Before

Close-up view of raw titanium bone plates showing machining marks and burrs before finishing

Surface metrology analysis of raw titanium bone plates, indicating a surface roughness of Sa 19.973 µin.

After

Close-up view of titanium bone plates after finishing, displaying a matte finish with reduced machining marks

Surface metrology analysis of titanium bone plates after finishing, showing a reduced surface roughness of Sa 6.7995 µin.

Objective

A medical device manufacturer sought a finishing process for CNC-machined titanium bone plates (less than 3” in length) to achieve a consistent matte finish while effectively removing burrs. The objective was to develop a validated high-energy finishing process using Bel Air’s FMSL Series.

IndustryMedical
Part DescriptionBone Plates (variety < 3”)
Fabrication Method CNC Machined
MaterialTitanium
Process TechnologyDeburring, Polishing
Equipment TypeHigh Energy

Solution

Bel Air recommended a high-energy finishing process using the FMSL Centrifugal Disc Finisher, specifically configured to deliver a consistent matte finish while efficiently deburring the titanium bone plates.

  • Step 1 – Deburring: The initial stage utilized a coarse media blend to remove burrs without altering the part’s geometry.
  • Step 2 – Matte Finish: A secondary pass employed a finer media to achieve the desired matte finish, maintaining surface consistency across all features.

Surface metrology analysis confirmed that the process effectively met the customer’s specifications, providing uniform surface refinement and burr removal across all bone plate samples.

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.