What is the difference between anodizing Type II and Type III (Hardcoat)?

Type II (Decorative) Anodizing provides good corrosion resistance and a wide range of color options with a typical coating thickness of 5-25 μm. Type III (Hardcoat) Anodizing creates a much thicker, harder, and more wear-resistant surface (up to 50-100 μm), but with limited color options (often clear, black, or dark gray). It is ideal for aluminum parts in high-abrasion applications like jigs and fixtures.

Can anodizing be applied to stainless steel parts?

No, anodizing is a process specifically for aluminum and its alloys. For stainless steel parts, we recommend passivation to enhance corrosion resistance, or electropolishing to improve cleanliness, deburr, and provide a bright, smooth finish.

How does powder coating compare to painting for CNC machined parts?

Powder coating is generally superior for functional parts. It creates a thicker, more durable, and more uniform coating that is highly resistant to chipping, scratching, and chemicals. It is also more environmentally friendly. Painting may be used for specific color matches or very thin film requirements.

What finishing process is best for improving wear resistance?

For steel parts, hard chrome plating or nitriding are excellent choices. For aluminum parts, hardcoat anodizing (Type III) is the standard. For extreme wear resistance in any material, tungsten carbide coating or thermal spray can be applied.

How do I specify surface roughness (e.g., Ra, Rz) on my drawing?

Please indicate the Ra (arithmetic average) or Rz (maximum height) value and the sampling length on your 2D drawing. Common callsouts are like "Ra 1.6 μm" or "Rz 10 μm max". For critical surfaces, also specify the measurement direction (e.g., "parallel to lay"). If unsure, we can advise during the DFM stage.

Will finishing affect the dimensional accuracy of my part?

Yes, most finishing processes add a thin layer of material. Anodizing can add 10-50 μm per side, powder coating 50-100 μm, and plating 5-25 μm. For critical features, it is essential to call out these dimensions as post-finish and we will machine the part accordingly to compensate.

What is bead blasting used for?

Bead blasting (or media blasting) is primarily used to create a uniform matte or satin surface finish, remove light tool marks, and prepare a surface for subsequent finishing like anodizing or painting. It provides a clean, non-directional texture.

森力昊表面处理服务|金属和塑料零件的表面处理

姓名	适用材料	颜色	可应用于
机加工时	铝、钢、不锈钢	Ra 0.8μm-Ra 3.2μm	所有后处理
阳极氧化	铝	透明、黑色、灰色、红色、蓝色、绿色、橙色、金色	喷砂、滚光、化学薄膜*
镀铬	丙烯酸	无	增强外观
化学镀镍	铝、钢、不锈钢	无	喷砂、滚光
黑色氧化物	铝	黑色	喷砂、滚光、化学薄膜*
喷砂+阳极氧化II型	铝	透明、黑色、红色、蓝色、橙色、金色	喷砂、滚光、阳极氧化II型PTFE阳极氧化III型
镀锌	钢、不锈钢	透明（浅蓝色涂层）。黑色（光滑的黑色涂层）。	喷砂、滚光、钝化
滚光	铝、钢、不锈钢、黄铜、青铜、铜	无	除电解抛光和粉末涂层外的所有后处理
纳米涂层	有关适用的材料加工，请参阅目录。	完整涂层或RAL颜色目录	请联系我们获取详细说明
钝化	钢、不锈钢	无	黑色氧化物、化学镀镍、镀锌、滚光、喷砂
拉丝	铝、钢、不锈钢、黄铜、青铜、铜	小：将6.5-8mm的线拉到2.0-4.0mm。中等：将16-18mm的线拉到8.0-12.0mm。大：将100-120mm的线拉到20-30mm。	除电解抛光和粉末涂层外的所有后处理
电解抛光	钢、不锈钢	无	钝化、翻滚