Manufacturing Resources
Practical references for surface finishes, manufacturing technology, and material selection before production starts.
Surface Finishing
Surface finish affects appearance, corrosion resistance, wear performance, assembly fit, and part cost. Define color, texture, gloss, masking, and inspection standards before production.
| Technology | Description |
|---|---|
| Anodizing | Creates a durable oxide layer on aluminum for corrosion resistance, color options, and improved surface hardness. |
| Powder Coating | Applies a baked polymer coating for strong color coverage, texture, and outdoor durability. |
| Bead Blasting | Produces a uniform matte or satin texture by blasting fine media across the part surface. |
| Polishing | Reduces surface roughness and creates a smoother decorative or functional finish. |
| Brushing | Adds a directional grain texture commonly used on aluminum and stainless steel parts. |
| Painting | Provides color, gloss, texture, masking, and branding options for plastic or metal parts. |
| Plating | Adds a metal coating such as nickel, chrome, or zinc for wear, appearance, or corrosion resistance. |
| Passivation | Improves stainless steel corrosion resistance by removing free iron from the surface. |
| Black Oxide | Creates a dark conversion coating for steel parts with light corrosion resistance and low dimensional impact. |
| Heat Treatment | Changes hardness, strength, or wear properties for selected metal parts after machining. |
Materials
Material selection should match strength, temperature, chemical resistance, electrical needs, cosmetic expectations, and regulatory requirements.
| Material | Description |
|---|---|
| Aluminum | Lightweight metal with good machinability, corrosion resistance, and strength-to-weight performance. |
| Stainless steel | Strong corrosion-resistant metal for durable components, assemblies, and demanding environments. |
| Steel | Cost-effective metal with high strength, broad availability, and many heat treatment options. |
| Brass | Machinable copper alloy with good wear resistance, conductivity, and decorative appearance. |
| Copper | Excellent thermal and electrical conductivity for contacts, heat transfer, and functional components. |
| ABS | Tough engineering plastic suitable for housings, prototypes, and general-purpose molded parts. |
| PC | Impact-resistant transparent or opaque plastic for durable functional components. |
| POM/Delrin | Low-friction engineering plastic with good dimensional stability and wear resistance. |
| Nylon | Strong plastic with good toughness, fatigue resistance, and mechanical performance. |
| PMMA | Clear acrylic material used for lenses, display parts, and appearance prototypes. |
| PEEK | High-performance plastic with excellent temperature, chemical, and wear resistance. |
| PP | Lightweight chemical-resistant plastic used for flexible, durable, and cost-sensitive parts. |
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