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20% off your first order. Save up to $1,000/€1,000. Ends 31 Dec 2024.
IATF16949:2016
ISO13485:2016
ISO9001:2015
Call Us 24/7
+86 135 1000 5651
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What Is Polishing Finishing?
Polishing is a key process in material finishing. From a physical perspective of polished, polish changes the physical properties of the surface, such as roughness, reflectivity, and smoothness, ultimately producing a more aesthetically pleasing and sometimes more functional finished product. There are many types of polishing. At RT, we divide polishing services into three types of metal polishing services: ordinary metal polish, mirror polishing, and electrolytic polishing. All three types are designed for metal polishing.
Ordinary metal polishing aims to enhance the surface quality of metals by removing scratches, blemishes, and impurities. “Mirror polishing” is a high-end polishing technology that can make the surface achieve mirror-like smoothness. These two belong to physical polishing. In contrast, electrolytic polishing uses electric current in an electrolyte solution to dissolve the surface layer of stainless steel in a controlled manner, resulting in a smooth and shiny surface. Mirror polishing is often applied to aluminum (and similar metals), while electrolytic polishing is commonly used for stainless steel.
Comparison Table of Three Polishing Methods
| Polishing Method | Shape Characteristics of the Polished Surface | Ra Coefficient | Applicable Materials | Visual Presentation | Advantages | Disadvantages | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ordinary Metal Polishing |
The surface is relatively flat, but there are still fine scratches and roughness |
Generally 0.8 - 1.6μm |
Most metal materials, such as steel, copper, aluminum, etc. |
Has a certain luster, and the original color of the metal can be seen, but it is not very bright |
Simple equipment, low cost, relatively easy to operate, and wide application range |
Limited polishing accuracy, low surface quality, and difficult to meet high - precision requirements |
|
|
Mirror Polishing |
The surface is extremely flat and smooth, with almost no visible scratches to the naked eye |
Usually can reach 0.01 - 0.1μm |
Stainless steel, aluminum alloy, copper alloy, etc. It works better for materials with moderate hardness and uniform texture |
Presents a mirror effect, can clearly reflect the image of objects, and is very bright |
Can obtain extremely high surface finish, achieve a mirror effect, and meet high - precision optical and decorative requirements |
High processing cost, complex process, high requirements for equipment and operators, and low processing efficiency |
|
|
Electropolishing |
The surface is flat and microscopically shows a uniform smooth state |
Generally 0.2 - 0.8μm |
Stainless steel, aluminum and aluminum alloys, copper and copper alloys, etc., especially suitable for workpieces with high - precision requirements and complex shapes |
High gloss, uniform surface color, and no obvious scratches and defects |
Can process workpieces with complex shapes, high efficiency, no mechanical stress generated, and good surface quality |
Requires special electrolyte and equipment. The electrolyte is corrosive, may cause environmental pollution, and has certain limitations on materials |
Put Your Parts Into Production Today
Post-processed parts Exhibiting Exquisite Craftsmanship
Welcome to our post-processed parts display area! Here you can find various carefully processed parts, which exhibit their unique charm. Through advanced post-processing technology, we endow the parts with excellent performance and outstanding appearance. From the surface smoothness to the detail accuracy, each part demonstrates our persistent pursuit of quality, presenting you with a feast of vision and quality and meeting your various needs for high-quality parts.
Mirror polished parts
Electropolishing parts
Ordinary polishing parts
Electropolished stainless steel parts
Surface-finishing Application Areas
Electrolytic Polishing
Electrolytic polishing is suitable for industries with high hygiene and high precision requirements, such as the following: √ Medical equipment: used for surgical instruments, implants, etc. to improve surface finish and reduce bacterial adhesion. √ Food processing: used for stainless steel equipment to ensure smooth surface, easy to clean, and meet hygiene standards. √ Semiconductor: used for wafers and precision parts to remove surface impurities and improve conductivity. √ Aerospace: used for engine parts and structural parts to enhance corrosion resistance and fatigue strength.
General Metal Polishing
General metal polishing is widely used in automobiles, home appliances, construction, and other fields. √ Automobile manufacturing: used for car bodies, wheels, etc. to improve appearance and corrosion resistance. √ Home appliance manufacturing: used for stainless steel and aluminum alloy parts to enhance beauty and durability. √ Architectural decoration: used for metal doors and windows, handrails, etc. to enhance decorative effects. √ Hardware tools: used for hand tools and mechanical parts to improve surface finish and durability.
Mirror Polishing
Mirror polishing is mainly used in industries with extremely high surface requirements such as high-end decoration, optical instruments, and precision machinery. √ High-end decoration: used for luxury goods, jewelry, etc. to achieve a high reflection effect. √ Optical instruments: used for lenses, reflectors, etc. to ensure high-precision optical performance. √ Precision machinery: used for high-precision parts to reduce friction and improve performance. √ Electronic products: used for mobile phones, tablets, and other shells to improve the appearance of texture.
Common Issues in Polishing
All you care about is here
What is the Ra grade of ordinary polishing?
In RT, ordinary polishing is equivalent to the polishing effect before achieving a mirror finish. At this stage, the level of polishing is referred to as ""roughing,"" also known as a ""semi-gloss finish,"" with a Ra value ranging between 0.8 and 6.3 (internationally labeled as N6-N9).
What is the Ra value for mirror polishing?
Typically, an N5 polishing effect equates to mirror polishing, where the Ra value is 0.4.
To what extent can electrolytic polishing achieve?
Electrolytic polishing can reduce surface roughness to approaching a mirror finish. It significantly enhances smoothness, reflectivity, and corrosion resistance, making it suitable for industries requiring high precision and stringent hygiene standards.
Is your polishing cost high?
The cost of polishing a workpiece is influenced by numerous factors, such as material (higher costs for harder materials like titanium alloys), complexity of the workpiece, precision requirements, and batch size. The speific cost of polishing depends on the type of process and the requirements of the workpiece.
What are the advantages of your polishing service?
Compared to custom polishing services from other websites, our polishing service offers more consistent quality, avoids surface damage, and is not limited by material type.
Customer Voice
Reviews Speak Louder Than Words - Real Customer Reviews
John Carter Production Manager
"The precision and quality of their polishing services are unmatched. Our titanium components came out with a perfect mirror finish, and the turnaround time was impressive. Highly recommended!"
Emily Zhang Quality Assurance Lead
"We’ve been working with them for over a year, and their consistency in delivering flawless finishes is remarkable. Their attention to detail ensures our aerospace parts meet the highest standards."
Michael O’Connor CEO
"Their ability to handle complex designs and delicate materials is exceptional. Our luxury home decor products have never looked better. Truly a reliable partner for high-end polishing."
Sarah Thompson R&D Engineer
"Their electrolytic polishing service is top-notch. Our medical devices now have a smoother surface, which is critical for our industry. Their team is professional and easy to work with."
David Martinez Operations Director
"From small batches to large-scale orders, they’ve never disappointed. Their polishing services have significantly improved the durability and appearance of our automotive components. Great value for the quality!"
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