Alu Warping In Powdercoating Process?

[Calibretto]

Have any of you guys ever heard of this happening?

I just enquired about prices in two different places, to have a case powder coated. One place replied with the expected: "Yeah sure, that'll amount to X." But the other place replied with something in the lines of: "I wouldn't do that if I were you. The heat during the process will make your case sides warp and all sorts."

Have any of you guys ever had that happen? I know of a bunch of cases getting powdercoated, but I never heard of this happening. Is it a genuine concern people should have when sending their aluminium parts out?

 

[ruthless_villain]

depends what case it is tbh

 

[airdeano]

yes, it happens. due to the heat of the baking process if the metal is too thin,

alloy inferfections, or pressure points (folds and bends from pressing operations)

release after tempering. and its not just ally parts, i has some cheap inner fenders

powder coated and got them back, looked swell, but the distortion after the baking

really warped the fenders and almost rendered them un-usable. some areas

shrank to the point they wouldn't align up. but there are good coaters and coaters.

that'll be a decision left up to you and the coater and their compedence.

airdeano

 

[Ru5ty_t00l]

during the process of powdercoating items r heated to temperatures that range from 160 to 210°C . there's no possibility to get ur case warped at that temperature.

if it's already powdercoated then stripping the powder-paint with heat requires very high temps (over 1000°C) .that temps can warp ur case

 

[Calibretto]

Thanks a lot for these replies guys. I think I'll get a hold of the guy who said "no sweat" and ask him what he thinks the risks of warping are.

It's an ATCS 840

I suppose the sides of it aren't the thickest in the history of aluminium cases.

 

[ruthless_villain]

im sure TTL powdercoated one in the rig he did for VB

 

[Calibretto]

im sure TTL powdercoated one in the rig he did for VB

He certainly did the internals. Not entirely sure about the side panels though. I only saw them with the di-noc applied.

I wonder if he drilled out all the rivets and had the different parts and panels coated separately, or just took out the rails for the removable motherboard tray and had the internals coated as a whole.

 

[Ru5ty_t00l]

why do u want to powdercoat the case? powdercoat only the chassis.

powdercoating is mainly for industrial use cause it's very durable with proof from hits and high temperature but not very nice looking.

take your case to a proffesional painter and the result will be 10 times better than powdercoating it.

 

[airdeano]

there are powder coaters and good powder coaters.. ive seen some glass slick coating jobs.

and like you said, durable.. paint chips a lot easier, unless you are using a polyurathene

aircraft paint.

airdeano

 

[ruthless_villain]

He certainly did the internals. Not entirely sure about the side panels though. I only saw them with the di-noc applied.

I wonder if he drilled out all the rivets and had the different parts and panels coated separately, or just took out the rails for the removable motherboard tray and had the internals coated as a whole.

i dont think he did the outside its already black, and i would de-rivet everything will get a better finish

 

[tinytomlogan]

It can happen with big plat side panels, the places are not giving you BS. Should listen when an experienced place gives you some advise.

 

[Calibretto]

Thanks again for the replies guys.

I always listen to advice from the people I get stuff done by. It would be silly not to listen to the opinion of a professional. What confused me here was the contradicting messages from two places.

The reason I wanted to get it powdercoated is because it's such durable finish. But I was also thinking about getting it done in a color instead of just black. The case itself is the alu coloured version, and since you can see rather large parts of the "back" side panel when looking into the case, I thought I'd get the side panels coated in the same colour as the internals.

Nice couple of replies to come home to after a week away ^^