---
type: category
name: "Finishing"
processes: 25
url: https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing
---

# Finishing

25 manufacturing processes in the finishing family.

Finishing processes change the surface rather than the bulk: appearance,
corrosion resistance, hardness, friction, or dimensional fine-tuning.

Finishing is where tolerances get consumed. Plating adds thickness,
anodizing both adds and eats into the substrate, and blasting rounds
edges, so the finish has to be chosen before the drawing is dimensioned.

## Processes

| Process | Tolerances | Typical volumes | Lead time |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Abrasive Blasting](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/abrasive-blasting.md) | Cleaning passes remove very little, but aggressive or repeated blasting removes measurable stock; mask any toleranced feature. Anchor profile is specified at 1.5–4.0 mils (38–100 µm) for coating work | 1 part to continuous automated wheel-blast lines | Same day to 3 business days at a job shop; on-site structural work is scheduled by area and containment requirements |
| [Anodizing](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/anodizing.md) | Type II adds 0.0002–0.001 in (5–25 µm) total, roughly half of it outward; Type III adds 0.0005–0.004 in (13–100 µm). Budget the full coating thickness on a diameter and 4× the radial buildup on thread pitch diameter | 1 to millions of parts; racked in batches and priced by area and rack space | 3–7 business days at a job shop; 1–2 days expedited; add a week for a first-article custom color match |
| [Bead Blasting](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/bead-blasting.md) | Removes under 0.0005 in (13 µm) — generally treated as dimensionally neutral, but toleranced bores, threads and sealing faces should still be masked | 1 to millions of parts; automated cabinets are used above a few hundred pieces for cosmetic consistency | Same day to 3 business days at a job shop; usually run in line with anodizing |
| [Black Oxide](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/black-oxide.md) | Adds roughly 0.00003–0.00005 in (0.75–1.25 µm) — treated as dimensionally neutral; no allowance needed on threads, gage surfaces or press fits | 1 to millions of parts; small hardware runs in bulk baskets | 1–5 business days at a job shop; often same or next day for small hardware lots |
| [CNC Engraving](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/cnc-engraving.md) | Depth control of ±0.001–0.002 in (±0.025–0.05 mm) is routine; stroke width with a conical tool varies directly with depth, so both must be specified together | 1 to tens of thousands of parts; cost per part is dominated by cycle time above a few hundred | 1–5 business days; no tooling lead time beyond stock cutters |
| [Cerakote Ceramic Coating](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/cerakote-ceramic-coating.md) | Adds about 0.001 in (25 µm) per coated surface; budget 2× on a bore diameter and roughly 4× on thread pitch diameter, or mask | 1 part to a few thousand; hand-sprayed, so it does not scale like powder or e-coat | 1–3 weeks at a specialist applicator; oven cure itself is about 2 hours |
| [Chemical Conversion Coating](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/chemical-conversion-coating.md) | Chem film on aluminum adds 0.00001–0.00004 in (0.25–1 µm) and needs no allowance; manganese phosphate on steel can reach 0.0002–0.0004 in (5–10 µm) and should be checked on close fits | 1 to millions of parts; immersion lines handle bulk baskets and racked work alike | 1–5 business days at a job shop; commonly same-day when run in line with cleaning |
| [E-Coating (Electrophoretic Deposition)](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/e-coating-electrophoretic-deposition.md) | Adds 0.6–1.2 mils (15–30 µm) per surface, uniform over the whole part including recesses; budget roughly 4× the film thickness on thread pitch diameter | Economical from a few thousand parts per run upward; automotive lines run millions | 3–10 business days at a job coater; production lines run continuously once qualified |
| [Electroplating](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/electroplating.md) | Zinc 0.0002–0.001 in (5–25 µm), electroless nickel 0.0005–0.002 in (13–50 µm), hard chrome 0.0002–0.010 in (5–250 µm) per surface. Electrolytic deposits vary 2:1 or more between high- and low-current areas; electroless nickel holds about ±10% | Barrel plating is economical from a few pounds of hardware to millions of pieces; rack plating from 1 part upward | 3–10 business days at a job shop; add 1 day for an embrittlement-relief bake |
| [Electropolishing](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/electropolishing.md) | Removes 0.0002–0.001 in (5–25 µm) per surface, so bores grow and shafts shrink by twice that on diameter; sharp external edges break by 0.002–0.003 in (50–75 µm) | 1 part to high-volume barrel work; small parts can be run in bulk baskets | 3–7 business days at a job shop; 1–2 days expedited |
| [Foil Blocking and Embossing](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/foil-blocking-and-embossing.md) | Transferred foil layer is sub-micron and dimensionally negligible; image registration typically ±0.010–0.020 in (±0.25–0.5 mm), and exact between foil and emboss when a combination die is used | A few hundred to millions of impressions; die cost amortizes quickly at medium volume | 1–3 weeks including die manufacture; 3–7 business days for a repeat run on existing tooling |
| [Galvanizing](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/galvanizing.md) | Hot dip adds 1.8–3.9 mils (45–100 µm) per surface per ASTM A123, so holes close by 3.6–7.8 mils on diameter; electrogalvanizing adds 0.0002–0.001 in (5–25 µm) and is far more predictable | One-off fabrications to continuous coil; priced by weight, so heavy structural work is the most economical | 2–10 business days at a commercial galvanizer, driven by kettle scheduling rather than processing time |
| [Grinding, Sanding and Polishing](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/grinding-sanding-and-polishing.md) | Surface and cylindrical grinding ±0.0001–0.0005 in (±0.0025–0.013 mm); honing corrects bore geometry within a few tenths; lapping holds flatness to a few millionths of an inch | 1 to millions of parts; centerless and production grinding lines run continuously | 1–10 business days at a job shop depending on setup complexity; production grinding runs in seconds to minutes per part |
| [Hydro Transfer Printing](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/hydro-transfer-printing.md) | The complete system adds 0.003–0.006 in (75–150 µm) per surface, dominated by the base and clear coats; the printed layer itself is negligible | 1 to tens of thousands of parts; manual lines for low volume, automated dipping for automotive trim | 1–3 weeks at a job shop, driven by the spray and cure cycles rather than the dip |
| [Laser Marking and Engraving](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/laser-marking-and-engraving.md) | Annealed marks remove no measurable material; etching removes 0.0001–0.001 in (2.5–25 µm); engraving removes 0.001–0.020 in (0.025–0.5 mm). Beam positioning within the marking field is typically within a few thousandths of an inch | 1 to millions of parts; variable data such as serial numbers costs the same as static artwork | Same day to 5 business days; artwork is a file, so there is no tooling lead time |
| [PVD Coating](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/pvd-coating.md) | Adds 0.5–5 µm (0.00002–0.0002 in) per surface — dimensionally negligible for most fits; thicker tooling coatings at 4–5 µm should be checked on close-fitting punch and die clearances | 1 part to high volume; cost per part is governed by how densely the chamber can be loaded | 3–10 business days at a coating service; cycle time itself is 2–6 hours |
| [Pad Printing](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/pad-printing.md) | Image position typically within ±0.005 in (±0.13 mm); the transferred ink film is a few microns and adds nothing dimensionally | A few hundred to millions of parts; tooling cost is low enough for short runs | 1–2 weeks including cliché and fixture; 2–5 business days for a repeat order |
| [Passivation](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/passivation.md) | No measurable dimensional change; the passive film is a few nanometers thick | 1 part to millions; small parts run in bulk baskets at very low cost per piece | 1–5 business days at a job shop; often same-day when combined with an existing cleaning operation |
| [Photo Etching](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/photo-etching.md) | ±10–20% of material thickness is standard; approximately ±0.001 in (±0.025 mm) achievable on thin foil. Half-etch depth is controlled to a residual thickness rather than to a depth dimension | 1 to several hundred thousand parts; the same tooling serves prototype and production | 3–10 business days including phototool; prototypes in 1–3 days at some suppliers |
| [Powder Coating](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/powder-coating.md) | Adds 2–4 mils (50–100 µm) per surface; budget 2× film thickness on a bore diameter and roughly 4× on thread pitch diameter, or mask | 1 to millions of parts; conveyorized lines are most economical above a few hundred parts per run | 3–7 business days at a job shop; 24–48 hours expedited on stock colors; 2–3 weeks for a custom-matched powder |
| [Screen Printing](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/screen-printing.md) | Registration typically ±0.005–0.010 in (±0.13–0.25 mm); dried ink film 0.0004–0.002 in (10–50 µm), which is enough to matter on a stacked assembly | A hundred to millions of impressions; setup per color makes very short runs uneconomical | 1–2 weeks including screens and setup; 3–7 business days for repeat orders |
| [Spray Painting](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/spray-painting.md) | A complete system adds 4–6 mils (100–150 µm) per coated surface; budget 2× on a bore diameter and roughly 4× on thread pitch diameter, or mask | 1 part to continuous automotive lines; the most viable option at volume one | 2–10 business days at a job shop depending on the number of coats and cure schedule; field work is scheduled by weather window |
| [UV Inkjet Printing](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/uv-inkjet-printing.md) | Image placement typically within ±0.010–0.020 in (±0.25–0.5 mm) relative to the substrate datum; printed film 0.0004–0.0008 in (10–20 µm) for a standard CMYK build | 1 to a few thousand impressions; variable data and one-offs cost the same as repeats | Same day to 5 business days; no tooling, so there is no plate or screen lead time |
| [Vacuum Metalizing](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/vacuum-metalizing.md) | Metal film 0.05–0.15 µm (2–6 µin) is dimensionally negligible; the base and topcoats add roughly 0.5–1.5 mils (13–38 µm) total per coated surface | Hundreds to millions; batch chamber cycles favor high-volume decorative parts | 2–4 weeks for first articles including basecoat qualification; days per lot in production |
| [Vibratory Tumbling and Mass Finishing](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing/vibratory-tumbling-and-mass-finishing.md) | Removes 0.0001–0.001 in (2.5–25 µm) per surface in a typical cycle and breaks exposed edges 0.002–0.010 in (0.05–0.25 mm); the edge break is not controllable to a tolerance | Dozens to millions of parts; cost per part is essentially independent of count once the machine is full | Same day to 5 business days at a job shop; cycle time itself is 30 minutes to 4 hours for vibratory work |

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*Source: [Manufacturing Processes](https://manufacturingprocesses.org/processes/finishing)*