Xometry Finishing Service

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Finishing Services

We offer a number of post-processing and surface finishing services both for CNC machined parts and sheet metal. Post-processing improves characteristics of the parts: their surface roughness, general durability, corrosion resistance, or their appearance.

Surface Treatments

  • 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

  • Electropolishing

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

    Notes:
    • Reduced corrosion
    • Brighter appearance

  • 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

  • Vapour smoothing

    Bathing printed parts in vaporized chemical solvents to create a controlled chemical melt of the material.

    Notes:
    • Can soften sharp edges
    • Not suitable for small features and thin walls
    • Smooth in the touch
    • Glossy appearance

  • SPI

    SPI finishes are a set of standard mould finishes with different polished textures for enhanced properties.

    Notes:

    Heavily polished, from semi-gloss to fine and coarse matte depending on the selection

  • VDI

    VDI is an international standard for mould texturing of matte surfaces. It is mainly processed by Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) when mould machining.

    Notes:

    Fine-to-coarse grain depending on the selection.

  • Sand blasting

    Sand blasting is a surface preparation technique involving high-velocity abrasive particles to remove contaminants and roughen surfaces.Sand blasting is a surface preparation technique involving high-velocity abrasive particles to remove contaminants and roughen surfaces.

    Notes:
    • It’s commonly used for cleaning, texturing, or preparing plastics for processes like painting.
    • Matte surface
    • Enhanced paint adhesion

Adhesives and Coatings

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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

  • Spray painting

    Provides a continuous, protective color finish which is applied by spraying.

    Notes:

    Paint coating is just on the surface level, if it is scratched or subjected to wear and tear, the internal natural colour is visible. Possibility of requesting custom colours (RAL)

    Available colors:

    • Custom colour (RAL)

Anodising

  • 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)

  • Titanium anodising

    Titanium anodising is the deliberate electrolytic oxidation of the surface of titanium (or titanium alloy) components to produce surface properties suited to the application for which the part is being made.

    Notes:
    • Matte gray surface
    • Enhanced corrosion and abrasion resistance

Metal & Precious Metal Plating

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

Heat Treatments

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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

Post Processing Resources

Post-processing for MJF and SLS 3D printed parts

This article explores the post-processing operations available for SLS and MJF printed parts, their application, and their pros and cons SLS and MJF...

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Steel Hardening Explained

Steel is one of the most essential and iconic metals on earth. From a combination of iron and carbon arose a robust, versatile and vastly used alloy....

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