ColoradoKote
Precision Cerakote ceramic coatings for aerospace, defense, and industrial components.
Three Stages of AM Post-Processing
Material-specific protocols protect fine AM features while transforming surface finish from prototype to production grade.
Contaminant Removal Without Damage
Ultrasonic cleaning removes residual powder, support material, and machining residues from AM parts. Frequency and solution chemistry are matched to the substrate material. Polymer parts receive gentle treatment to preserve thin walls and fine features.
Thin-Film Application Preserves Tolerances
Cerakote® is applied at 0.5-2 mils, reducing surface roughness from Ra 8-15 micrometers to below 3 micrometers. Material-specific blast pressures create adhesion profiles without dimensional distortion on thin-walled geometries.
Dimensional Confirmation by CMM
Post-coating CMM measurement verifies dimensional tolerances remain within ±0.0002 inches. Surface roughness readings are documented per customer requirements. A full Certificate of Conformance accompanies every shipment.
The AM Post-Processing Workflow
Additive manufacturing parts arrive with inherent surface roughness and limited environmental resistance. ColoradoKote addresses both challenges with a thin-film ceramic coating that improves finish quality while maintaining the dimensional accuracy that makes AM viable for production applications.
What Our AM Processing Delivers
Every AM part receives incoming dimensional verification, material-specific processing, and post-coating measurement.
Surface Roughness After Coating
Raw AM parts arrive with Ra 8-15 micrometers on polymer substrates. Cerakote® post-processing reduces roughness below 3 micrometers, eliminating visible layer lines while adding corrosion and wear protection in a single operation.
AM Parts Per Week Capacity
Dedicated equipment and material-specific protocols maintain consistent throughput across polymer and metal AM substrates. Parts move through post-processing on schedule without waiting behind traditional machined components.
Dimensional Tolerance Maintained
Cerakote® 0.5-2 mil thickness preserves tight tolerances that make AM valuable for production parts. Threaded features, press-fit interfaces, and close clearances retain functional accuracy after coating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about our coating processes and technical capabilities
Medical device coating adhesion depends on achieving proper surface cleanliness and anchor profile. We combine ultrasonic cleaning with controlled blasting to remove all organic and inorganic contaminants before Cerakote application. The combined cleaning and blasting stack, followed by Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils, provides corrosion protection exceeding 3,000 hours salt spray while maintaining the dimensional precision medical devices require.
Polymer coatings resist a broad range of acids, bases, solvents, petroleum products, and process chemicals encountered in industrial environments. The specific chemical resistance profile depends on the polymer formulation selected for your application. We evaluate your chemical exposure conditions and select the formulation that provides the required resistance. For chemical tank internals, pipe fittings, and valve components, polymer coating provides flexible protection that survives thermal cycling and vibration.
Additive manufacturing parts benefit most from our integrated approach because AM post-processing requires the full service sequence: ultrasonic cleaning to remove trapped powder, controlled blasting at 40-60 PSI for surface preparation, color matching for production appearance, and Cerakote application for protection and finish quality. Performing this entire sequence in-house, with 200 parts per week capacity, means your AM parts go from raw print to production-ready finish with one vendor and one quality record.
Yes. Raw AM parts, particularly polymer SLS and MJF builds, have surface and near-surface porosity that allows moisture and chemical ingress. Cerakote fills and seals these pores during application, creating a continuous barrier layer at 0.5-2 mils thickness. This sealing effect provides corrosion protection exceeding 3,000 hours salt spray on metal AM parts and chemical resistance on polymer AM parts that raw printed surfaces cannot achieve.
Valve trim components including seats, stems, and plugs face abrasive particulates, corrosive fluids, and high-cycle mechanical wear in oil and gas service. Cerakote's 9H hardness and 4,000 cycles per mil abrasion resistance protect sealing surfaces from erosion and scoring. Combined with passivation on stainless steel trim, the dual-layer defense extends service intervals and reduces unplanned maintenance shutdowns.
Ready to Finish Your AM Parts
Send your part specifications and material details. Receive a quote with lead time and processing parameters for your additive manufacturing application.