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Secondary Operations and Post-Processing Services
Choose from a wide selection of finishing capabilities to strengthen parts, improve cosmetic appearance, provide customization, and other benefits
Certifications & Compliance
ISO 9001:2015 | AS9100D | JOSCAR
When designing parts, you may need to apply various finishing options after your parts are manufactured to improve mechanical properties, enhance surface finish, facilitate the assembly process, or further customize parts. Another benefit? You can streamline your supply chain— prototyping to production—through a single, digital manufacturing parts supplier. Here’s a look at what is available across moulding, machining, and 3D printing.
Injection Moulding
Threaded Inserts
expand_less expand_more| We stock and install an assortment of commonly used standard inserts in UNF and metric sizes. |  |
Pad Printing
expand_less expand_more| Transfer a two-dimensional image, like a company logo, onto a three-dimensional object. All images are reviewed for size, color, and complexity restrictions. Learn More |
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Laser Engraving
expand_less expand_more| Laser engraving can be applied directly to final parts for information such as logos or part numbers. Laser engraving ensures crisp, consistent information on each part or serialisation. Learn More |
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Basic Assembly
expand_less expand_moreBasic assembly includes fastening molded parts together that we’ve manufactured and/or
applying of labels to individually bagged parts.
Inspection Reports
expand_less expand_more| We offer three types of dimensional inspection reports to support your critical dimension verification and quality documentation requirements such as FAIs. Lear More |
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Get more information at our post-processing for injection molding hub. |
CNC Machining
Anodising (type II and type III)
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Anodising of aluminium parts to ISO 7599 and ISO 10074, ROHS compliant and available in clear, black or colour (limited) |
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Chromate Conversion
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Chromate conversion coating passivates aluminum alloys and serves as a corrosion inhibitor, primer, decorative finish, or conductivity-preserving layer. |
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Other Plating
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Services available via Protolabs Network. |
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Powder Coating
expand_less expand_more| Add color powder coating to parts to improve cosmetics and durability. Services available via Protolabs Network. Lear More |
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Bead Blasting
expand_less expand_more| Light bead blast to provide uniform finish and light texture. Services available via Protolabs Network. Lear More |
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Laser Engraving
expand_less expand_more| Laser engraving can be applied directly to final parts for information such as logos or part numbers. Laser engraving ensures crisp, consistent information on each part or serialisation. Learn More |
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Press Fit Hardware Installation
expand_less expand_more| Incorporate off-the-shelf hardware components to facility assembly. |
Basic Assembly
expand_less expand_more| Basic assembly includes fastening molded parts together that we’ve manufactured and/or applying of labels to individually bagged parts. Learn More |
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Get more information at our post-processing for CNC machining hub. |
3D Printing
Clear Coating
expand_less expand_more| Clear coating is available and commonly applied to parts to create a clear cosmetic finish. Painting is also possible on 3D-printed parts. Some sanding and polishing will be needed to make the surface smooth, after which the part can be masked off and painted with whatever colors you like—just send the Pantone numbers with your design upload, together with a CAD model indicating which color goes where. The parts are sprayed with an automotive-grade paint. Soft- touch painting is also available. |
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Thermal Cure
expand_less expand_more| Enhance mechanical properties of Ceramic-Like Advanced HighTemp (PerFORM) and PC-Like Advanced High Temp (Accura 5530).This process does make parts more brittle. |  |
Dyeing
expand_less expand_more| Dyeing of stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), Multi Jet Fusion (MJF), and PolyJet parts is possible at Protolabs. The finished parts are simply bathed in hot dye for a short while for a consistent color. This option is one of the fastest, lowest-cost ways to make printed parts cosmetically appealing. There’s no chance of masking off certain areas like there is with painting, but for SLA, SLS, MJF, and PolyJet parts, especially those made of translucent acrylic or polycarbonate-like materials, this is often an excellent option. |
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Painting
expand_less expand_more| Parts can be painted to match any RAL number. For best results, parts are typically sanded and polished before applying paint. |  |
Texturing
expand_less expand_more| Texturing improves the finish of 3D-printed parts by making them less slippery, improves ergonomics, and enhances cosmetic appearance. When prototyping 3D-printed parts that will later be injection molded, it’s possible to apply a spray texture to mimic a Mold-Tech brand-like finish used in many mold cavities. This same technique can be used to apply a soft-touch paint or urethane clear coat to a 3D-printed part, a process that also improves weather and sun resistance on the UV-curable materials used with SLA. |
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Tumbling
expand_less expand_more| Smoother surfaces can be reached, enhancing the parts aesthetics. This process can be particularly useful to get rid of sharp edges. |
Heat Treating
expand_less expand_more| Heat treating metal parts built with direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) eliminates heat-induced stress and potential warping. It’s also used to harden DMLS metals, strengthen them, make them less prone to cracking and fatigue, or make them more pliable. Certification is available upon request. |
CNC Machining
expand_less expand_more| Achieve smooth surface finishes, tighter tolerances, or threading with post-process machining. |  |
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Get more information at our post-processing for 3D printing hub. |
