Understanding the Chemistry and Options for Anodic Coating on Medical Devices
Before choosing a casting and anodic finish, it is important to understand some of the basic chemistry behind why some anodic coating options work better than others on medical devices. Knowing the reasons behind why challenges occur allows you to choose your aluminum material and finish more wisely.
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Topics: Aluminum Anodizing, Aluminum Casting
Defective Material Report Process to Set Expectations
I often hear customers say that when they received their anodized aluminum parts back from their anodize vendor, they are surprised by scratches and dents, which they are THEN told were there on arrival. To maintain clarity throughout the production and deliver process, DCHN created a proactive process for the assessment and notification of such issues.
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Topics: Anodized Aluminum, Anodizing Aluminum, Anodizer
“Challenges & Solutions for Reusable Medical Devices Requiring Reprocessing”
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Topics: Anodized Aluminum, Aluminum Anodizing, FDA Regulations for Aluminum Anodizing
Is a Lighter Color Aluminum Hard Coat Thinner than a Darker One?
I have been asked this question often: “Is it always the case that a lighter color hard coat is less thick than a darker one?” While the answer is not simple, I usually respond by saying, “Maybe, but not necessarily.” To explain, let’s start with some basic information.
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Topics: Aluminum Anodizing, Anodizing Aluminum, hardcoat, Anodic Hardcoat
Keep Your P.O. in the Passing Lane to Keep the Order Moving
Have you ever been at a red light waiting for the light to change … and when it finally does … you can’t move because the car in front does not move fast enough—holding up the entire line? We face a similar predicament in our own way when your purchase order arrives … we’re ready to go … and the P.O. does not have all the information on it we need to begin the project.
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Topics: Anodized Aluminum, Aluminum Anodizing
Up-Front Factors that Achieve a Fantastic Final Cast Aluminum Finish
Getting excellent results with hard coat and anodizing cast aluminum articles? “No way!” is a common, but mistaken response. After more than 40 years in the field, DCHN has successfully worked with many companies to achieve beautiful cast finishes—top-quality finishes that are achieved when anodizing cast aluminum because the final finish is the result of many important up-front decisions that eliminate many sources of poor quality.
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Topics: Anodizing cast aluminum, cast aluminum
Top 5 Ways to Store Aluminum Parts to Prevent Corrosion
We realize that every facility has its own unique physical attributes and each organization operates with its own processes. Either of these variables can wreak havoc on or facilitate the proper care and storage of aluminum parts. Given that there are many possibilities that can impact the proper storage of aluminum parts (prior to and after anodizing aluminum), let’s talk about the top 5 best-care practices you can implement to prevent corrosion.
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Topics: Anodized Aluminum, Aluminum Anodizing, Proper Storage of Aluminum Parts
The Impact of Foreign Materials on Aluminum Parts before Anodizing
Although simple in principle, there is a lot of confusion over how aluminum parts need to arrive at the metal finisher so that they can be anodized. Any time a component part comes from a completed assembly that has been taken apart, there is a high risk that some other material will come along and interfere with the coating process.
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Topics: Anodized Aluminum, Anodized Aluminum Finish Contamination
Why We Need to Know About the Alloy and Its Temper When Anodizing Aluminum
With over 30 commonly available aluminum alloys, and a multitude of tempers for each alloy, this question frequently arises: how important are the roles of alloy and temper in the aluminum anodizing process? The short answer is: VERY important. Let’s familiarize ourselves with some background information so we can answer the question in detail.
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Topics: Anodized Aluminum, Aluminum Anodizing
Challenges and Solutions for Aluminum Anodizes for Reprocessing Medical Devices
The FDA released the 2016 science priorities from the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH).
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Topics: Aluminum Anodizing, Aluminum Anodizing Medical Devices
