Passivation
Passivation is the process of treating or coating a metal to reduce the chemical reactivity of its surface. In stainless steel, passivation means removing the free iron from the surface of the metal using an acid solution to prevent rust. Typically Citric Acid is used for the passivation and Copper Sulfate is used to verify that there is no remaining free iron. We offer this service in-house for small to medium-sized parts. For larger parts, we use outside vendors.
Anodizing
Anodizing is a great way to improve the cosmetic appearance of your parts, add scratch resistance, and increase corrosion resistance. Anodizing can only be done on aluminum alloys and certain alloys present additional challenges or limitations. Standard anodizing (Type 2) is available with or without color and offers mild scratch resistance. Hard anodizing (Type 3) offers more protection due to its increased thickness. Due to its thickness, tight toleranced features may need to be adjusted and can only be clear or black.
ABRASIVE Blasting
We offer bead blasting as a finishing option for almost all parts in-house. It leaves a uniform finish and typically hides tool marks. For aluminum parts, we recommend anodizing after bead blasting to prevent scratches and fingerprints from occurring over time. If you have specific requests or requirements please let us know. We are happy to accommodate masking, specific abrasives, or specific grits.
Chromate CONVERSION
Also known as Chem Film, Alodine, or Iridite, chromate conversion coatings provide a corrosion-resistant and paint-ready finish on aluminum parts. It is electrically conductive and provides mild resistance to scratches and chemicals. We offer class 1A and 3 (clear and gold) per MIL-DTL-5541 for small to medium-sized parts in-house. For larger parts, we use outside vendors.
Inserts
If your project requires threaded inserts, rivet nuts, dowel pins, fasteners or other hardware to be installed into the part we are happy to do so. We require a PDF drawing to be uploaded as a supporting file specifying the insert type, quantity, location, and any other special requirements.
MINOR ASSEMBLY
If your project involves multiple parts that you’d like us to assemble in-house or requires assembly for final feature locations, let us know. We are a small shop so we cannot offer assembly on larger orders or part counts.
OTHER PROCESSES
While we may not offer these in-house, we’re happy to facilitate nearly any finishing process on parts we make. This includes but is not limited to wire EDM, vibratory tumbling, nickel plating, heat treating, and powder coating.