Aesthetic Finishing for Additive Manufacturing
Precision Cerakote ceramic coatings for aerospace, defense, and industrial components.
The Aesthetic Problem in Additive Manufacturing
Where surface texture blocks end-use applications
The challenge
Harsh environments demand coatings that hold.
The solution
ColoradoKote ceramic coating stops corrosion cold.
Why Cerakote for AM Aesthetic Finishing
Production-grade finish on printed parts
Delta E ≤1 on polymer and metal AM parts
Spectrophotometer-verified color accuracy on PA12, PA11, Ti-6Al-4V, AlSi10Mg, and stainless steel substrates. Multi-material assemblies match to the same color standard regardless of build material or print technology. Anodizing cannot coat polymer AM parts at all, and delivers Delta E greater than 5 on metals.
Surface smoothing at 0.5-2 mils
Cerakote fills the micro-porosity left by SLS and MJF processes, reducing Ra from 8-15 to under 3 micrometers. At 0.5-2 mils, the coating preserves the dimensional tolerances AM production demands, adding only 0.001 to 0.002 inches per coated surface. Topology-optimized features and lattice structures retain their design geometry.
AS9100 documentation for aerospace AM
Aerospace AM programs require full traceability from print parameters through post-processing. Every aesthetic finishing order ships with a Certificate of Conformance documenting material batches, Ra measurements, Delta E readings, thickness data, and cure parameters. First article inspection reports are available for new programs.
200+ colors for end-use applications
The Cerakote catalog provides immediate color availability, including brand-matched custom colors for consumer products and Federal Standard 595 defense colors. One coating process replaces the combination of vapor polishing for smoothing plus painting for color that many AM operations currently use, eliminating a process step and reducing lead time.
Aesthetic Finishing Specs for AM Applications
How We Deliver Aesthetic Finishing for AM Parts
Material-specific protocols for polymer and metal additive manufacturing substrates
Material Assessment and Surface Preparation
Every AM part begins with substrate identification: PA12, PA11, glass-filled nylon, AlSi10Mg, Ti-6Al-4V, or stainless steel. Polymer parts receive low-pressure aluminum oxide blasting at 30-40 PSI to avoid distortion of thin-walled features. Metal AM parts receive sandblast preparation matched to alloy type, removing support structure witness marks without altering geometry.
Color-Controlled Cerakote Application
Cerakote is applied via calibrated HVLP equipment at 0.5-2 mil thickness. The locked color formula ensures batch-to-batch consistency verified by spectrophotometer against the master standard. Polymer parts cure at 250 F, below PA12 heat deflection temperature, to prevent warping. Metal AM parts follow standard cure profiles at 250-300 F.
Surface Quality Verification and Documentation
Post-coating surface profilometer readings confirm Ra improvement from 8-15 to under 3 micrometers. Spectrophotometer verification confirms Delta E ≤1 color accuracy. CMM measurement validates dimensional compliance. Every order ships with before-and-after Ra data, Delta E readings, and a Certificate of Conformance with full material traceability.
Proven Aesthetic Results for AM Production
Aesthetic finishing performance is measured with instruments, not visual approximation. Surface roughness is documented by profilometer, and color consistency is verified by spectrophotometer on every production batch under AS9100 quality controls. Before-and-after data ships with every order.
Delta E ≤1 color consistency
Verified across PA12, PA11, titanium, aluminum, and stainless steel AM substrates. Multi-material assemblies match to the same color standard, eliminating the visual inconsistency that blocks end-use adoption. ColoradoKote processes 200+ AM parts per week with this standard maintained on every batch.
Delta E color consistency
Other services to consider
Explore what else we offer.
Weight Reduction for Oil and Gas Equipment
Thick coatings add mass to equipment transported to remote wellsites and offshore platforms. Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils saves 200-400g per part versus powder coating. ISO 9001 certified.
Weight Reduction for Medical Device Components
Surgical instruments must be light enough for hours of precise use. Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils saves 200-400g per part versus powder coating without compromising protection. ISO 9001 certified.
Weight Reduction for Maritime Equipment
Heavy coatings add mass to marine hardware that affects vessel performance and handling. Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils saves 200-400g per part versus powder coating. ISO 9001 certified.
Weight Reduction for Industrial OEM Components
Thick coatings add unnecessary mass to engineered equipment. Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils delivers 200-400g savings per part versus powder coating while preserving tolerances. ISO 9001 certified.
Certified and compliant for your industry
Finish Your AM Parts Right
Send your part files and color requirements. We respond within 24 hours with pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about our coating processes and technical capabilities
Yes. We run the complete preparation-to-coating sequence in-house: ultrasonic cleaning removes machining fluids and contaminants from blind holes and internal passages, chemical conversion coating (chromate or non-chromate) provides the adhesion-promoting base layer, and Cerakote ceramic coating delivers the final corrosion and wear barrier. Running this full stack under one AS9100 quality system eliminates handoff risk between multiple vendors and compresses your lead time.
Yes. Agricultural equipment operates in continuous moisture from irrigation, rain, and soil contact, often combined with road salt exposure during transport between fields. Polymer coating provides flexible corrosion protection that survives the vibration and impact of field operation. For equipment frames, mounting brackets, and structural components that flex under load, polymer coating maintains adhesion where rigid coatings develop stress cracks that allow moisture penetration and subsurface corrosion initiation.
Yes. We passivate aerospace stainless steel components to ASTM A967 and AMS 2700 specifications. The acid bath process removes free iron and surface contaminants, bringing chromium to the surface to form a robust passive oxide layer. There is no dimensional change, making passivation ideal for precision aerospace stainless parts. Our facility has processed over 20,000 parts with zero quality issues, including work spec-proven for major aerospace OEMs.
Additive manufacturing parts retain loose powder, partially sintered particles, and support material residue that must be removed before coating. Ultrasonic cavitation reaches contaminants trapped in lattice structures, internal channels, and the surface porosity inherent in AM builds. This cleaning step is especially critical for AM parts because residual powder and contamination prevent coating adhesion and create defects in the finished surface. Parts proceed from ultrasonic cleaning to controlled blasting at 40-60 PSI and then to Cerakote application.
Chemical conversion coating and anodizing serve different purposes on agricultural aluminum. Conversion coating is thinner (sub-micron vs. 0.5-3 mils for anodizing), faster to process, and provides excellent paint adhesion as a primer layer. For agricultural parts that need both a corrosion base coat and a durable topcoat, the chem conversion plus Cerakote stack delivers 3,000 hours of salt spray protection while keeping buildup to 0.5-2 mils total.