Surface finishing service

The most convenient method to acquire custom parts with a choice of 15+ surface finishing options. Obtain the bead-blasted, anodized, or powder-coated parts you require.

Our Surface Preparation Services

We offer various surface treatments to choose from, depending on the operational needs of your 3D printed or CNC machined components. Sandblasting removes printing marks and enhances the appearance; polishing creates a mirror finish, and the use of different coatings offers colour to parts, as well as protects them from rust and corrosion. We additionally offer anodising and plating services to boost the hardness and wear resistance of the parts. The performance and durability of the components can be extended, and their appearance improved, after undergoing surface treatment. With our advanced automated surface treatment equipment and extensive expertise, we can efficiently process your orders on schedule. Please contact our customer service to receive further information.

Category	Applicable to	Processing Trace	Appearance Effect	Color	Tolerance
Raw Machined Surface	Metal, Plastic	Visibly slight surface scratches	None	N/A	Tolerance unaffected
Smooth Machined Surface	Metal, Plastic	Visibly slight surface scratches	None	N/A	Tolerance unaffected
Fine Machined Surface	Metal	Slightly visible	None	N/A	Tolerance unaffected
Polished Surface	Metal	Removed on the main surface	Consistently maintains appearance	N/A	Measured after polishing
Sandblasted Surface	Metal	Non-appearance removal on the main surface	As per requirements	N/A	Unaffected, except for specific features*
Brushed Surface	Metal	Non-appearance reduction, removal on the main surface	As per requirements	N/A	Measured after brushing
Anodized Type II	Aluminum	Non-appearance reduction, removal on the main surface	As per requirements	Black, Transparent, Red, Blue, Gold, Orange	Measured after anodization
Anodized Type III	Aluminum	Visible under anodization	None	Black, Natural	Measured after anodization
Black Oxide	Copper, Stainless Steel, Alloy Steel, Tool Steel, Mild Steel	Visible	None	Black	Measured after coating
Chromate Conversion Coating	Aluminum	Visible	None	Transparent	Measured after coating
Bare Nickel	Mild Steel, Aluminum, Stainless Steel	Reduced but visible	None	Metallic color (semi-bright)	Measured after bare nickel
Powder Coating	Metal	Removed	None	Black, White, RAL/Pantone color codes	Measured before coating
Brushing + Electropolishing	Stainless Steel	Removed on the main surface	Consistently maintains appearance	N/A	Measured after electropolishing

Cosmetic surface finishes

Surface finishes can serve either a functional or aesthetic purpose, depending on the requirement. Surface finishes that serve both purposes are considered cosmetic surface finishes, which are used for parts with cosmetic purposes. The production of cosmetic parts requires taking additional measures to minimize defects, such as hang marks and scratches caused by tools.

Functional

Primary marks from machining will remain visible

In its machined state
Polished machining
Precision machining
Chromate conversion coating
Electroless nickel plating
Hardcoat anodized, type III
Powder coating
Black oxide

Cosmetic on request

Finishes can either be cosmetic or non-cosmetic, based on the request.

Brushed finish with Anodizing type II.
Bead blast finish with Anodizing type II.
Bead blasted finish.
Brushed finish.

Aesthetic by default

These finishes will always have an aesthetic purpose

Brushed and electropolished
Polishing process

Defining an A-side and a B-side

Surface finishing frequently leaves cosmetic flaws on your components, such as hang marks for anodizing. Defining an A-side and a B-side in your design will ensure that the most crucial parts of your component remain defect-free.

This image shows how you can define an A-side and a B-side in your technical drawing:
A-side: Indicates the most aesthetically significant surface, generally the visible side of your product.
B-side: Indicates the side that is not aesthetically significant, generally the side hidden from sight after assembly.

We guarantee defect-free production for the primary surface (A-side) of your part. However, it is possible for the secondary surfaces (B-side) to have hanging marks and other minor defects as they are being machined. Like the rest of your part, the B-side surfaces will be free of scratches, stains, and blemishes.

Will my part have	Surface
Will my part have	Primary surface (A-side)	Secondary surface (B-side)
Scratches, stains, blemishes	No	No
Hanging marks	No	Minor hanging marks
Other minor defects	No	Up to 2 minor defects

Criteria for Cosmetic Acceptability

All cosmetic components manufactured by V1 comply with our Cosmetic Acceptability Criteria.

Requirements for Consistency

Visual consistency is required for each part within the same batch. This means that,

Parts must be sanded or brushed with the same grit across the batch.
Brush marks must be in the same direction for all parts.
The colour must remain consistent to the same Pantone code when parts are positioned next to each other.
The gloss units must be consistent throughout the batch.

** Manual brushing marks must be as unidirectional as possible. Please note that for rounded geometric shapes, the brushing marks may not be entirely unidirectional.

Conditions for visual inspection

Every part's surface quality must satisfy the following conditions:

Distance: 50cm ±10cm (19,7 inches ± 3,9 inches) with 20/20 vision (or corrected) should be maintained.
Angle of incidence: Around 45º from all directions
Conditions of lighting: 500-1000 Lux, with a neutral white color (3300-5300 Kelvin)

When you opt for our decorative surface preparation service, you will receive the following benefits:

We guarantee higher surface quality standards, eliminating defects on the A-side and minimizing them on the B-side.
Our service ensures a high degree of consistency in terms of colour, feel, and other aspects between parts within a batch.
We conduct batch sampling inspections stringently to minimize the risk of quality issues.
Our impeccable quality assurance system ensures that each component meets the expected standards.

Decorative surface treatment is preferable to ordinary surface treatment for parts that are frequently touched or viewed from many angles. This treatment will significantly improve the appearance and texture of your products.

Put your parts into production today

Our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities allow fast and affordable production of your custom parts and components. Get your innovations to market faster while saving on costs. Contact us today to get a quote and put your designs into production within 1 week!