Sign in Get Instant Quote

Finishing Services

Media Blasting

At a glance

Applicable Materials

Aluminum, Steel, Stainless Steel, Brass, Bronze, Copper

Colors

n/a

Applications

Cosmetic parts (the surface of your Macbook Pro has been bead blasted)

Texture

Matte

About the Process

Media blasting uses a pressurized jet of abrasive media to apply a matte, uniform finish to the surface of parts. The most common media used are varying sizes of glass beads or sand, though for other levels of abrasion, things like plastic beads have also been used.

This process is used to create a uniform, matte finish on parts, but can also be used to hide machine marks or remove small flaws in parts prior to anodizing or other plating processes.

Design considerations

  • Plugging threaded/reamed holes not required unless tolerances are very tight, as thickness change is minimal.
  • Avoid blasting thin walls, as they are prone to deformation.
  • Parts with intricate geometries may be difficult or impossible to uniformly finish.

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN

The Impact of AI in Mechanical Engineering

Artificial Intelligence is no longer on the horizon for mechanical engineers—it’s already on our desktops, inside our CAD tools, and embedded in robotics on the factory floor. When I started working as a mechanical engineer 15 years ago, I didn’t think much about AI someday reshaping my job. Now the question has shifted from will […]

Learn More

4-Axis CNC Machining: Capabilities, Applications, and Design Guidelines

4-axis CNC machining is a subtractive manufacturing process that moves a cutting tool and workpiece along four axes of motion—the standard X, Y, and Z linear axes, plus a fourth rotational axis (the A-axis) that rotates the workpiece around the X-axis. That additional degree of freedom is what separates 4-axis from conventional 3-axis machining. The […]

Learn More

Also of Interest