Product category:
Materials and components
News Release from: Tecan | Subject: Surface finishing
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 26 September 2002
Black anodising for air-bearing
specialist
Tecan has supplied tens of thousands of defect-free black-anodised aluminium parts to the world-leading high-precision engineering company, Air Bearings of Poole, Dorset.
Tecan has supplied tens of thousands of defect-free black-anodised aluminium parts to the world-leading high-precision engineering company, Air Bearings of Poole, Dorset On a weekly basis, for over four years, Tecan has taken high-precision machined aluminium parts for ABL, for in-house Type-1 and Type-3 (hard) black anodising, consistently returning them on time, to specification and with virtually no defects
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 5 Feb 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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A combination of in-house plating, unparalleled surface finishing expertise and X-ray analysis have brought about a significant business coup for Dorset based specialist Tecan.
"Consistent quality and accuracy are imperative, as are prompt and regular delivery to meet our high quality standards and production needs", said Ronald Henocq, Air Bearings founder and director.
"Before Tecan, we experienced a wide range of problems with other plating suppliers, particularly with hard black anodising - where rejects, scrap and poor corrosion resistance were all prevalent.
I am happy to state that in my 50 years' experience in the world of high-precision engineering I have never had dealings with a plating company as proficient and co-operative as Tecan, their anodising is the best I have ever seen and the quality is first class.
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Over our four-year relationship we have had no trouble whatsoever.
Aesthetics, accuracy and corrosion resistance are all excellent, and defects are exceptionally rare".
Tecan hard black anodises in excess of 20 different parts for Air Bearings, including spindle bodies, piston cylinders and end caps.
The parts require varying levels of hard anodisation, typically in the ranges 15/20, 25/35 or 35/45 micron.
Regular analysis and control, particularly of the black dye used in the process and a 'clean room' approach to production, along with ongoing attention to fine detail, contribute to the supply of consistently high standard parts.
The company has recently opened a dedicated new GBP 1 million purpose-built facility, providing OEMs and other discerning customers with access to market leading high-specification surface-finishing and cost-effective bespoke plating for both everyday solutions and niche applications.
Finishes available include acid gold, pure gold, silver, bright tin, 60/40 tin lead, 90/10 tin lead, sulphamate nickel, electroless nickel, copper, Type 1 sulphuric anodising and Type 3 hard anodising (colours to specification), stainless steel passivating, and Alochrome 1200 chemical blackening.
Nondestructive X-ray fluorescent testing is employed, to ensure consistently flat and even surfaces and desired thickness meet the required specifications.
QA programmes can be tailored to suit individual statistical process control (SPC) needs, with traceability reports generated as necessary.
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