Cerakote for Additive Manufacturing
Precision Cerakote ceramic coatings for aerospace, defense, and industrial components.
Why Additive Manufacturing Needs Cerakote
Printing is only 40% of the production timeline
The challenge
Harsh environments demand coatings that hold.
The solution
ColoradoKote ceramic coating stops corrosion cold.
Why ColoradoKote Cerakote for AM Production
Protection and precision that alternatives cannot match
Surface roughness reduction with functional protection
Cerakote fills micro-voids and smooths layer lines, reducing surface roughness from Ra 8-15 micrometers to below 3 micrometers measured by stylus profilometer. Unlike vapor polishing and tumbling, which remove material without adding any barrier, Cerakote simultaneously delivers corrosion resistance (3,000+ hours ASTM B117 on metal AM), 8H-9H pencil hardness (ASTM D3363), and 100+ color options. One coating step replaces three separate finishing operations.
Dimensional tolerance preservation at 0.5-2 mils
Thin-film application adds only 0.001 to 0.002 inches per coated surface. Parts remain within the plus or minus 0.005 inch tolerance envelope, verified by CMM measurement on every production batch. Powder coating at 3-5 mils pushes AM parts outside tolerance, requiring post-machining that eliminates topology-optimized features. Cerakote eliminates that rework entirely.
Material-specific protocols for every AM substrate
PA12 and MJF nylon receive fine glass bead blasting at 40-50 PSI to preserve thin walls. Ti-6Al-4V receives controlled aluminum oxide blasting at 50-60 PSI with cure profiles validated to prevent embrittlement. AlSi10Mg, Inconel, and 316L stainless each follow separate preparation sequences. Generic coating shops treat all AM parts identically, damaging thin-walled polymer structures and wasting expensive metal builds.
200 AM parts per week with certified traceability
Dedicated AM post-processing capacity processes 200 parts per week with standard turnaround of 7-10 business days and expedited service at 3-4 business days. Every order ships with a Certificate of Conformance documenting surface roughness data, dimensional verification, material batch records, and cure parameters. AS9100 documentation is available for aerospace AM applications, and ITAR registration covers defense AM work.
Cerakote Specifications for AM Applications
How We Apply Cerakote to AM Parts
Material-specific preparation protocols for polymer and metal additive manufacturing
Substrate Assessment and Surface Preparation
Every AM part is identified by material and build technology: PA12 (SLS), PA11, MJF nylon, Ti-6Al-4V (PBF-LB), AlSi10Mg, Inconel, or 316L stainless. Polymer parts receive fine glass bead blasting at 40-50 PSI to create an adhesion profile without distorting thin walls or lattice structures. Metal AM parts receive aluminum oxide blasting at 50-60 PSI with focused attention on support structure contact areas. Ultrasonic cleaning removes residual blast media and powder particles trapped in surface pores.
Calibrated Thin-Film Application
Cerakote is applied via calibrated HVLP equipment at 0.5-2 mil thickness, monitored in-process with DFT gauges. Tight-tolerance parts receive 0.5-1.0 mil application to maximize dimensional preservation. Cosmetic-priority parts receive up to 2.0 mils for maximum surface smoothing. Polymer substrates cure at 250 F, below PA12 heat deflection temperature, to prevent warping. Metal AM substrates follow standard cure profiles at 250-300 F. Climate-controlled spray booth monitors temperature within plus or minus 5 F and humidity within plus or minus 10% throughout application.
Dimensional Verification and Quality Documentation
Post-coating CMM measurement confirms parts remain within the plus or minus 0.005 inch tolerance envelope. Stylus profilometer verifies surface roughness reduction to below Ra 3 micrometers. Adhesion testing per ASTM D3359 and DFT thickness measurement complete the inspection sequence. Every order ships with a Certificate of Conformance including before-and-after Ra data, dimensional verification, material batch records, and cure parameters. AS9100 first article inspection reports are available for aerospace AM programs.
Proven Cerakote Performance on AM Parts
AM post-processing performance is verified through dimensional measurement and standardized ASTM testing, not manufacturer claims. ColoradoKote documents before-and-after results on every production batch under AS9100 and ISO 9001 controls, and all data ships on your Certificate of Conformance.
Plus or minus 0.005 inch tolerance maintained
CMM measurement confirms that Cerakote application at 0.5-2 mils adds only 0.001 to 0.002 inches per coated surface, keeping AM parts within their designed tolerance envelope. Powder coating at 3-5 mils causes dimensional interference that requires post-machining, eliminating the cost and lead time advantages of additive manufacturing. ColoradoKote has maintained this tolerance standard across PA12, PA11, Ti-6Al-4V, AlSi10Mg, and Inconel substrates at production volumes of 200 parts per week.
Tolerance maintained across AM substrates
Other services to consider
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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
Start Your AM Coating Project
Send AM part files for a Cerakote quote. We respond within 24 hours with material-specific pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about our coating processes and technical capabilities
Yes. Maritime hardware requires coatings that survive continuous salt spray, UV exposure, and mechanical stress from wave action and handling. Polymer coating provides flexible corrosion protection that maintains adhesion through the constant movement and impact conditions of marine service. For hardware exposed to both salt corrosion and abrasion from lines, chains, or deck traffic, we recommend polymer coating for flexibility combined with Cerakote topcoat for surface hardness.
Every part is solvent-cleaned and degreased, then media-blasted at 80-100 PSI with blast media selected for the specific substrate material. Aluminum, titanium, steel, and polymer substrates each receive tailored preparation to create the optimal surface profile for Cerakote adhesion. For parts requiring maximum corrosion protection, we apply chemical conversion coating and passivation before Cerakote, running the full stack under our AS9100 quality system.
Raw AM parts typically exhibit Ra 8-15 micrometers depending on build orientation and process. Our post-processing sequence, controlled blasting at 40-60 PSI followed by Cerakote application at 0.5-2 mils, reduces surface roughness to below 3 micrometers. This transformation converts rough, porous AM surfaces into smooth, sealed, production-quality finishes with the added benefits of corrosion protection exceeding 3,000 hours salt spray and abrasion resistance of 4,000 cycles per mil.
Blasting itself does not reduce weight, but it enables the lightweight coating stack that does. By preparing surfaces for Cerakote at 0.5-2 mils instead of powder coating at 4-6 mils, proper blast preparation supports the thin-film approach that saves measurable weight. On programs with hundreds or thousands of parts, the cumulative weight reduction from Cerakote versus heavier alternatives becomes significant, particularly in aerospace and defense applications where every gram matters.
Yes. Restoration components carry decades of oil, grease, paint, and corrosion that create adhesion failures if not completely removed. Ultrasonic cavitation strips these accumulated contaminants from complex castings, intricate trim pieces, and assembled hardware more thoroughly than chemical stripping or manual cleaning alone. Starting from a verified-clean substrate is the foundation for the show-quality Cerakote finishes that automotive restoration projects demand, with color matched to Delta E 1.5 for period-correct appearance.