From the moment an item comes off of the assembly line, it will more than likely carry imperfections. For instance, dents, scratches, abrasions or hold sticky impurities like grease etc. These need externally purifying for the perfect outcome of the part. Thats where metal finishing comes in. There are a range of different methods of metal finishing techniques, a few of which we will outline in this article today.
Why is Metal Finishing Needed?
Depending on the use of the metal parts or product, the reasons for metal finishing may vary. Some parts are on display and therefore need to be kept visually appealing and in a professional state. Others need to be sterile like hospital utensils or for use in the food industry. However, some applications are designed to be a hidden part of a larger design, like a piston in an engine that cannot carry any impurities. Consequently, metal finishing is a mandatory part of the manufacturing of these products.
Furthermore, we have all encountered products in our everyday lives that have been used by these methods hundreds of times a day. In addition, you would not even realise the methods that that have gone into the metal finishing techniques. Take a look at these types of metal finishing, some of which we offer here at Supersheen.
Methods of Metal Finishing
Metal Plating
Metal plating is where a fine layer is added to the product. One major item would be jewellery or gold plated wiring. This can be for durability and longevity, cosmetic values or even conductivity.
Hard Grinding
This would usually involve a rotary stone or metal disk that rotates at high revs. Moreover, the product would be grind against the disk to remove layers from the product. Typical uses for this would be to remove rust factors from a product.
Abrasive or Hard Brush
Items where a brush will grain down a product to a smoother finish that what was created in the original factory. Bicycles, lawnmower blades, laptop chassis’. The list is endless to what you would pass on a daily basis.
Buffing or Soft Brush
The metal finishing here would be a soft material on a rotary apparatus to give an absolute smooth finish. For instance, imagine a car bodywork repairer. After the hard abrasion has taken place to remove the impurity, being the paint. The texture is rough and contains scratches and other non level impurities. The soft buffing still removes layers from the metal but at absolute microscopic level. This technique wares the metal abrasions down until the metal is smooth as glass.
Vibratory Polishing
As one of the many major services we offer, (vibro) vibratory finishing is a technique to deburr products and remove impurities or smooth down sharp edges.
The Method Of Choice
What type of metal finishing would you choose? This will entirely depend on the business costs and needs. The costs can vary greatly depending on the size, weight, quantity, requirements, end results, etc. of the product. Many factors weigh up against many different variables. So, if you’re not sure what would be the best option for you, get in touch today. As leading metal finishing experts in the West Midlands, we can help you choose the right method for your application.