Surface Finish Engineering

Plating Selection Electroless Nickel Plating vs Zinc Plating for Machined Parts Choose electroless nickel when you need relatively uniform coverage on complex geometry, a harder functional surface or a controlled

Cosmetic Preparation Should Aluminum Parts Be Bead Blasted Before Anodizing? Bead blasting before anodizing can create a more uniform matte appearance and reduce the visibility of light machining marks, but

Aluminum Finish Selection Anodizing vs Powder Coating for Aluminum Parts Choose anodizing when you need an aluminum-integrated surface, relatively limited dimensional buildup, metallic appearance or selected wear/corrosion performance. Choose powder

Cosmetic Acceptance How to Specify Cosmetic Requirements for CNC Machined Parts Specify cosmetic requirements by dividing surfaces into visibility zones, defining finish, color, texture and permitted defects, and setting the

Finish Drawing Requirements How to Specify Surface Finish on a CNC Drawing A complete CNC drawing should state the finishing process and governing specification, substrate condition, thickness or class, color/texture,

Stainless Steel Finishing Passivation vs Electropolishing for Stainless Steel Parts Passivation chemically removes free iron and supports formation of the stainless steel’s passive surface with minimal intentional smoothing. Electropolishing electrochemically

Masking Design How to Define Surface-Finish Masking Requirements Define masking by showing exactly which surfaces must remain uncoated, why they are protected, the boundary tolerance, permitted transition, rack/contact locations and

Anodizing Selection Type II vs Type III Hardcoat Anodizing Type II anodizing is commonly selected for general corrosion protection and decorative color, while Type III hardcoat anodizing is selected when

Coating Failure Analysis Why Coatings Peel From CNC Machined Parts Coatings peel when adhesion at the substrate, pretreatment or intercoat interface is weaker than service and handling stresses. Common causes

Corrosion Troubleshooting Why Finished CNC Metal Parts Still Corrode Finished metal parts can still corrode when the finish is mismatched to the environment, coverage is incomplete, edges or masked zones