Making anodizing machine

S

Shotgunone

Joined
Oct 1, 2000
Messages
244
Has anybody made an anodizing machine from a AC variac? I have a 140 volt ac variac and was wondering if I could run it through some type of rectifier to get dc current so I could anodize titanium.

Is this a good idea or not?

Any help would be appreciated.

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Tony Huffman
thuffman@texinet.net
Sporting Clays & Shotguns ... my other bad habit!
 
Actually, I just did that very thing this weekend. I picked up an 8 Amp full wave rectifier from Radio Shack, and mounted it in a small box with banana jack inputs and outputs. I powered it with a small 1 Amp variac and it worked great. Max DC voltage was about 10 V lower than the equivalent AC voltage.

Got for it

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Shotgunone:
Has anybody made an anodizing machine from a AC variac? I have a 140 volt ac variac and was wondering if I could run it through some type of rectifier to get dc current so I could anodize titanium.

Is this a good idea or not?

Any help would be appreciated.
</font>
Click to expand...



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Daniel Fronefield
"Specializing in meteorites and other exotic materials"
dfronfld@hiwaay.net
http://hiwaay.net/~dfronfld
 
Don't have any pictures do you of how you wire it all up. The variac I have has a standard plug receptical on it where you plug in a three prong 120 volt cord.

I was wondering how you hook it up. Do you just plug in to the variac and then strip the wires and attach them to the rectifier and then come off the + and - for your dc voltage? Or do you have to to through something else before you go to the rectifier?

Any more info would be a big help.



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Tony Huffman
thuffman@texinet.net
Sporting Clays & Shotguns ... my other bad habit!
 
What you need is a 'bridge rectifier.' It has two terminals which you hook to the AC, and two which then output the DC. You should also connect a large capacitor across the DC output.

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
Tony, I just bought a 0-140V 10A Powerstat on eBay for about $45.00. www.reactivemetals.com also recommends an "isolation transformer" before the rectifier, but is that necessary with a variac? Can anybody help us with this?
 
Please make sure that you connect of an isolation transformer between the variac and the power cord. Otherwise you can electrocute yourself.

It is a good idea to wire in a switch and a fuse too.

If in doubt, ask someone who works in electronics (like me) or is an electrician to help you connect it up so that you are safe.
 
OK, we're getting closer! The only isolation transformers I could find in a quick search were about $115.00 US--what about cheaper ones?
 
You will have to pardon my ignorance but what is an isolation transformer and why do I need one?

How does it keep me from getting electocuted?

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Tony Huffman
thuffman@texinet.net
Sporting Clays & Shotguns ... my other bad habit!
 
An isolation transformer is a transformer which has a 1:1 ratio. It does not change the voltage or amperage of the power flowing through it. Instead, since one side is not connected to the other electrically (the power is transmitted magnetically), it isolates the two sides.

I don't know that it is actually necessary in this application; perhaps pso can go into more detail as to why it would be used.

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
Folks, this is starting to sound expensive and dangerous.

Try calling Tech-Systems Electronics

800-435-1516

www.tech-systems.net

or AST Global Electronics

814-398-8080

www.astglobal.com

These folks specialize in sales and service of used, industrial grade DC power supplies from some of the best manufacturers - and at good prices.

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Tom Anderson
Hand Crafted Knives
 
Thanks for the kind emails folks! Glad I could help!
wink.gif


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Tom Anderson
Hand Crafted Knives
 
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