Choose the Right Finish For Your Material
Different surface finishes can be applied to different materials.
You can easily find what surface finish is suitable for your parts
from the table below.
| Finish Type | Material Compatibility |
|---|---|
| Smooth Surface | All plastics and metals |
| Bead Blasting | All metals |
| Powder Coating | All metals |
| Anodizing Clear (Type II) | Aluminum alloys |
| Anodizing Color (Type II) | Aluminum alloys |
| Anodizing Hardcoat (Type III) | Aluminum alloys |
| Electropolishing | Stainless steel and metal alloys |
| Black Oxide | Steel and stainless steel |
| Chromate Conversion Coating | Aluminum alloys |
| Brushing | All metals |
Available Surface Finishes
Here is a list of standard surface finishes available from SmarterFab.
Please contact us if the surface finish you need is not shown below.
As Machined
“As machined” is our standard finish for all metal and plastic
parts. It has a surface roughness of approximately Ra 3.2 μm.
All sharp edges are removed and parts are deburred.
Smooth Surface
This finish reduces part surface roughness and creates a smoother
appearance. Machine marks are less visible, providing a clean
and consistent surface.
Bead Blasting
Bead blasting uses compressed air to propel abrasive media against
the surface of a component to create a uniform matte appearance.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Grit | #120 |
| Color | Raw material color |
Anodizing Color or Clear (Type II)
Type II anodizing creates an aluminum oxide layer on aluminum
parts to improve corrosion resistance, appearance, and
surface durability.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 8 – 12 μm clear, 4 – 8 μm color |
| Color | Black, clear, RAL or Pantone |
Anodizing Hardcoat (Type III)
Type III hardcoat anodizing forms an extremely hard,
abrasion-resistant and durable oxide layer on aluminum components.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 50 – 125 μm |
| Color | Black or clear |
Powder Coating
Powder coating applies a dry polymer powder to the component
and cures it in an oven, producing a durable and protective
surface finish.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 18 – 72 μm |
| Color | RAL or Pantone color |
Electropolishing
Electropolishing is an electrochemical finishing process
that removes a thin layer of material and produces a smooth,
bright and clean metal surface.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Color | Natural metal color |
Black Oxide
Black oxide is a conversion coating produced through a chemical
reaction with the metal surface. It forms a protective layer
while maintaining component dimensions.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Color | Black |
Chromate Conversion Coating (Alodine / Chemfilm)
Chromate conversion coating is a chemical treatment commonly
used on aluminum components to improve corrosion resistance
and electrical conductivity.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Color | Clear |
Brushing
Brushing uses abrasive belts to create directional traces
on the surface of a material, resulting in a uniform
brushed appearance.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Surface Roughness | Ra 0.8 – 1.5 μm |
| Grit | #80 – #120 |
