Surface Finish · Chemical Treatments
Electropolishing
Reverse plating that brightens, deburrs and passivates stainless in one step.
Process specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Process group | Chemical Treatments |
| Coating thickness | Removes 5–10 µm per surface (more at sharp edges, which round slightly) — a subtractive process, not a coating. |
| Tolerance impact | Subtractive: 5–10 µm per surface comes off, with extra removal at edges. Precision features need allowance in the program or masking — we handle the arithmetic when the finish is specified at quote time. |
| Corrosion rating | Exceeds chemical passivation — removes the smeared, contaminated layer entirely and leaves a chromium-enriched, fully passive surface. |
| Appearance | Brilliant bright luster; Ra typically halved (a machined 0.8 µm face lands near 0.4 µm). |
⚠ Not suitable for
Functional sharp edges (cutting edges, sealing lands — current density rounds them; mask or flag them); precision features without the 5–10 µm removal allowance; carbon steels and aluminum (wrong chemistry); erasing deep tool marks (for Ra ≤0.25 µm specs, mechanical polish first, then electropolish).
Works on these materials
Typical applications
- Pharma and food process components
- Surgical instruments and implant-adjacent parts
- Semiconductor fluid-handling parts
- Vacuum chamber internals
Related engineering guides
CNC machining for pharmaceutical machinery
CNC Machining for Pharmaceutical Machinery: Hygienic Parts, 316L and Documentation
Sourcing guide for CNC machined pharmaceutical production machinery parts: hygienic design, 316L and electropolishing, FDA-compliant polymers and batch documentation.
CNC turning for surgical instruments
CNC Turning for Surgical Instruments: Swiss, Micro and Finish Requirements
How surgical instrument bodies, tips and handles are turned: Swiss-type versus micro-turning, 316L and titanium behaviour, Ra targets and passivation.
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