Materials and Finishes for
Robotics & Automation
The right material and finish combination affects part weight, wear life, corrosion resistance and dimensional stability after coating. Select what fits your application.
Materials
AL6061
Aluminum 6061-T6
Best For
General mounts, plates, housings and brackets
Common Finishes
Clear anodize, black anodize, bead blast, nickel plate
Notes
Most common alloy in our shop. Excellent machinability and anodizing response.
AL7075
Aluminum 7075-T6
Best For
Lightweight, high-strength gripper fingers and structural components
Common Finishes
Hard anodize, clear anodize, bead blast
Notes
Superior strength-to-weight for demanding EOAT applications. Hard anodizing is common.
SS304/316
Stainless Steel 304/316
Best For
Shafts, wear components, hygienic and corrosion-resistant fixtures
Common Finishes
Passivation, bead blast, polishing, electropolish
Notes
316 preferred where chloride exposure is possible. Both are non-magnetic in annealed state.
TS-D2
Tool Steel (D2, H13)
Best For
Wear-resistant jaws, locating pins, tooling inserts
Common Finishes
Black oxide, TiN coating
Notes
Heat treatment and finish applied after machining. Discuss hardness requirement at quote stage.
POM
POM / Delrin
Best For
Product nests, guides and non-marring contact surfaces
Common Finishes
As machined (typical)
Notes
Excellent surface finish from machining. Does not require any coating for most fixture applications.
PA66/PEEK
Nylon / PEEK
Best For
Lightweight insulating, high-temperature and chemical-resistant parts
Common Finishes
As machined
Notes
PEEK for elevated-temperature or aggressive chemical environments. PA66 for cost-effective insulation.
Surface Finishes
| Finish | Code | Thickness | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear Anodizing | TYPE-II-CLR | 5–25 µm | Adds corrosion resistance while preserving natural aluminum appearance. |
| Black Anodizing | TYPE-II-BLK | 15–25 µm | Adds light absorption and wear resistance. Standard for machine vision mounts. |
| Hard Anodizing | TYPE-III | 25–75 µm | Significantly harder surface for wear-resistant applications. Darker color than Type II. |
| Bead Blasting | BB-120 | n/a | Uniform matte texture. Typically followed by anodizing for sealed surface. |
| Electroless Nickel | EN | 10–50 µm | Uniform coverage on all surfaces. Suitable for steel and aluminum. |
| Black Oxide | BK-OX | 1–2 µm | Mild corrosion resistance and reduced reflectivity. Common on steel components. |
| Passivation | PASS-A967 | n/a | Removes free iron from stainless steel surface. Improves corrosion resistance. |
| Brushing | BRUSH | n/a | Directional satin finish. Specify direction relative to datum or main face. |
| Polishing | POLISH | n/a | Mirror or near-mirror finish. Quote separately; adds lead time. |
Engineering NoteCosmetic color matching, surface direction and rack-mark locations should be specified before production. Anodizing adds 0.01–0.03 mm per surface — allow for this when specifying fits and critical interfaces.
Need Help Selecting a Material?
Send us your drawing and application requirements. We'll recommend the right material and finish combination.