CNC Titanium Anodization with a Modified Consumer Desktop FFF 3D Printer

We present a low-cost system that transforms user images into anodized titanium prints using a modified desktop FFF 3D printer. The pipeline integrates image processing, perceptual color mapping, and pixel-based anodization to reproduce multicolored images directly on titanium surfaces. In contrast to prior hobbyist methods that depend on manual and unsafe techniques, our approach automates the workflow from color mapping to G-code generation, providing a safer and more reliable process that can be easily replicated on other setups. This work shows how accessible digital fabrication tools can be adapted to broaden creative expression in metals and lower the barrier to advanced finishing techniques.

In ACM Symposium on Computational Fabrication