Custom Machined Parts For Your 370Z

frost

What material are you using? An aluminum we can anodize I hope

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370z OG

AgStacker

yes, 6061 aluminum

frost

black anodize = drool

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370z OG

AgStacker

I was thinking about clear hard anodizing, then powder coating the flat part black. If you know anything about these processes and can offer some advise, or just feel like doing a little research I would greatly appreciate it.

frost

I used to be the lab manager for a metal finishing company, specializing in anodize, chrome, and nickel plating. I could probably answer a few questions.

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370z OG

AgStacker

This forum is a god send.

Frost please stick around.

frost

Did you see my post count? I'm always around

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370z OG

Caravanshaka

regarding powdercoating, if you only want the recessed areas powdercoated then you are looking at quite a bit of masking per piece, which could get expensive for that type of part. The high-temp masking tape is a little more expensive than general masking tape, and the layout could mean 5-10 mins ish per piece just masking. at $60 an hour for labor that is $5-$10 a piece before you even get to powdercoating them.

I would offer them as-is, and let the buyer decide how to handle the recessed area. Some may want to color match to the car, some may want to polish everything but the recessed areas, some may want it black or with CF inserts. Let them do it

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The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that in order to work the penis, the brain must remain whole.

AgStacker

yes, I think selling the badge unfinished is a good idea, just because I want everyone to be able to make it look how THEY want it to look.

But for my personal badges I'm defiantly going to have them professionally finished.

Do you know if the heat from the powder coating will affect the anodize?

frost

There would really be no reason I can think of to do both anodizing and powder coating. The benefits of anodizing a part (color, scratch resistance, strengthening, and protection from elements, including sunlight, rain, chemicals, etc) are pretty much rendered useless if a powder coating is applied on top of it.

Powder coating will provide all these benefits, with the exception of actually strengthening the aluminum alloy, and you will have more options of colors, and the colors will be more consistent.

Since the aluminum will not be in some sort of high abuse area, I actually think PC will be a better option for your particular application.

But to answer your question, anodize coatings, no matter how thick are still subject to cracking (known as crazing in the biz) under extreme temperatures because of the coefficient of expansion in aluminum (aluminum oxide is hard and brittle, the base metal is soft and malleable). So I would probably pick one or the other.

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370z OG

Boost_lee

So when are you going to become a seller / sponsor

And yes for blk anodized!

Jordo!

Shiny. Purty.

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Enjoy it. Destroy it.

jetguy

if you make this inside-out, you could use it as a tool to layup carbon fiber in,and start pumping those out pretty fast. you could also use the inverse to pour some type of molten metal and pop those out pretty quick also.

SmoothZ

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) search - cpb.gov

Be careful. The Z logo is a protected trademark. Once you mass produce those for resale w/o permission from the license holder, you're going to open yourself up to at least a Cease and Desist letter. Then you'll find out that someone will take your idea and have the Chinese mass produce it, smuggle it in, sell it, which means they're trafficking in counterfeit goods (among other violations).

While the fact that you have a good idea and can do it with garage tools is great if applying it to your car to make it unique, mass producing it is a whole new ball game.

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AgStacker

Wow, useful link. Thanks

Gray Market Importations Restricted = NO

any idea what that means?