Perhaps Ti frames will soon be "painted" this way.

[seric]

Finland-based Cajo Technologies has figured out how to use a laser to burn colors into different materials. "Our patented technology creates extremely precise, permanent and practically everlasting marking or colour patterning on almost any material without additives or pigments," the company writes.

Videos of process in link. Appears to be targeted heat anodizing.

https://www.follownews.com/finnish-company-develops-laser-that-can-paint-colors-onto-metal-1z46b

[ergott]

Paging Firefly...

:D

[sales guy]

It's been done for years. I used to do it on seatposts cause we didn't want to stamp them or engrave them.

[seric]

It's been done for years. I used to do it on seatposts cause we didn't want to stamp them or engrave them.

Colored laser engraving on titanium has been done for years?

[EDS]

Colored laser engraving on titanium has been done for years?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/fireflybicycles/

[seric]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/fireflybicycles/

I believe Firefly uses standard electro-anodizing techniques. Masked, with the electrolyte applied by a sponge or something similar. Beautiful work which they are very good at, but a completely different process with different resolution possible.

[sales guy]

Using a laser is similar to the acid or electrolyte style. It's still using electricity to change the coloring of the ti. With a laser it would be more accurate. More expensive due to the initial cost. And it would be crazy hard to do on a bike frame in between stays and stuff. But it's essentially the same thing. Just removing the acid/electrolyte step.

[sales guy]

Just so you guys know, if you use solvents too much on an "ti anodized" frame, it can eventually remove the anodizing.

[seric]

Using a laser is similar to the acid or electrolyte style. It's still using electricity to change the coloring of the ti. With a laser it would be more accurate. More expensive due to the initial cost. And it would be crazy hard to do on a bike frame in between stays and stuff. But it's essentially the same thing. Just removing the acid/electrolyte step.

That statement might inadvertently confuse people, since it makes it sound like a laser carries an electrical charge. The laser uses heat, in this case with very precise levels of electromagnetic radiation. Electro-Etching uses an anode, cathode, and electrolyte.

[adub]

Painted Ti frames bring a tear to my eye..

[sales guy]

Sorry. Was trying to simplify my words. Busy and in pain right now.

[oldpotatoe]

Painted Ti frames bring a tear to my eye..

I had a painted ti Lynskey on the floor right after they started...almost 100% of the people that looked at it thought it was aluminum..

[jr59]

I had a painted ti Lynskey on the floor right after they started...almost 100% of the people that looked at it thought it was aluminum..


Maybe I should sell mine?

http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697867507&d=1379384548

[oldpotatoe]

Maybe I should sell mine?

http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697867507&d=1379384548

Absolutely..get rid of that thing and get a Moots from Jim...:)

[quauhnahuac]

I had a painted ti Lynskey on the floor right after they started...almost 100% of the people that looked at it thought it was aluminum..

to be fair, lynskey is a pretty obscure brand to normal people. no reason to generally think that a typical looking painted bike isn't aluminum.

[mellowandre]

that's awesome!