Sheet Metal Finishes and Post-Processing

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Get the Look You Want with One or More Production Quality Finishes

We offer over 100 finishing options to customize your sheet metal component or assembly. Designed to enhance the functional or aesthetics elements of your design, these finishes are available with short lead times, applied by experts who deliver high quality results.

Surface Finishes 

Choose between two surface finishes on your sheet metal part. These options will leave your part safe to handle and ready to use right out of the box: 

Orbital Sander

This is the most common surface finish for sheet metal parts and involves using a random orbital sanding device to remove dross and other surface debris and build-up from the last cutting process. Orbital sanding is not recommended for cosmetic applications and is best used for internal components or situations where form, fit, and function is the priority. 

Straight Grain/Brushed

This surface finish involves applying a sanding belt in a uniform direction/pattern to the surface of the sheet metal. Designs with a grain direction are usually for cosmetic or end-user facing purposes. Straight grain can be applied to your part in three ways: 

• Perpendicular to the longest bend (when formed) or edge (when flat)
• Parallel to the longest bend or edge
• At a 45-degree angle to the longest bend or edge 

A note on welded parts: weld beads leave a raised surface at the weld site. Our process involves blending the weld bead into the metal material, leaving a uniform edge.

Plating and Coatings

Plating or coating can provide corrosion resistance, remove contaminants from the metal surface, enhance durability, and add functional benefits. Review the table below for the most selected options. Please note: 

• All finish types shown below are available in additional MIL or ASTM specifications. 
• We can source your coating through a NADCAP-certified supplier, if necessary.

If your project falls into one or both of these categories, please contact your account representative for more information. 

Sheet Metal Plating and Coating Options

Finish	Descriptive Name	Specification	Compatible Material Types	Example	Additional Information
Anodizing	Clear Anodizing	MIL-A-8625, Type II, Class 1	Aluminum
	Black Anodizing	MIL-A-8625, Type II, Class 2, Black
	Color Anodizing	MIL-A-8625, Type II, Class 2, "Color"			Request your color choice in the "custom option" selection of your online quote. You can request any color.
Hardcoat Anodizing	Clear Hardcoat Anodizing	MIL-A-8625, Type III, Class 1	Aluminum		Minimum coating thickness 0.020in. (0.508mm)
	Black Hardcoat Anodizing	MIL-A-8625, Type III, Class 2, Black
	Hardcoat Anodizing with Teflon	MIL-A-63576, Type I
Chromate	Yellow Chromate (Chem-Film)	MIL-DTL-5541, Type I, Class 3	Aluminum		Hexavalent chromate
	Clear Chromate (Chem-Film)	MIL-BTL-5541, Type II, Class 3			RoHS, non-hexavalent chromate
Electroless Nickel	Electroless Nickel, EN	ASTM-B733, Type IV, SC1, Class 1	Aluminum Steel** Stainless Steel**		Minimum coating thickness 0.0002 in. (0.005mm). **ASTM specifications for these materials are not listed on this table, but you can find them in your online quote.
Passivation	Nitric Passivation	ASTM-A967, Nitric 2, Practice D	Stainless Steel
	Citric Passivation	ASTM-A967, Citric 3, Practice D
Zinc	Zinc	ASTM-B633, Type I, FE/ZN 5 SC1	Steel		Zinc with no supplementary treatment; minimum coating thickness 0.0002 in. (0.005mm)
	Yellow Zinc	ASTM-B633, Type II, FE/ZN 5 SC1, Yellow			Zinc with colored (yellow) chromate; minimum coating thickness 0.0002 in. (0.005mm)
	Black Zinc	ASTM-B633, Type II, FE/ZN 5 SC1, Black			Zinc with colored (black) chromate; minimum coating thickness 0.0002 in. (0.005mm)
	Clear Zinc	ASTM-B633, Type III, FE/ZN 5 SC1, Clear			Zinc with colorless chromate; minimum coating thickness 0.0002 in. (0.005mm)
Tin	Tin	ASTM-B545, Class A	Copper

Wet Paint

With wet paint, a liquid coating is applied to your part to provide an aesthetically appealing finish. The process is offered in virtually any color and is commonly paired with a primer layer to improve paint adhesion and durability. 

Wet paint is often used in situations where the visual consistency of the finish across parts is an important consideration, which is why you primarily see it on automotive or consumer electronics products. 

Our wet paint options are available with or without primer. 

To ensure we can meet your specifications exactly, we ask you provide the full paint specification (including color and texture). These details can be conveyed two ways. Pick the option that is easiest for you. It's not necessary to submit both ways: 

• Submit a 2D-drawing with the wet paint specifications included. 
• In the "Coating" section of your online quote, depending on your project needs, select "Wet Paint" or "Wet Paint with Primer" from the drop-down menu. 
  • In the "Spec" field, enter the wet paint specifications as described above. 

Wet paint special considerations: 

• Quotes with wet paint service may take slightly longer than 24 hours. 
• If masking is required as a component of your finished product, please submit a 2D-drawing. 

Masking 

Masking is a common step in the finishing process when it comes to sheet metal components, assemblies, or electrical enclosures. We use tape, rounds, and plugs to allow for selective application of finishes on your design. Some key benefits of masking include: 

• Protection of functional areas of the part such as hardware inserts, threaded holes, or surfaces
• Solid dimensional tolerances with the unfinished state. Finishing processes add to the thickness of your part, which may affect fit or function of certain designs.
• Avoiding coating applications in areas where electrical conductivity is needed
• Improved aesthetic appeal of the overall design

Request masking in a 2D drawing submitted with your CAD file. The 2D drawing should include the location of masked areas, as well as which holes/inserts are to be plugged. 

Standard and Cosmetic Parts

Whether you're developing a prototype to check form, fit, or function, or you need quick-turn cosmetic parts for your next trade show, we have you covered. Use this guide to choose the best option for your project. 

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