Surface Finishing for Stainless Steel 304

Surface finishing of 304 stainless focuses on enhancing its natural corrosion resistance and appearance. Passivation, electropolish, and mechanical finishing are the primary methods.

Recommended Machining Parameters

ParameterValue
Achievable Tolerances±0.01 mm (finished)
Surface FinishRa 0.05-3.2 μm (electropolish to bead blast)
Cutting SpeedN/A
Feed RateN/A
Tooling RecommendationsN/A — surface finishing process

Expert Machining Tips

1

Passivation is the minimum recommended finish

2

Electropolish for medical and food grade

3

Mirror polish achievable with multiple grits

4

Bead blast for uniform matte satin finish

Common Parts Made

Electropolished food equipment

Passivated medical devices

Mirror-polished architectural hardware

Bead-blasted industrial components

Machining Challenges

  • Electropolish removes 10-25μm per surface
  • Mirror polish is labor-intensive and expensive
  • Passivation requires citric or nitric acid treatment

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