Surface treatment options that protect custom metal parts, improve appearance, support conductivity or wear resistance, and prepare components for assembly.
A finish should be selected after the functional surfaces and dimensional allowances are understood. Coatings and conversion layers change thickness, texture, color, corrosion behavior, and sometimes electrical contact performance.nnThe process plan identifies areas to mask, surfaces to preserve, pretreatment needed after machining, and inspection criteria such as color, coverage, roughness, or coating thickness.
Anodizing, passivation, plating, conversion coatings, and paint systems are selected for the actual service environment.
Hardcoat anodizing, selected plating, and controlled surface preparation improve durability on moving or handled parts.
Blasting, brushing, polishing, color anodizing, and powder coating create a consistent visible surface.
Plating and masking choices preserve conductivity or provide the contact behavior required by the assembly.
Often anodized, powder coated, blasted, or chemically converted depending on appearance and corrosion needs.
Can be passivated, polished, brushed, or electropolished to support corrosion resistance and cleanability.
May receive zinc, phosphate, black oxide, paint, or powder coating based on exposure and desired appearance.
Can be polished, lacquered, plated, or otherwise protected from tarnish while respecting conductive contact areas.
Threads, sealing faces, bearing fits, and electrical contacts are identified so coating does not compromise function.
Thickness is accounted for on tight bores, threads, slots, and interfaces before machining is finalized.
Reference samples, gloss, texture, and color requirements should be defined for visible components.
Coverage, thickness, adhesion, and packaging are matched to the agreed finish and transit risk.
