How Peerless Precision Facilitates Flawless Anodized Finishes
Leave a CommentAnodizing is a common finishing service that many customers request from our AS9100 machine shop.
The electrochemical anodizing process applies an anodic oxide finish to the metal surface of parts made from aluminum or other nonferrous metals to enhance corrosion resistance, durability, and aesthetic appearance. Standard anodizing types include Type I-Chromic Acid Anodize, Type II-Sulfuric Acid Anodize, and Type III Hard Anodize.
Customers typically request anodizing for two reasons:
- To protect a part’s surface from the effects of harsh weather, salt, temperature extremes, and other environmental factors.
- To provide an aesthetically appealing coating. Anodize is available in a wide variety of beautiful colors.
Anodizing is a specialty service that Peerless Precision outsources to trusted plating vendors. When a customer needs this service, we project manage the entire process, maintaining open communication with the customer and the plating shop to ensure high-quality results.
A Network of Trusted Anodizing Vendors
Our AS9100 machine shop has a network of approved vendors who we trust to anodize parts to our high standards. Due to the size of this network, we have the opportunity to select the vendor best suited for each customer’s anodizing specifications.
Many of our defense and aerospace machining customers must verify that a plating shop meets specific criteria before we can send parts for anodizing. We’re happy to work with plating companies to obtain these customer approvals when necessary.
Maintaining Our High Standards
Anodizing draws out any flaws on the material’s surface. Even the slightest fingerprints could become permanent eyesores after the finish is applied. This issue is most prevalent with clear or light-colored anodized finishes.
To proactively avoid receiving parts from anodizing vendors that don’t meet our standards, our team is strict about how vendors handle our customers’ parts. For example, we only work with plating houses whose employees wear cotton gloves on top of nitrile gloves. Doubling up on gloves prevents fingerprints from “sweating” through and affecting the part’s surface.
Our shop also performs annual quality surveys with each vendor as part of our ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100 certifications. We assign quality and on-time delivery scores to ensure our anodizing partners continuously meet our high standards.
Most importantly, we approach vendor relationships collaboratively and communicatively. We’re fully invested in our vendors’ success because if one of us fails, we all fail (our shop, our vendor, and our end customer).
If you need an anodized finish for your parts, you can trust Peerless Precision and our vendor network to deliver. Request a quote from our AS9100 machine shop today.
