Industry News

Citric passivation involves treating metal surfaces in an acid solution to make them better resist corrosion. As an iron-based alloy, stainless steel contains iron, nickel and chromium, with corrosion resistance due primarily to its chromium content. When exposed to oxygen in the air, chromium forms a thin layer of chromium oxide, which coats stainless steel… Read more »

The superfinishing process removes material on surfaces after modifications, using fine-grit abrasives to remove the residual layer left over from previous operations. Sometimes referred to as micro-finishing, the superfinishing process refines a component’s surfaces. These abrasive materials rotate while being spun around opposite the titanium part they’re finishing. This results in the removal of the… Read more »

Stainless steel is used across various industries due to its well-known durable, resistant, and aesthetically pleasing properties. While it’s a very long-lasting metal, stainless steel isn’t completely impenetrable and requires some maintenance to ensure the best quality over the long term. Buffing stainless steel is a common finishing process that can give a part its… Read more »

When it comes to finished metal surfaces, manufacturers need parts that not only look a certain way but also perform to necessary specifications – this could include stripping paint, removing corrosion, providing a non-reflective (matte) finish, increasing adhesion, or smoothing out burrs. There are two common, effective finishing types that many businesses look to for… Read more »

In an industry where cleanliness and sterilization are non-negotiable, it’s essential to have medical implants, tools, and instruments that are as smooth, clean, and rust-resistant as possible. Medical device passivation helps to ensure that stainless steel tools are not only free of impurities but that they will stand the test of time while maintaining a… Read more »

Machined metal parts will often end up with excess material, called “burrs.” These burrs can be created by grinding, molding, laser cutting, punching, sawing, routing, drilling or shearing – really any type of machining. While high-quality equipment can help reduce the amount of burrs you end up with, no matter how sharp or precise your… Read more »

Abrasive blasting is a finishing method that strips contaminants, rust and other imperfections from the surface of parts. Blasting is a faster surface preparation solution, especially when compared to more laborious blasting techniques such as sanding or wire brushing, but that is only one of the numerous benefits of abrasive blasting before surface coating.

Medical device finishing in the medical industry is critical to produce safe, sanitary applications that provide optimal performance. Reliability is critical in this industry, which can face challenges due to strict regulations and rigorous biocompatibility testing. For medical equipment companies, instruments and components ranging from orthodontics and dental to hospital and surgical need to be… Read more »

As we move into 2020, it’s important to remain up-to-date on cybersecurity standards, especially for companies that are contractors or subcontractors for the U.S. Department of Defense. In order to properly secure this defense and ensure contractors are following protocol, there is a new practice being put into play: the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification. Below,… Read more »

Several factors should be considered when choosing the appropriate metal finishing process for your application. Details such as turnaround time, cost, and industry all play a role in deciding which finishing is best for your part. Two of the most common types of metal finishing processes are superfinishing and metal tumbling, the differences of which… Read more »