The right surface finish protects your parts and defines how they look and wear. Finishing is specified per part on the drawing, applied to that specification, and checked before your order ships — not treated as an afterthought.
Functional finishes improve corrosion and wear resistance; cosmetic finishes control appearance and texture. We advise on material compatibility and cost impact for every option.
Capabilities
- Anodizing Type II and Type III hardcoat, in colors
- Electroplating: nickel, zinc, chrome
- Powder coating in a wide color range
- Passivation for stainless steel
- Polishing, bead blasting and brushing
- Laser marking and silkscreen printing
Typical materials
Finishes apply to aluminum, stainless steel, carbon steel, brass and copper parts machined or fabricated through our services.
| Material / grade | Typical condition | Machinability | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium 6061 | T6 (solution treated and aged) | Easy: free-cutting, good chip control | Brackets, housings, fixtures, prototypes into production |
| Aluminium 7075 | T6 / T651 | Harder: more tool wear, needs rigid setups | High-strength, weight-critical parts; not for welding |
| Stainless 304 / 304L | Annealed | Work-hardens: slower speeds, positive feed | General corrosion resistance, food and process equipment |
| Stainless 316 / 316L | Annealed | Tougher than 304: more tool wear | Chloride, marine, medical and pharmaceutical exposure |
| Carbon steel 1018 / 1045 | As-rolled / normalised | Easy to moderate; needs protection against rust | Shafts, plates, weldments, tooling bodies |
| Brass C360 | H02 half hard | Excellent: high speeds, clean finish | Fittings, bushings, connectors, decorative parts |
| Copper C110 | Annealed / H02 | Gummy: sharp tools and high rake angles | Conductivity, busbars, thermal management |
| Titanium Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) | Mill annealed | Difficult: low speeds, heat control, tool wear | Aerospace, medical and lightweight high-strength parts |
| Engineering plastics (POM, PEEK, PA) | Extruded / annealed | Easy to gummy: soft jaws, sharp tooling | Insulation, low friction, chemical and wear parts |
Finishes
From as-machined (deburred) to fully cosmetic: anodize classes, plating thicknesses, coating colors and texture levels specified per drawing.
| Finish | What it does | Specify it when |
|---|---|---|
| As machined | Tool marks left visible; Ra typically 1.6-3.2 µm | The part only has to function |
| Bead blast | Uniform matte surface, hides tool marks | Cosmetic parts before anodising |
| Anodising Type II | Builds an oxide layer; colour options | Aluminium appearance plus mild corrosion and wear resistance |
| Hard anodising Type III | Thicker, harder oxide layer | Sliding or wearing aluminium surfaces |
| Chromate conversion | Thin protective film that stays conductive | Electrical bonding or grounding on aluminium |
| Electroless nickel | Uniform, hard, corrosion-resistant layer | Wear plus corrosion, including inside bores |
| Zinc plating | Economical sacrificial corrosion protection | Steel parts in indoor or sheltered service |
| Powder coat | Thick, durable, decorative layer | Appearance is the requirement |
| Passivation | Removes free iron and restores the oxide film | Stainless parts after machining |
| Stress relief / heat treatment | Relieves residual stress before or after cutting | Thin walls and tight tolerances that must survive machining |
Tolerances
Finishing adds thickness — anodizing and plating affect final dimensions. Critical dimensions are finished after coating or masked; confirmed during drawing review.
| Callout | What it needs | Effect on cost and lead time |
|---|---|---|
| General: ±0.25 mm / ±0.010 in | Standard tooling, dimensional check | Baseline: no adder |
| Standard: ±0.13 mm / ±0.005 in | Machine in good condition, first-article check | Small adder; the usual quoting default |
| Tight: ±0.025 mm / ±0.001 in | Ground or diamond tooling, temperature control, CMM | Step change: slower cuts plus full inspection |
| Precision: ±0.013 mm / ±0.0005 in | Finish passes, gauging, controlled environment | Machining dominates the price; often a separate operation |
| Position / angularity (GD&T) | Datum control, one setup where features are related | Depends on how many setups the datum spans |
| Surface finish Ra 0.8 µm or finer | Finer stepovers, polishing or a finishing pass | Adds a process step, not just machining time |
Process Options
- Finishing Options: Black Oxide, Electropolishing, ENP, Media Blasting, Nickel Plating, Passivation, Powder Coating, Tumble Polishing, Zinc Plating, Vibratory Tumbling
- EPX 82 is processed using Carbon DLS
- MUD is a type of mold that uses a standard injection molding frame.
- Different taper turning methods suit different jobs. Compound slides often handle short tapers, while CNC interpolation and taper attachments improve repeatability on longer parts
- G92 is used by programming one or more G92's right after the G76 threading cycle
- Estimates are provided through an auto-quoted method.
- EDM relies on a voltage and a thin wire
- Electropolishing is an electrochemical process.
- Water jet cutting is used for cutting sheet metal.
Surface Finish Reference
- SPI A-1 has a surface roughness of 0.012–0.025 µm.
- SPI B-2 has a finish of Medium semi-gloss.
- SPI B-2 has a surface roughness of 0.10–0.15 µm.
- SPI C-3 has a surface roughness of 0.63–0.70 µm.
- Super high gloss, polished with a Grade #3 (6000-grit) diamond buff to Ra 0.012–0.025 µm.
- Medium semi-gloss, finished with 400-grit paper to Ra 0.10–0.15 µm.
- Normal matte, polished with 320-grit stone to Ra 0.63–0.70 µm.
- Very Smooth finish (N5) corresponds to a surface roughness Ra of 0.4 μm.
- A Ra 0.4 µm finish requirement is achievable with a bore diameter tolerance of ±0.0005 inch.
- A sealing surface may need a smoother finish like Ra 0.4.
- Electropolishing achieves Ra <0.4 µm.
- Ra ≤ 0.4 µm is a tighter surface roughness requirement than Ra ≤ 0.8 µm.
- Ra 3.2 µm (125 µin) is a standard machined finish.
- Ra 3.2 micrometers corresponds to 125 microinches Ra.
- Typical as-machined CNC milling surface roughness is Ra 1.6–3.2 µm.
- 1.6 µm Ra surface roughness is achieved by CNC milling and turning in stainless steel.
- 0.4 µm Ra surface roughness is achieved by CNC turning plus polishing in steel.
- Traditional CNC turning is no longer viable when tight surface finish requirements like Ra 0.4 µm are added.
Tolerance Reference
- The tolerance with drawing for CNC Milling is as low as +/- 0.005 mm.
- FDM 3D printing offers a low-cost component with average accuracy and uses thermoplastics for 3D printing.
- Wire Cut EDM is highly accurate.
- Die sinker EDM is capable of maintaining tight tolerances
- The shop needs to have CNC machines that can achieve a specific tolerance.
- Angularity tolerance defines a zone
Industries We Serve
- antennas
- automotive
- CNC machined parts
- considered
- custom parts
- electronics
- medical diagnostic
- optical displays
Material Reference
- ABS
- Carbon steel
- ceramic
- composites
- epoxy resin
- Hardened Materials
- High Impact Polystyrene
- Low-density polyethylene
- MDF
- metal
- Plastic
- Polybutylene Terephthalate
- SUS304
- thermoplastics
- thick metal sheets
- tungsten carbide
Related Processes
Anodizing
used for
Electroplating
used for
Painting
used for
Common Applications
- polished grade instruments
- Aerospace
- Automotive
Ordering, Lead Times & MOQ
Custom CNC parts carry no forced MOQ; ordering from a single prototype piece is standard industry practice.
Instant-quote platforms publicly advertise prototype lead times of 1-3 business days.
Online RFQ is the industry-standard flow: upload a 3D model (STEP/STP/DWG/DXF), receive an instant quote or engineer review, then production, inspection, and delivery.
Frequently asked questions
Which finish should I choose for my part?
It depends on material and function. Aluminum parts commonly get anodizing for corrosion resistance and hardness; steel parts get zinc or nickel plating or powder coating; stainless steel is often passivated or left brushed. Tell us the environment and appearance requirements — we recommend the most economical suitable finish.
Does anodizing or plating change part dimensions?
Yes. Coatings add thickness (hardcoat anodizing builds up significantly). We plan for this during drawing review: either coat non-critical surfaces only, mask critical features, or finish after coating by machining or lapping.
Can you match a specific color?
Standard anodize colors (clear, black, and common tones) and powder coating RAL colors are readily available. For precise brand-color matching, send the RAL code or physical sample and we confirm the match before production.
Can finishes be combined with logos or part markings?
Yes. Laser marking and silkscreen printing can be applied over or under finishes depending on the look you need. Send artwork in vector format (AI, PDF or DXF) with placement specified on the drawing.
What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ)?
Prototypes from 1 pc. Low-volume production typical 50-500 pcs. No forced MOQ on custom parts; unit price drops with volume.
What is the typical lead time?
Industry benchmark: instant-quote platforms deliver prototypes in 1-3 business days. Our own production: prototypes 5-10 working days, including in-house QC and shipping. Production: 2-4 weeks depending on quantity/finishing. Express options exist; finishing adds days.
How do I get a quote and what information do you need?
3D files (STEP/IGS) + 2D drawing with tolerances. Material, quantity, finish, destination country. Quote turnaround: 24-48h typical.
What tolerance should I specify?
Specify tight tolerances only on critical features. Standard ±0.1 mm covers most features. Tighter tolerance = cost multiplier; apply selectively via drawing GD&T.
How is quality controlled?
First-article inspection in our own shop before the first production order. In-process checks. Final inspection report (dimensions) with shipment. Material certs (mill test reports) on request.
Is my design protected?
NDA before file exchange. Files used only for your production. No resale of custom designs.
Which material should I choose?
Function first: strength, weight, corrosion, cost. Common pairings: 6061 general, 304/316 corrosive env., PEEK medical. See materials guide pages.
Which surface finish do I need?
Anodizing for aluminum corrosion/wear/color. Passivation for stainless. Plating for conductivity/steel protection. Cosmetic vs functional distinction.
How do you ship and what terms?
DHL/FedEx/UPS express for samples and small batches. Air/sea freight for production volumes. Incoterms: EXW/FOB/DAP/DDP options.
Sources · 4
- staubinc.comUnclassified source
- hubs.comIndustry peer technical page
- rapiddirect.comIndustry peer technical page
- jlccnc.comIndustry peer technical page
Technical references cited for verifiability — not supplier recommendations.Browse the research library.