Titanium Anodizing Disc Rack

Product Overview

This Titanium Anodizing Disc Rack is a professional-grade fixture designed specifically for holding 9-inch aluminum discs, plates, and saw blades during Type II (Sulfuric) and Type III (Hardcoat) anodizing processes.

Unlike traditional aluminum racks that degrade rapidly and require chemical stripping after every cycle, our titanium fixture forms a thin, conductive oxide layer. This allows for continuous reuse without the stripping step, significantly reducing labor costs and chemical consumption while extending rack service life by up to 50x.

Fabricated from ASTM B265 Grade 2 Commercially Pure Titanium, the rack features a “Split Finger” design. The material undergoes a specialized stress-relief process to maintain “spring memory,” ensuring consistent clamping force over thousands of loading cycles.

Key Advantages:

• Zero Stripping Required: Eliminates the need for nitric acid/caustic soda stripping steps; reduces process time by 15-20% per cycle.
• 30 Split Fingers (Dual-Point Contact): Each station features a split tip design that provides redundant electrical contact. This ensures stable current flow even with vigorous tank agitation and minimizes contact marks.
• Superior Durability: TIG welded construction with 99.99% argon shielding prevents weld oxidation, offering a service life of 3-5 years in standard sulfuric acid baths.
• High-Density Loading: 15 stations are vertically optimized to prevent “shadowing” (uneven coating thickness) on 9-inch workpieces.
• Factory Direct Customization: As a direct manufacturer, we can adjust the vertical spine length to match your specific tank depth at no extra design cost.

Key Technical Specifications

Design Features & Engineering

Split Finger Technology (Dual-Point Contact)

Reliable electrical contact is critical for uniform anodizing. Our “Split Finger” design creates two distinct contact points on the workpiece edge. This redundancy ensures that if one tip loses contact due to air bubbles or tank agitation, the second tip maintains the current flow, effectively preventing “burn marks” and reducing part rejection rates.

Precision TIG Welded Construction

We utilize manual TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding with 99.99% pure argon shielding. This creates a full-penetration weld that is silver or straw-colored (indicating zero oxidation). Unlike spot-welded or poorly shielded fixtures, our welded joints are free from porosity, preventing electrolyte entrapment that could cause cross-contamination between tanks.

Optimized Vertical Spacing

The spacing between the 15 stations is engineered to maximize throughput while preventing “shadowing” effects. Sufficient gap allows the electrolyte to circulate freely around each 9-inch disc, ensuring uniform oxide layer thickness across the entire batch.

The Titanium Advantage: ROI Analysis

While the initial investment for a titanium rack is higher than aluminum, the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is significantly lower.

Conclusion: Most anodizing lines see a Return on Investment (ROI) for titanium racks within 3 to 6 months due to labor and chemical savings alone.

Compatibility & Safety Warnings

CRITICAL APPLICATION NOTE: Fluoride Incompatibility

Titanium offers excellent corrosion resistance in many acids, but it has specific limitations. Please verify your bath chemistry before use.

• Compatible With:
• Sulfuric Acid (Type II Anodizing)
• Sulfuric-Oxalic Acid Mix (Type III Hardcoat)
• Chromic Acid Anodizing
• Electropolishing Electrolytes
• ❌ NOT Compatible With:
• Fluoride-containing solutions (e.g., Hydrofluoric Acid, Ammonium Bifluoride). Fluoride ions will attack the protective oxide film and rapidly dissolve the titanium rack.
• High-concentration Hydrochloric Acid (without inhibitors).

Quality Assurance & Traceability

We understand that consistency is key to your anodizing quality. Our manufacturing process follows strict protocols to ensure every rack performs reliably.

• Material Traceability (MTC): Every shipment is accompanied by a Mill Test Certificate (EN 10204 3.1), traceable to the raw material ingot. We verify chemical composition (Fe, O, H contents) to ensure Grade 2 compliance.
• Weld Inspection: 100% visual inspection of TIG welded joints. We ensure welds are silver or straw-colored, rejecting any blue or grey discoloration that indicates oxidation or brittleness.
• Dimensional Check: We perform “Go/No-Go” gauge testing on the split fingers to verify tip spacing (Tolerance ±1.0mm) and spring tension before packaging.
• Export-Grade Packaging: To prevent damage to the delicate fingers during transit, all racks are packed in reinforced wooden crates with custom foam inserts, ensuring they arrive straight and ready to use.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Do I really never need to strip this titanium rack?

A: Correct. In standard sulfuric acid anodizing, the thin titanium oxide film formed on the rack is conductive enough for the high voltages used in anodizing to break through at the contact points (the “breakdown voltage” effect). You can skip the stripping tank entirely, which saves labor and extends the rack’s life.

Q: How do I clean the rack if the contact points eventually get passivated?

A: Over time (usually after hundreds of cycles), the contact tips may develop a thicker non-conductive layer. You can easily restore conductivity by soaking the tips in a mild nitric-hydrofluoric acid pickle for a few seconds, or by mechanically polishing the tips with an abrasive pad (e.g., Scotch-Brite).

Q: Can you adjust the spine length for my deeper tank?

A: Yes. As a direct manufacturer, we can cut the central titanium spline to any length (e.g., 36″, 48″) to match your tank depth and busbar height. Simply specify your required length when requesting a quote.

Q: What is the maximum weight capacity per station?

A: The standard split fingers are designed for 9-inch aluminum discs/plates. We recommend a maximum load of approx. 0.5 kg (1.1 lbs) per station. For heavier workpieces, we can upgrade the finger thickness from 1.5mm to 2.0mm.

Contact & Customization

Ready to upgrade your anodizing line efficiency? We offer both standard 9″ racks and fully custom solutions.

3-Step Customization Process:

1. Send Requirements: Tell us your tank dimensions (Depth x Width) and busbar size.
2. Confirm Design: We will provide a simple sketch or confirm the spine length adjustment.
3. Fast Fabrication: Standard lead time is 7-10 days for custom batches.