An anodizer that makes gradients

Aluminium anodizing, the process of electrolytically building up the oxide layer of the metal in the presence of dyes to create colored effects, is such a well-established process that we probably all have anodized items at sight range. It's usually an industrial mass production process that creates a uniform result, but there's an anodizing machine from a Dutch design studio that promises to put anodized aluminum in a whole new light. Studio Loop's Magic Color Machine implements a small-scale automated anodizing process driven by a microcontroller and is capable of effects such as color gradients.

Unfortunately their website is long on marketing and short on technical details, but the basic function of a chemical bath line with a pulley to lower and raise the item being anodized should not be too difficult for any Hackaday reader to understand. There is a short video clip posted on Instagram which also gives an idea. It's a powerful idea that should lead to eye-catching work for their studio, but its appeal here lies in the techniques it could inspire others to try. We look forward to an open source version of graded anodizing. In the meantime, if anodizing tempts you, this is a subject we have already covered.