A surface finish RFQ should answer five questions before pricing starts: what metal is being finished, which faces are visible, which areas must stay conductive or uncoated, what appearance target the buyer expects, and how the sample will be approved.
Use this guide for powder coating, plating, anodizing, brushing, passivation, silkscreen, laser marking, deburring and other finishing notes on stamped metal parts, sheet metal enclosures and fabricated OEM components.
Short answer: what a surface finish RFQ should include
For a metal parts surface finish quote, send drawings and a finish brief that lists base material, visible surfaces, finish route, color or texture target, masking zones, marking method, sample quantity and inspection requirements.
The supplier should not have to guess whether the finish is mainly cosmetic, protective, conductive, corrosion resistant, or used for branding and labels.
- Base material: stainless steel, aluminum, copper, brass, galvanized steel, SPCC or another specified sheet metal.
- Finish route: powder coating, plating, anodizing, brushing, passivation, painting, silkscreen or laser marking.
- Functional zones: threaded holes, PEM inserts, grounding contacts, sliding faces and masked areas.
- Approval basis: sample part, color chip, drawing note, visual standard or inspection record.
Choose finish route by material and function
A finish route should match both the metal and the product function. Powder coating is often used for durable color on steel enclosures and brackets, anodizing fits many aluminum housings, and plating may be needed for thin metallic surfaces, corrosion resistance or electrical contact.
Appearance-only notes such as brushed texture, silkscreen graphics and laser marking should still be tied to drawing faces so the supplier can quote setup, masking and inspection correctly.
- Use powder coating when color, coverage and exterior durability are the main requirements.
- Use plating when a thin metallic surface, solderability or contact behavior is part of the requirement.
- Use anodizing when the part is aluminum and the appearance or surface requirement fits that process.
- Use brushing, polishing, silkscreen and laser marking as named surface operations, not vague cosmetic notes.
Control samples, inspection and compliance
Finish problems often appear late because color, gloss, edge coverage, masking and surface cleanup are not visible in a price-only RFQ. Put sample approval and inspection criteria in the first quote package.
If the buyer needs RoHS, REACH, material certificates or process records, list those records with the finish requirement so documentation is not added after production release.
- Request finish samples when appearance, color, gloss, texture or marking quality affects approval.
- Define inspection checks for visible marks, coating thickness, burr removal, masked zones and printed graphics.
- Separate buyer-specified finish requirements from supplier DFM suggestions.
- Keep approved samples, drawing revisions and inspection records tied to the same release level.
| Finish route | What to specify | Approval or inspection check |
|---|---|---|
| Powder coating | Color, gloss, texture, visible faces, masking zones and coating thickness concerns | Approve color and surface appearance on a sample or defined visual standard |
| Plating | Plating type, base material, contact areas, corrosion target and masked features | Check coating location, conductivity/contact surfaces and required documentation |
| Anodizing | Aluminum grade, color, cosmetic faces, masking and sealing expectations | Confirm appearance, thickness-sensitive fits and approved sample condition |
| Brushing or polishing | Direction of grain, visible faces, edge cleanup and handling marks | Inspect directional texture, scratches and consistency between visible parts |
| Passivation | Stainless steel grade, cleaned surfaces and corrosion-related requirement | Confirm process record or buyer-specified acceptance check |
| Silkscreen or laser marking | Logo, labels, serial marks, location, color and durability expectation | Approve artwork position, readability and adhesion or abrasion requirement |
| Masked bare-metal zones | Grounding areas, threads, PEM inserts, sliding surfaces and contact pads | Inspect that coating does not cover functional areas |
| Finish sample and records | Sample quantity, approval owner, RoHS/REACH notes and shipment records | Tie approved sample, drawing revision and inspection report together |