Surface Treatments
Bead blasting
Depowdering parts with bead blasting results in a slightly textured finish, giving the final parts a satin-like matte appearance and a grainy feel to the touch.
Electropolishing
An electrochemical process that cleans steel parts, reducing corrosion and enhancing their appearance by making the metal brighter.
Media tumbling
Using vibrating media tumbling to smooth sharp edges and remove burrs from machined parts
Vapour smoothing
Immersing printed parts in vaporized chemical solvents to achieve a controlled chemical melt of the material.
Adhesives and Coatings
Passivation
A colorless coating that enhances corrosion resistance for 200 and 300 series, as well as precipitation-hardened corrosion-resistant steels, by eliminating free iron from the surface.
Chromate conversion
Chromate conversion coatings, also referred to as chem-film, improve corrosion resistance and conductivity, and can also serve as a base for paint.
Black oxide
Black oxide is a conversion coating for ferrous materials, like steel and stainless steel, that darkens the top layer of the material. It helps reduce reflection and glare, while also providing some added corrosion resistance, all without altering the part's dimensions.
​Powder coating
This process applies a continuous, protective color finish to parts using evenly applied, heat-cured paint. The resulting finish is typically more durable and uniform than conventional painting. Metals such as aluminum and steel can be efficiently coated with polymer powders.
Precious Metal Plating
Electroless nickel plating
Electroless nickel plating creates a consistent nickel coating that protects against corrosion, oxidation, and wear, even on irregular surfaces
Gold plating
Gold plating offers excellent resistance to corrosion and tarnishing. It also provides low contact resistance, outstanding conductivity, and excellent solderability.
Silver plating
Silver electroplating provides good corrosion resistance, though it is prone to tarnishing. Silver also offers high solderability and excellent electrical conductivity.
Zinc coating / Galvanising
Zinc plating is the process of electrodepositing a thin layer of zinc onto the surface of a metal object, known as the substrate. The zinc coating forms a protective barrier that prevents rust from reaching the underlying metal.
