Metal Part Finishes
Metal Part Finishes
ExOne offers a variety of finishes for metal 3D printing.
High Pressure Bead Blast
The minimum finish that every part receives after stilt removal. It is done using alumina oxide powder in a pressurized controlled cabinet, and is a requirement before all optional finishes.
Polish (P)
Requires a high energy tumbling machine with various media, soap and polishing material. It is not suitable for geometrically fragile parts and parts over 7” in diameter and/or parts over 10” long. Please note: this is not a “buffing” operation, and degree of polish is directly related to part geometry. Part is finished with a gloss lacquer.
Ceramic Blasting (ZB)
Creates a polish finish to parts that are too geometrically fragile or too large for the high energy polishing machine. It will not create as much shine as the high energy machine. Part is finished with a gloss lacquer.
Antique Bronze (AB)
A light to medium bronze patina that is done through a heat cycle and completed after polishing. Chemicals are not involved in this process. Part is finished with a gloss lacquer.
Wheat Penny (WP)
A medium to dark bronze patina that is done through a heat cycle without polishing, which provides a matte finish. Chemicals are not involved in this process. Part is finished with a matte lacquer.
Medieval Pewter (MP)
A gray to black patina that is done through a heat cycle after polishing. Chemicals are not involved in this process. Part is finished with a gloss lacquer.
Damascus Steel (DM)
A medium to dark black patina that is done through a heat cycle without polishing which provides a matte finish. Chemicals are not involved in this process. Part is finished with a matte lacquer.
Nickel Plating (N)
An electroless nickel plating finish that is very ductile. It is applied on an unpolished part and has a gray to silver finish. Part is finished with a matte lacquer.
Nickel Polish Plating (NP)
An electroless nickel plating finish that is very ductile. It is applied on a polished or ceramic blasted part and has a silver finish. Part is finished with a gloss lacquer.
Gold Plating (G)
An electroless immersion gold plating finish that is very ductile. It is applied over a nickel plated unpolished part and has a matte gold finish. Part is finished with a matte lacquer.
Gold Polish Plating (GP)
An electroless immersion gold plating finish that is very ductile. It is applied over a nickel plated polished or ceramic blasted part and has a polished gold finish. Part is finished with a gloss lacquer.