Single anodize / etch / carbidize device?

[FunkCoaster]

Quick summary: Is there a good hardware configuration that allows me to anodize, etch, and carbidize without buying distinct devices for each operation?

For me, this means:
anodize - titanium only (no aluminum). Largest size would be a folder's scale ( 1" x 5" x 0.25" )
etch/mark - electro etching, to put a logo into the steel
carbidize - welding tungsten onto steel to produce a textured surface

The carbidizing function is less critical to me.

The motivation is to save money, space, and complexity in my operations.


Research examples:
Homemade solutions for a variety of operations, such as:
http://dcknives.blogspot.com/p/poor-mans-etching-power-supply.html
http://mrtitanium.com/anodizer.html

I would love to not build my own Franken-rube-goldberg machine if possible. My electrical skills are poor, and I am a mammal, therefore vulnerable to electricity.

Commercial solutions:
http://usaknifemaker.com/knife-maki...ng-c-96-171/tung-carb-by-bebe-carbidizer.html
http://usaknifemaker.com/etching-kit-knifedogs-brand.html

The devices focus on a single operation, so I'm not sure if there are special considerations when they are repurposed, if they even can.

Happy to hear of any ideas, especially first-hand experience.

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

I once built an anodizer/etcher, but the inner requirements of a carbidizer aren't really compatible with the others. Two machines, duck-taped together would be about as close as you could get.

That being said, I haven't found anything as easy, reliable, or cheap as 9v batteries for the anodizer.

 

[Drew Riley]

If you build an anodizer based on the Mr. Titanium site, it should work ok for a carbidizer as well. If you use a variac, you will also have your AC for darkening, and the DC through your bridge rectifier for etching. You'll just have to separate the variac from the anodizer circuit to use only the AC. This can be accomplished with a DPDT switch similar to the AC/DC switch on most etcher schematics.

Your biggest concerns will be having the proper voltage settings for each function, I.E, don't try to etch or carbidize using 150VDC, don't carbidize with AC, etc...
You also may want to limit the current from what is supplied from the variac. This can be done with some power resistors, and IIRC is already a consideration in the Mr. Titanium schematic.

I just built the Variac based etcher from Mr. Titanium's schematic (more/less), and would have made it all one machine as well, but I already had a dedicated etcher that I built that works just fine.

Now, I will go ahead and throw in a standard disclaimer: If you don't know what you're doing, it's probably best to buy a couple of dedicated machines and call it a day. That said, if you take some safety precautions and have a basic (but decent) understanding of electricity, you'll probably be OK. 120 to 150VAC can put you on your butt (or worse), although the DC isn't as bad, typically. Still, it's nothing to play around with, and getting electrocuted isn't the only hazard.