Before
After
Objective
A customer needed to automate the surface finishing of CNC-machined 316 stainless steel valve balls. The primary goal was to eliminate manual polishing steps and achieve a uniform, high-luster finish with reduced surface roughness—improving both performance and efficiency in high-precision applications.
| Industry | Automotive, Machine Shop Applications |
| Part Description | Valve Balls |
| Material | Stainless Steel/Inconel |
| Fabrication Method | CNC Machine |
| Process Technology | Polishing, Superpolish/Ultrapolish, Surface Preparation, Wet Grinding |
| Equipment Type | Automated Finishing, Centrifugal Barrel Finisher/Harperizer, Centrifugal Disc Finisher, Drag-Spindle Finisher |
Solution
Bel Air developed an automated polishing process for CNC-machined 316 stainless steel valve balls using high-energy finishing equipment. Multiple options were evaluated—including centrifugal disc finishing, barrel tumbling, and optional drag-spindle polishing—based on part geometry and finish requirements. The selected method reduced surface roughness from Sa 13.578 µin to 2.0498 µin, producing a high-gloss, uniform finish suitable for sealing applications. This solution eliminated manual polishing steps, improved consistency, and increased throughput for machine shop environments.
If you are unsure what equipment and media you require to achieve your desired surface finish, then send us your part, and we will evaluate it and provide you with a metrology report.