Precision Bead Blasting
Services
Achieve a flawless, uniform matte or satin finish. We utilize fine glass beads to eliminate CNC machining tool marks, deburr edges, and prepare your components for premium anodizing or coatings.
What is Bead Blasting?
Bead blasting is a mechanical surface treatment where fine spherical glass beads are propelled at high pressure against a machined part. This process gently peens the surface, creating a consistent, non-directional matte texture without altering the part's underlying geometry.
Cosmetic Excellence
Erases CNC milling lines and minor surface defects, delivering a premium, uniform matte or satin finish typical of high-end consumer electronics.
Pre-Anodizing Prep
Creates the perfect micro-texture for dyes and anodic coatings to adhere to, resulting in deeper, richer colors without shiny spots.
Stress Relief
The peening action of the spherical beads induces a compressive stress layer on the metal, slightly improving fatigue life.
Safe & Non-Destructive
Unlike sand or aluminum oxide blasting, glass beads contain no free silica and do not embed into or heavily abrade the base material.
Finishes & Material Compatibility
The final appearance of a bead-blasted part depends on the media size, air pressure, and the base material. We offer configurable finishes to match your design intent.
Standard Bead Sizes
Fine Finish (#120 Glass Bead)
Creates a smooth, satiny sheen. Removes light machining marks while keeping the surface relatively smooth. Perfect for cosmetic aluminum parts.
Medium Finish (#80 Glass Bead)
Produces a standard matte texture. Excellent for hiding deeper machining lines and creating a highly uniform, non-reflective surface.
Heavy Finish
Uses larger beads or higher pressure for a heavily textured, frosty appearance. Often used for industrial components or heavy deburring.
Ideal Materials
- Aluminum The most common choice. Yields stunning matte finishes, especially when followed by Anodizing.
- Stainless Steel Removes weld discoloration and creates a clean, uniform, dull gray aesthetic.
- Titanium Excellent for medical or aerospace parts needing a non-reflective, pure matte surface.
- Plastics Can be applied to hard plastics (like PEEK or Nylon) to create a frosted or textured look.
Design & Masking Guidelines
While bead blasting is gentle, it is still an abrasive process. Designing with manufacturing in mind ensures critical features remain untouched.
Masking Requirements
Bead blasting will slightly dull edges and alter surface textures. To protect specific areas, we use custom plugs, caps, and heavy-duty tape.
- Threaded Holes: Always masked by default to prevent thread damage or dimensional changes.
- Bearing Fits: Masking is required for tight-tolerance bores (e.g., H7/g6 fits).
- Sealing Surfaces: O-ring grooves and gasket mating surfaces must be masked to prevent leaks.
Action: Please provide a 2D PDF drawing with areas to be masked clearly highlighted or hatched.
Dimensional Impact
Unlike aggressive sandblasting, glass bead blasting removes a negligible amount of material. However, it will alter the surface roughness (Ra).
- Material Removal: Typically less than 0.005mm (0.0002").
- Sharp Edges: Will create a micro-break (slight radius) on sharp 90-degree CNC edges.
- Surface Roughness: Generally results in an Ra of 0.8 - 1.6 µm, depending on bead size.
Bead Blasting FAQs
Everything you need to know about integrating bead blasting into your manufacturing workflow.
Should I choose Bead Blasting + Anodizing together?
Absolutely. In fact, for cosmetic aluminum parts (like keyboards, enclosures, and consumer tech), calling out "Bead Blast then Type II Anodize" is the industry standard. The blast hides tooling marks, and the anodize adds color and protection to that matte texture.
How does it affect my lead time and cost?
Bead blasting is a fast, in-house process. It typically only adds 1 to 2 business days to your CNC machining lead time. It is a highly cost-effective way to drastically improve a part's aesthetic value.
What is the difference between Bead Blasting and Sandblasting?
Sandblasting uses highly abrasive materials (like aluminum oxide or silica sand) to aggressively remove rust, paint, or scale, which can pit the metal. Bead blasting uses spherical glass beads that "dimple" the surface gently without removing significant material, making it much better for precision machined parts.
Quote Machining & Blasting
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