Sheet Metal Fabrication

Finishing Options for Sheet Metal Fabrication

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  Bead blasting

  Depowdering of parts with bead blasting. The final parts are slightly grainy in the touch with a satin-like matte appearance.

  Notes:

  Semi-sintered surface particles remain on the part even after initial depowdering.

  • Slightly grainy in the touch
  • Uniform, matte or satin-like appearance
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  Anodising (Type II)

  Type II anodise provides increased corrosion resistance and can be used as a base for paint and other finishes.

  Notes:

  • Aluminium is typically anodised
  • Anodised coatings are not electrically conductive
  • Possibility of requesting custom colours (RAL)

  Available colors:

  • Black
  • Blue
  • Gold
  • Green
  • Grey
  • Orange
  • Red
  • Purple
  • Yellow
  • Custom colour (RAL)
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  Powder coating

  Provides a continuous, protective color finish on parts using evenly applied, heat-cured paint. The finish is usually tougher and even compared to conventional painting. Metals like aluminium and steel can be efficiently coated with polymer powders.

  Available colors:

  • Black
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  Media tumbling

  Tumbling vibrating media to remove sharp edges and burrs on machined parts.

  Notes:

  Sharp edges may be dulled. Parts with fragile features are not recommended for tumbling.

  • Smooth in the touch
  • Satin-like matte appearance
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  Electropolishing

  An electrochemical process that cleans steel parts to reduce corrosion and improve appearance by making the metal brighter.

  Notes:

  • Reduced corrosion
  • Brighter appearance
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  Passivation

  A colorless coating that improves corrosion resistance for 200 and 300 series and precipitation hardened corrosion-resistant steels by removing free iron from the surface.

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  Electroless nickel plating

  Electroless nickel plating provides a uniform nickel coating, which offers protection from corrosion, oxidation, and wear on irregular surfaces.

  Final result:

  • Protection from corrosion, oxidation and wear on irregular surfaces
  • Brighter appearance
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  Chromate conversion

  Chromate conversion coatings, also known as chem-film, enhance corrosion resistance and conductivity properties and can be used as a base for paint.

  Notes:

  • Type I chromate conversion caused the coating to appear gold or brown in color typically
  • Type II chromate coating will appear clear and does not affect surface colouration

  Available colors:

  • Gold
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  Zinc coating / Galvanising

  Zinc plating involves the electrodeposition of a thin coating of zinc metal onto the surface of another metal object, known as a substrate. The zinc coating creates a physical barrier that prevents rust from reaching the underlying metal surface.

  Notes:

  • Increased corrosion resistance
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  Gold plating

  Gold Plating provides good corrosion and tarnish resistance. Gold has low contact resistance, excellent conductivity, and solderability.

  Final result:

  • Gold-like appearance
  • Increased corrosion and tarnish resistance
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  Silver plating

  Electroplating silver provides good corrosion resistance but easily tarnishes. Silver offers high solderability and electrical conductivity.

  Notes:

  • Silver-like appearance
  • Increased corrosion-resistance
  • Easily tarnishes
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  Black oxide

  Black oxide is a type of conversion coating for ferrous materials, such as steel and stainless steel, which blackens the top layer of the material. It can be used to reduce reflection and glare, as well as provide some additional corrosion resistance without affecting part dimensions.

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  Annealing

  The annealing process involves the heating of a metal to or near the temperature at which recrystallisation begins without change in the stresses. After heating, the metal is cooled to room temperature in the oven or put in the sand.

  Notes:

  Improved cold working capacity of the metal

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  Case-hardening (Carburising)

  A heat treatment process which includes hardening the surface of metal while allowing the metal underneath to remain soft. As the name implies, carburising is inducting carbon or nitrogen into low-carbon alloys at elevated temperatures so that the hardenability increases.

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  Tempering

  A heat treatment method that is mainly dedicated to reducing the amount of hardness of metals. It involves heating the metal to a temperature below the critical point. The temperature is adjusted depending on the amount of hardness that needs to be reduced and it varies depending on the metal type as well.

  Notes:

  • Reduced hardness
  • Increased elasticity and plasticity
  • Reduced yield and tensile strength
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  Through hardening

  Through hardening differs from case hardening where, instead of just the surface, the whole alloy is made to have relatively similar hardenability. This can be achieved by introducing carbon into the alloy matrix and quenching it repeatedly in brine or in water. Oil quenching can also be used.

  Notes:

  • Hardened surface layer that is resistant to wear, abrasion, and deformation
  • The core remains tough and ductile
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  Custom

  If a you select a custom finish in the Instant Quoting Engine it will require manual review. Manual quoting usually 1-2 business days.

  Notes:

  Submitting for manual review with a custom request does not guarantee a quote.