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Re: Anodizing
Try to find a local anodizing company and see if they'll sponsor your team with free parts. Anodizing can be done in your shop, but you'll need a really powerful DC power supply, as in like 20A+ continuous at 12VDC, as well as an assortment of heated chemical baths, including one with sulfuric acid. It's pretty nasty stuff to keep in your shop when you're trying to build a robot.
The one key thing to either anodizing or powder coating parts is that you pretty much need to have everything designed in CAD and completely machined/fabricated ahead of time. When you anodize or powder coat parts, there really should never be a "oh no, these holes don't line up!" or a "gahhh! the roller chain wants to go through this piece of aluminum!" moment. You should know everything ahead of time, and the anodized or powder coated parts should just bolt together.
Also, when anodizing, surface finish is important. Any blemishes or scratches or marks in the surface will show through.
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