Surface Treatment Services

Yes, most surface treatments increase the part's surface thickness. Anodization typically adds 0.5-2 mils per side, while electroplating adds 0.1-2 mils depending on the type. Our engineers account for this material allowance during machining to ensure the final dimensions meet specifications.

Read full answer

Anodizing is primarily used for aluminum alloys (6061, 7075, 2024). Titanium alloys can also be anodized. Other metals such as steel and brass require different surface treatments like electroplating or passivation.

Read full answer

Yes, powder coating and liquid spray paint can match RAL, Pantone color cards, or customer-provided samples. Anodizing provides over 50 standard colors, with custom color matching available upon request.

Read full answer

Type II is standard anodizing with a thinner oxide layer (0.5-1.5 mil), suitable for decoration and corrosion resistance. Type III (hard) anodizing features a thicker oxide layer (1-2 mil) with significantly higher hardness and wear resistance, ideal for functional applications.

Read full answer

Standard machined surface roughness is 125 Ra (3.2 µm); finish machining achieves 63 Ra (1.6 µm). Post-processing such as sandblasting or polishing can further improve surface quality.

Read full answer

5-axis simultaneous motion means all five axes move during cutting, enabling complex 3D contour machining. 5-axis positioning (3+2) locks rotary axes at specific angles, then uses standard 3-axis movement. Continuous 5-axis suits complex profiles; positioning 5-axis is better for multi-face prismatic parts.

Read full answer