ENGINEERING GUIDE

Surface Finish Guide

A practical comparison of as-machined, blasting, anodizing, plating, passivation, powder coating and cosmetic finishes.

ENGINEER REVIEWEDUPDATED JUL 20267 MIN READ
Ra 3.2COMMON AS-MACHINED
TYPE II/IIIANODIZE OPTIONS
MASKCRITICAL FEATURES
SURFACE FINISH

Specify performance before appearance.

Finishes change corrosion resistance, wear, friction, electrical behavior, color and dimensions. The correct callout defines the required function, preparation, masking and acceptance standard—not only a finish name.

  • 01As-machined and fine machining
  • 01Bead blasting, brushing and polishing
  • 01Anodizing, plating and passivation
  • 01Powder coating and wet paint
DIMENSIONAL EFFECT

Finishing is part of the tolerance stack.

Coatings add thickness while conversion treatments alter the surface differently. Fits, threads, grounding points and sealing faces should be masked or machined to compensate when necessary.

  • 02Call out masked surfaces on the drawing
  • 02Define cosmetic class and viewing conditions
  • 02Agree color samples for appearance-critical parts
  • 02Inspect dimensions at the correct process stage
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COMMON QUESTIONS

What engineers ask.

Does anodizing change part dimensions?+

Yes. Anodizing creates an oxide layer partly above and partly below the original surface. Fits and threaded features may need allowance or masking.

What surface roughness is typical after CNC machining?+

Ra 3.2 µm is a common general target, while finer finishes require suitable geometry, tooling, passes and inspection.