Owing largely to its versatility and specific characteristics, aluminium is a hugely popular choice for parts and components across various industries. These industries include automotive, aerospace and marine part manufacturing.
In its purest form it is a soft metal, but it can undergo a variety of processes and finishing techniques to make it one of the strongest and most durable materials in modern manufacturing.
Considerations
Choosing a finishing technique for aluminium parts is about much more than the aesthetic finish that they provide: it is also a critical part in the manufacturing process.
Is it important to consider the purpose behind finishing the aluminium in order to determine which process is most suitable. Finishing techniques are usually for the benefit of either aesthetics, functionality or protection.
Different finishing techniques can be used depending on whether the finished product is required to be conductive, corrosion-resistant or uniform in appearance. For example, certain techniques can be used to remove aluminium’s ability to conduct electricity or to increase its ability to withstand high temperatures.
Finishing techniques can alter the overall dimensions of a part, so consideration will have to be given to how this affects the finished product. For parts that have tight margins when it comes to thickness or depth, a finishing technique that added too much additional bulk would not be suitable.
Hard Anodising
Anodising is a process that gives the aluminiums natural oxide film an added degree of protection and strength.
Specialist providers of surface treatments, such as www.poeton.co.uk/surface-treatments/anodising/hard-anodising/, are experts in their field. They can provide various industries with a wide variety of surface treatment options, including hard anodising.
A dedicated team of operators and engineers can use state-of-the-art technology to create a finishing technique that is suited to your sector with the back-up of a specialist laboratory.
Robi