Post-treatments for turning and milling parts
Choose from 30 finishing processes for your turned and milled parts. We offer a wide variety of heat and surface treatments as well as coatings.
For all our post-treatments for CNC parts you will receive automatic instant prices, so that you can order them directly with your part order. The displayed delivery date is adjusted to the selected processes. We coordinate the production of your parts through our supplier network. Parts are delivered to you ready to use in the selected design.
You can see which post-treatments are available for your CNC parts sby selecting the desired material in your account. There you can also see which processes can be combined with each other.
Heat treatments
Carbonitriding
Carbonitriding is a thermochemical surface hardening process with a subsequent hardening step similar to case hardening. In this process, the surface layer of the material is additionally enriched with nitrogen. Carbonitriding temperatures are lower than those used in case hardening. This reduces the risk of distortion. Higher surface hardnesses can be achieved, particularly with unalloyed and low-alloy steels.
✔ higher hardness in the surface layer
✔ lower risk of distortion
Hardening
Hardening is a heat treatment process that is applied to increase the mechanical resistance of turning and milling parts by selectively changing and transforming the microstructure.
✔ higher hardness
✔ higher wear resistance
Gas nitriding
Gas nitriding is a thermochemical heat treatment process for steels in a nitrogen-releasing environment. In this process, a hard, wear-resistant surface layer with a ceramic character is produced and a nitrided layer that is a few micrometers thick is formed.
✔ improved corrosion resistance
✔ high surface hardness
✔ higher wear resistance
✔ good gliding properties
✔ low distortion
✔ small dimensional change
Nitrocarburizing
Nitrocarburizing is a thermochemical surface hardening process without a subsequent hardening step. The process is similar to nitriding and is mainly used to improve wear resistance and fatigue strength. In nitrocarburizing, the workpiece surface is (slightly) enriched with nitrogen, carbon and oxygen. Similar to the nitriding processes, only a small amount of heat is applied and thus the risk of distortion is almost negligible.
✔ higher wear resistance
✔ higher hardness in the surface layer
✔ higher fatigue strength
✔ negligible risk of distortion
Plasma nitriding
Plasma nitriding is a thermochemical heat treatment process for steels. In this process, a hard, wear-resistant surface layer with a ceramic character is produced in an ionized gas mixture emitting environment. Compared to gas nitriding, it leads to higher reproducibility and no significant dimensional changes.
✔ improved corrosion resistance
✔ high surface hardness
✔ higher wear resistance
✔ good gliding properties
✔ low distortion
✔ high reproducibility
Tenifer treatment
Teniferation or bath nitriding is a thermochemical heat treatment process for steels in a nitriding bath to produce a hard, wear-resistant surface layer with ceramic character. Subsequent oxidation further increases the corrosion resistance of turning and milling parts.
✔ improved corrosion resistance
✔ high surface hardness
✔ higher wear resistance
✔ black shade
✔ good gliding properties
✔ low distortion
✔ high reproducibility
Tenifer Treatment-QPQ
Tenifer treatment-QPQ is an extended variant of tenifer treatment. Classic Tenifer treatment-Q is followed by polishing of the component, mostly by glass bead blasting. Finally, the component is oxidized in an AB1 bath. The aim of the Tenifer-QPQ process is to obtain an extremely uniform oxidation layer. The oxidation also gives the component a visually appealing black color.
✔ increased corrosion resistance
✔ visually appealing
✔ good sliding properties, even at high temperatures
✔ Increase in surface hardness
✔ high dimensional stability
✔ high load capacity and toughness
Stress relief annealing
Stress relief annealing is a heat treatment process with the purpose of reducing the mechanical and thermal stresses in the workpiece.
This process not only promotes the life of your CNC parts but also reduces the susceptibility to breakage and cracking.
✔ less stress in the part
✔ lower distortion
Colsterizing
Colsterizing is a surface hardening process of stainless, austenitic stainless steels that is dimensionally stable and retains its shape and color without affecting corrosion resistance. Hardening is achieved by a controlled diffusion process at temperatures < 300 °C, whereby carbon is incorporated into the interstitial sites of the surface layer without forming a chemical bond with the steel. The diffused carbon results in compressive stresses in the surface. These cause a very high surface hardness.
✔ unchanged corrosion resistance
✔ high surface hardness
✔ higher wear resistance
✔ without delay
Surface treatments
Sandblasting and glass bead blasting
Sandblasting and glass bead blasting are surface treatments used to deburr and create decorative matte surfaces on CNC parts. Compared to sandblasting, glass bead blasting is gentler, has less surface roughness and is particularly suitable for parts with thin walls.
✔ visually appealing
✔ matte surface
Anodizing
Anodizing is an electrochemical process that is used to produce a protective and hard layer that is few micrometers thick on turning and milling aluminum parts in a controlled manner by means of anodic oxidation.
✔ wide range of colors
✔ very good corrosion resistance
✔ visually appealing
✔ low electrical conductivity
✔ small dimensional change
✔ higher wear resistance
Hard anodizing
Hard anodizing is a process variant of anodic oxidation for the functional refinement of aluminum materials. This process can be used to produce particularly thick, hard and wear-resistant oxidation coatings for technical applications. The difference to anodizing is the layer thickness of up to 100μ. This circumstance must be taken into account for tight tolerances/fits.
✔ no color selection
✔ very good corrosion resistance
✔ low electrical conductivity
✔ high wear resistance
✔ very good gliding properties
✔ very high surface hardness
Burnishing
Burnishing is a chemical surface finishing and is used to form a weak protective layer on ferrous surfaces. Burnishing is not a coating. The material turns black as a result of the chemical process.
✔ jet black coloration
✔ dimensional accuracy
✔ increased corrosion resistance
✔ reflection-reducing
✔ visually appealing
Chromate
Chromating is a chemical surface treatment mainly for aluminum workpieces. Complex chromic acid salts are formed on metallic surfaces by the action of chromic acid. In contrast to anodizing, a soft, corrosion-resistant and conductive layer is applied, which is also suitable as a very good adhesion primer for paints and powder coatings.
✔ good corrosion resistance
✔ high electrical conductivity
✔ corrosion resistant up to 80°C
✔ very good adhesion primer
✔ not RoHS compliant
Vibratory finishing
Vibratory finishing is an abrasive process for deburring, edge rounding, smoothing or polishing a workpiece and can be individually controlled depending on the part requirements.
✔ deburring effect
✔ glossy surface
Electropolishing
Electropolishing is one of the electrochemical removal processes. In this process, material is anodically removed in an electrolyte specially adapted to the material. The surface roughness is reduced by electropolishing and a shiny surface is produced with minimal material removal.
✔ minimal material removal
✔ deburring effect
✔ glossy, smooth surface
✔ machining fine contours
✔ good gliding properties
Phosphating
Phosphating is an electrochemical process in which a sparingly soluble metal phosphate layer that is a few micrometers thick is formed on the surface by immersion or spraying.
✔ electrical insulation
✔ good gliding properties
✔ improved corrosion resistance
✔ reflection-reducing
Oxidizing
Oxidizing is a thermochemical diffusion treatment and serves primarily as corrosion protection. The appearance is comparable with burnished surfaces. However, the corrosion protection is significantly better.
✔ improved corrosion resistance
✔ higher wear resistance
✔ better sliding properties
✔ visually appealing
✔ reflection-reducing
Passivation (non-ferrous metals)
Passivation is a chemical surface treatment mainly for aluminum workpieces. Complex chromic acid salts are formed on metallic surfaces by the action of chromic acid. In contrast to anodizing, a soft, corrosion-resistant and conductive layer is applied. This is also suitable as a very good adhesion primer for paints and powder coatings. This surface treatment is similar to the "chromating" process. Although it is less corrosion-resistant due to the replaced chromium (VI), it is RoHS-compliant.
✔ good corrosion resistance
✔ high electrical conductivity
✔ very good adhesion primer
✔ RoHS compliant
Passivation (stainless steel)
The passivation of stainless steel serves to increase corrosion resistance. Organic acids (mostly citric acid) are used to remove iron and iron oxides from the immediate surface. At the same time, the alloying constituents of the stainless steel are enriched there, forming a very thin, dense and chemically less reactive passive layer of chromium oxides by oxidation.
✔ good corrosion resistance
✔ RoHS compliant
Cleaning, labeling & packing
Ultrasonic cleaning
In ultrasonic cleaning, the parts are cleaned by means of high-frequency vibrations, usually with a cleaning agent. For this purpose, the parts are in a liquid bath in a heatable tank. Typical applications include the removal of chips, grease and oil.
Laser marking
During laser marking, the surface of the workpiece is discolored with the aid of a laser beam. Due to the high shaping freedom of the process, logos and other symbols can be applied in addition to alphanumeric characters. To apply laser marking to your parts, we ask you to provide us with a DXF file.
✔ cost-effective
✔ great creative freedom
✔ high contrast
✔ almost no or low material removal
Engraving by milling
Marking the parts directly in the milling process is carried out using small end mills or special engraving tools, depending on the requirements. The process is particularly suitable for alphanumeric characters, which are included in the technical drawing or the CAD model.
✔ mechanically very abrasion resistant lettering
✔ variable engraving depth
Individual packaging
On request, we can pack your workpieces individually. Separate packaging provides additional protection for sensitive parts in particular during handling and transport. Depending on the part and requirements, different packaging is used, such as PE bags, oiled paper or special cartons.
Coatings
Galvanizing
During galvanizing a zinc coating is produced electrolytically.
This creates both passive and active corrosion protection by using the zinc as a sacrificial anode to the more noble iron.
✔ very good corrosion resistance
Chrome plating
Chrome plating increases wear resistance and achieves corrosion protection for the part with the help of a thin chromium layer. We offer the choice between matt and black.
In contrast to decorative bright chrome plating, this is a technical coating. The thickness of the chrome layers is usually around 15 µm.
✔ very good corrosion resistance
✔ good gliding properties
✔ good chemical resistance
Hard chrome plating
Hard chrome plating is primarily used for wear protection and to increase the surface hardness of the part. In contrast to decorative bright chrome plating, the layers are thicker, rougher and are applied directly to the material without intermediate layers. The thickness of the chromium layers is usually between 15 and 200 µm. Hard chrome-plated surfaces are often ground or polished in a subsequent step.
✔ very good corrosion resistance
✔ high wear resistance
✔ good chemical resistance
Bright chrome plating
Bright chrome meets high optical requirements and is mainly used for decorative purposes. Nickel is usually used as an intermediate layer. The chrome layers are thin and can be polished after the plating process.
✔visually very appealing
✔ good corrosion resistance
Galvanic nickel plating
Nickel plating is a process in which a nickel coating is produced electrolytically. It has good wear resistance, high corrosion protection and chemical resistance to alkalis, acids and gases.
✔ very good corrosion resistance
✔ good wear resistance
✔ electrical conductivity
✔ very good thermal conductivity
Electroless nickel plating
Electroless nickel plating is an electroless plating process that produces a contour-true coating over the entire surface. Compared to galvanic nickel plating, it guarantees a uniform coating thickness. Therefore, even complicated part geometries as well as internal contours can be coated. High wear resistance and corrosion protection characterize this coating.
✔ very good corrosion resistance
✔ higher wear resistance
✔ electrical conductivity
✔ uniform layer thickness
Powder coating
Powder coating is an electrostatic coating process in which electrically conductive parts are coated with powder paint. Using a powder spray gun, the grounded part is sprayed with the positively charged powder. Crosslinking of the powder coating layer then takes place in an oven at temperatures between 110 and 250°C.
✔ very good corrosion resistance
✔ good chemical resistance
✔ uniform layer thickness
✔ wide range of colors
