Blasting here. Anodising and powder coating by a subcontractor, coordinated by us.

Surface finishing

We deliver cast parts blasted, anodised or powder coated. The blasting we do ourselves. Anodising and powder coating are done by a subcontractor and coordinated by us, so you deal with one supplier.

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Surface

Surface finishing

Blasting we do ourselves. Anodising and powder coating are the step in the chain that happens at a subcontractor. We coordinate it, and it is worth knowing about when you plan lead time.

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Scope

What we do ourselves, and what we send out

Blasting we do in house. It is the most common finish on our parts: it removes cast skin, evens out the surface, gives a matt and uniform finish, and is often all the part needs.

Anodising and powder coating are done by a subcontractor, and we coordinate that. It means an extra transport and a few more days of lead time. We would rather tell you up front than let you discover it as the delivery date approaches.

Two practical consequences: zinc cannot be anodised — if an anodised surface is a requirement, the material choice is already made. And on visible parts the surface quality is not decided in the paint booth but in the die: the parting line and ejector points have to sit where they will not show, because paint does not hide them. See also visible parts and from drawing to assembly-ready part.

Options

Which finish, when?

These are the four options. The choice depends on the metal, the environment and whether the part is visible.

Which finish, when?
Criterion	Done	Chosen when	Limitation
As cast	No treatment	The part is hidden in the product and the environment is dry and indoors. Cheapest, and often good enough.	Cast skin, visible parting line and ejector marks.
Blasting	Here	You want an even, matt, uniform surface without adding a coating. Removes cast skin and evens out small shot-to-shot variation.	Adds no corrosion protection beyond the metal’s own.
Anodising	By a subcontractor, coordinated by us	Aluminium parts needing a harder surface, better corrosion resistance or a through-coloured finish.	Aluminium only. Zinc cannot be anodised. The silicon content of the alloy affects colour — die cast aluminium anodises darker and less evenly than wrought.
Powder coating	By a subcontractor, coordinated by us	Visible parts with a colour requirement, and parts going out into the weather.	Does not hide the parting line or ejector marks — it accentuates them. The surface has to be right in the die first.

Data sheet

Specifications — surface

Machine park

Processes in house: Pressure die casting (aluminium and zinc), gravity die casting, CNC turning, CNC milling, boring, heat treatment, blasting
Processes we do not have: Sand casting, toolmaking, anodising, powder coating
CAM software: Autodesk Fusion 360
Number of die casting machines: Available on request
Clamping force: Available on request
Hot or cold chamber: Available on request
Maximum shot weight: Available on request
Platen size and maximum die height: Available on request
Gravity casting stations: Available on request
Maximum mould size, gravity: Available on request
Melting furnaces and melting capacity: Available on request
CNC lathes: Available on request
Maximum turning diameter and length: Available on request
CNC mills: Available on request
Milling work envelope: Available on request
Boring machine: Available on request
Heat treatment furnace: Available on request
Blasting equipment: Available on request
Automation: Available on request
Machining operations: CNC turning, CNC milling, boring, tapping, sawing, grinding
Machining experience: More than 30 years
Number of axes, milling: Available on request
Heat treatment applies to: Gravity die cast aluminium parts
Heat treatment — effect: Higher tensile strength and higher ultimate strength
Tempers we run: Available on request
Blasting: In house
Anodising: Via subcontractor — aluminium only, zinc cannot be anodised
Powder coating: Via subcontractor
Finishing subcontractors: Available on request
Die ownership: The customer owns the tool. We procure it, specify it for our machines and maintain it.
Typical tooling cost: Available on request
Die life, aluminium: Available on request
Die life, zinc: Available on request
Storage and insurance of customer-owned dies: Available on request
Shift pattern: Available on request

Tolerances and measurement

Tolerance grade as cast: Available on request
Tolerance grade after machining: Available on request
Tightest tolerance on a single dimension: Available on request
Documented example — critical tolerances as cast: Garden equipment bracket: bearing fit and pressure tightness held as cast, with no subsequent machining
Surface roughness as cast: Available on request
Surface roughness after blasting: Available on request
Measuring equipment: Available on request
First article inspection (FAI): Available on request
Measurement report on delivery: Available on request
In-process control: Available on request
Pressure tightness testing: Available on request

Series and lead time

Response to an enquiry: After a technical review
Formal quotation with final files: After a technical review
Indicative minimum series, pressure die casting: A few thousand parts per year or per order
Indicative minimum series, gravity: A fifth to a tenth of the pressure die casting volume
Typical series size in production: Available on request
Lead time from tool order to first sample: Available on request
Time from sample to approved series start: Available on request
Lead time in running series: Available on request
Annual capacity: Available on request
Available capacity: Available on request
Call-off and stock holding: Available on request
Added lead time for external finishing: Available on request
Prototypes and pre-series: Available on request

Questions and answers

Surface — common questions

Yes. The coating is done by a subcontractor, but we coordinate it and deliver the part finished to you. The furniture fitting in our portfolio is an example: it is cast, machined and coated before delivery.

Yes — a thin line where the die splits, and small impressions where the ejector pins have pushed. That is physically unavoidable in casting. What can be controlled is where they land. Mark the visible faces on the drawing and we will put the parting line elsewhere.

Available on request.

Is the part visible in the end product?

Say so in the enquiry. Then we plan the parting line and ejector points accordingly, right in the die.

Send an enquiry

Want us to look at your part?

Send the drawing and the quantities you have in mind. We look at wall thickness, draft angles, radii and parting line before we work out a price.

Send a drawing

Surface finishing

What we do ourselves, and what we send out

Which finish, when?

Machine park

Tolerances and measurement

Series and lead time

Surface — common questions

Can you deliver the part painted?

Will there be visible marks on the part?

How much does external finishing add to lead time?

Is the part visible in the end product?

Want us to look at your part?