3D Inconel Pediatric Hip Plates

To develop a repeatable, production-ready post-processing method to polish 3D-printed pediatric hip plates made from stainless steel and Inconel. The process needed to improve both surface finish and aesthetic quality while preserving dimensional accuracy and functional geometry.

Bel Air engineered a custom polishing workflow for these 3D-printed orthopedic components, incorporating a combination of centrifugal barrel finishing, disc finishing, and wet blasting. Parts were first processed to remove residual powder and reduce roughness, followed by fine polishing stages to improve reflectivity and feel. The optimized method delivered consistent, repeatable results across multiple builds, reducing surface roughness from Ra 67.212 µin to Ra 1.6786 µin. This ultrapolishing process ensures a high-quality finish suitable for pediatric orthopedic applications.

If you are unsure what equipment and media you require to achieve your desired surface finish, send us your part, and we will evaluate it and provide you with a detailed metrology report.

To explore various achievable finishes, you can also request a comparative keychain sampleshowcasing a range of surface textures and polish levels.