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Unread 25-05-2011, 00:19
wevets wevets is offline
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FRC #1510 (Wildcats)
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Join Date: Jan 2011
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Re: Is powder coating and annodizing worthwhile?

It's not necessary to the functioning of the robot, and over their lives, our robots are not subject to any hazards from which power coating and/or annodizing will protect them.

Then again, as Billy Crystal used to say in his impersonation of Recardo Mantalban on Saturday Night Live: "It is better to look good than to feel good"

On yet another hand, there is nothing that looks as shabby as a powder coated robot that has been banged around, chipped, etc. And as noted in a previous post, unless you can turn your powder coating/annodizing around pretty quickly, having your robot out for a few days to make it look pretty can really hurt in a 6-week schedule.

In the end, like most other decisions a team makes, its a trade off. If looking pretty is important, and you like the look of powder coating and/or annodizing, and you can protect the robot finish as you work on the robot, and it doesn't impact the schedule negatively, go for it.

Personally, I like the honest, functional look of bare metal.

Last edited by wevets : 25-05-2011 at 00:59.