegertown, Pennsylvania, USA
2007

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2007

My standard reply to this type of question is "do you want a Rolls Royce or a Yugo or a pickup or a 5 ton truck?"
A tiny line for tiny parts that will produce mil spec parts might be done for $100,000 by a really sharp person. The cost goes up exponentially as the parts get bigger. Waste treatment/EPA/DEP can have a massive rise in cost as size increases. Operators are the next problem. Good ones are not cheap and cheap ones will probably cost a massive amount in the long run. Few people can just read a book and become a great operator. Then it takes a small lab and a good salt spray cabinet. The costs just keep rising.
Final answer--It depends!

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

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2007

Joe
Chemical suppliers will happily give you their costs and the same for plant suppliers. Don't be tempted to make your own plant - that road leads to much grief.
But that is only the start of your problems.
If your supplier with, presumably, years of experience and specialised knowledge has problems, you are unlikely to do better armed with a few website answers. A specialist consultant could help with the setup but you need someone to run the plant year on year.
To get an idea what is involved in aerospace metal finishing go to the PRI website and look at the checksheets for chemical processing. (AC7108 rev B).
If that does not persuade you, take a look at your current safety, health and environmental legislation starting with chemical discharge controls in your local area.
I think your best bet is to look for a supplier with aerospace accreditation and discuss your problem.

Geoff Smith
Hampshire, England