Mechanical refinement
Used when the goal is smoothing, deburring, or establishing a consistent visible texture.
- As Machined
- Sanding
- Sand Blasting
- Bead Blasting
- Tumbling
- Polishing
- Brushed Finish
Finish families at a glance
Protective and conversion finishes
Selected for corrosion resistance, wear life, conductivity requirements, or stable downstream assembly performance.
- Anodizing
- Hard Anodizing
- Chromate Conversion Coating
- Black Oxide
- Passivation
- Heat Treatment
Coatings and appearance layers
Applied when the project needs color, decorative consistency, or broader surface coverage across a batch.
- Nickel Plating
- Electroless Nickel Plating
- Electroplating
- Zinc Plating
- Powder Coating
- Painting
- Electrophoresis
- Chrome Plating
- Teflon Coating
- Tinted
- SPI Finish
Full finish catalog
| Finish | Primary Use | Service | Applicable To | Machining Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| As Machined | Baseline finish that leaves the part in its machined state. It is a practical choice when speed, cost control, and dimensional consistency matter more than cosmetic refinement. | CNC machining, Sheet metal fabrication | Metals, Plastics | Visible, light surface scratches |
| Sanding | Abrasive smoothing process that removes minor imperfections and prepares parts for a finer final finish. | CNC machining | Metals, Plastics | Reduced but visible |
| Sand Blasting | A blasting process that removes coatings and contaminants while creating a uniform, slightly abrasive surface texture. | CNC machining, Sheet metal fabrication | Metals, Plastics | Uniform roughness, slightly abrasive feel |
| Bead Blasting | Glass bead blasting produces a more even matte or satin appearance while softening the look of machining marks. | CNC machining, Sheet metal fabrication | Metals, Plastics | Matte or satin surface |
| Tumbling | A barrel or vibratory finishing process that smooths edges and improves surface consistency across batches. | CNC machining, Sheet metal fabrication | Metals, Plastics, Glass | Reduced and smoothed |
| Polishing | A finishing process that reduces roughness and creates a smoother, brighter, or mirror-like surface. | CNC machining, Sheet metal fabrication | Metals, Plastics | Glossy or mirror-like finish |
| Brushed Finish | Directional mechanical finishing that creates a consistent satin grain on metal surfaces. | CNC machining, Sheet metal fabrication | Metals | Reduced for non-cosmetic, removed on primary surfaces for cosmetic |
| Anodizing | Electrochemical treatment that thickens the oxide layer on aluminum and improves corrosion resistance. | CNC machining, Sheet metal fabrication | Aluminum, Titanium | Reduced for non-cosmetic, removed on primary surfaces for cosmetic |
| Hard Anodizing | Harder anodizing option for aluminum parts when wear resistance and surface durability matter more than cosmetic flexibility. | CNC machining, Sheet metal fabrication | Aluminum | Visible under anodizing |
| Chromate Conversion Coating | Chemical treatment for aluminum and magnesium alloys that improves corrosion resistance and paint adhesion. | CNC machining, Sheet metal fabrication | Aluminum, Magnesium alloys | Visible |
| Black Oxide | Chemical coating for ferrous metals that creates a thin black oxide layer and improves corrosion resistance. | CNC machining, Sheet metal fabrication | Steel, Iron | Visible |
| Electroless Nickel Plating | Autocatalytic metal coating that produces uniform coverage and improves corrosion resistance on complex geometry. | CNC machining, Injection molding, 3D printing | Metals, Plastics | Partially hidden |
| Nickel Plating | Nickel coating applied by electroplating to improve appearance, wear behavior, and corrosion resistance. | CNC machining, Sheet metal fabrication | Steel, Copper, Brass, Aluminum | Partially hidden |
| Electroplating | Electrically driven process that deposits a metallic coating onto conductive parts for protection or appearance. | CNC machining, Sheet metal fabrication | Metals | Partially hidden |
| Zinc Plating | Thin zinc coating used to improve corrosion resistance and appearance on steel and iron parts. | CNC machining, Sheet metal fabrication | Steel, Iron, Brass | Partially hidden |
| Powder Coating | Dry coating process that cures into a durable finish with color, texture, and strong wear resistance. | CNC machining, Sheet metal fabrication, Injection molding | Metals, Some Plastics | Removed |
| Painting | Liquid coating finish used for color, texture, and protective coverage across metal and plastic parts. | CNC machining, Sheet metal fabrication, Injection molding, 3D printing | Metals, Plastics, Wood | Partially visible |
| Electrophoresis | Coating process using charged particles in a bath to form a uniform finish on conductive parts. | CNC machining, Sheet metal fabrication | Metals, Ceramics | Hidden |
| Passivation | Chemical treatment that removes free iron and improves corrosion resistance on stainless steel and similar alloys. | CNC machining, Sheet metal fabrication | Stainless Steel, Other Corrosion-resistant Alloys | Visible |
| Teflon Coating | PTFE-based protective coating that lowers friction and improves release and corrosion resistance. | CNC machining, Sheet metal fabrication, Injection molding | Metals, Plastics | Visible |
| Heat Treatment | Thermal process used to change mechanical properties such as hardness, strength, and ductility. | CNC machining | Metals | Visible |
| SPI Finish | Standardized plastic surface texture system ranging from glossy to matte for injection molded parts. | Injection molding | Plastics | Visible |
| Tinted | Coloring option for plastic prototypes that adds a translucent or uniform color appearance without full painting. | 3D printing, Injection molding | ABS, PMMA, PC, PS | Visible |
| Chrome Plating | Decorative and functional metal coating used to improve appearance, hardness, and corrosion resistance. | CNC machining, Sheet metal fabrication | Metals | Partially hidden |
What usually drives the finish decision
Cosmetic first
For visible consumer or branded parts, we start by reviewing surface prep, color targets, and where machining marks can or cannot remain visible.
Protection first
For industrial and outdoor hardware, the finish is selected around corrosion resistance, friction, conductivity, and operating environment rather than appearance alone.
Tolerance awareness
Some finishes build surface thickness or require pre-finish dimensional planning. We flag those constraints before production so finished parts still assemble correctly.
Surface finishes FAQ
That depends on both the material and the type of visual quality you need. For aluminum, anodizing is a common choice. For visible steel hardware, brushed, plated, or coated finishes may be better. For molded plastics, SPI texture and painting often matter more than a separate downstream finish. The right answer comes from reviewing material, geometry, and the cosmetic faces of the part together.
Some do. Mechanical refinements like blasting usually have limited dimensional effect, while coatings and plating can add build thickness. That is why ZigiTech reviews critical fits, threads, masked zones, and mating surfaces before locking a finish into production.
Yes. We review finish compatibility across CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, plastic injection molding service, and selected prototype processes. Some finishes are practical across many process routes, while others only make sense for a narrow material or part family.
That is common. If you already know the part material, expected environment, and whether the part is cosmetic or functional, we can help narrow the finish set quickly and quote the options that make sense. This is often faster than trial-and-error after the first article stage.
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