CNC Aluminum Pistol Grip – Automated Deburring & Surface Finishing

Automate the deburring and surface finishing of CNC-machined aluminum pistol grips to reduce manual labor while preserving critical sharp grip geometry and preparing parts for downstream coating.

Bel Air developed an automated finishing process to deburr and condition CNC-machined 6061 aluminum pistol grips while keeping the customer’s intentionally sharp grip features intact. The objective was to remove as much manual hand finishing as possible without rounding or softening the functional geometry of the grip surfaces.

Several finishing methods were tested, including vibratory and wet blasting processes, to determine the best approach for this application. Based on those trials, centrifugal disc finishing was used as the primary method for automated processing.

To make selective finishing possible, the customer provided a custom 3D-printed masking fixture to protect the critical grip points. The masked parts were processed in a centrifugal disc finisher using programmed forward and reverse cycles, timed process steps, automated rinses, and controlled compound flow. This setup allowed Bel Air to refine the outer surfaces while leaving the protected areas untouched.

After the main automated cycle, the parts were ultrasonically cleaned and inspected. Only minimal hand touch-up was needed on unmasked areas, greatly reducing labor time.

The result was a reliable, repeatable finishing workflow that delivered consistent surface preparation for coating—while preserving the sharp edges and tactile features essential to the product’s performance.

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.