Accurate Metal Fabricating provides a full range of metal finishing services to yield flawless and smooth end results—grinding, polishing, deburring, and sanding techniques. A wide range of finish colors is also available. Color choices can vary between specific metal types, intended use, and interior or exterior product location. We offer metal powder coating, anodizing, and fluoropolymer finishes. We also have secondary metal functions for our sister company, Accurate Perforating. Most know the job isn't done when the presses stop. Post-press fabrication is vital in any metal fabrication project because it involves processes that can deliver a finished good to your doorstep instead of just another metal part.
Finishing Capabilities
Powder Coating
A hard finish that's tougher than paint, even available in thermoplastics. Powder coating is a type of metal finish applied as a free-flowing, dry powder with multiple advantages over liquid paint. The main difference between a conventional liquid paint and a powder coating is that the powder coating does not require a solvent to keep the binder and filler parts in a liquid suspension form. The coating is typically applied electrostatically and is then cured under heat to allow it to flow and form a "skin." The powder may be a thermoplastic or a thermoset polymer. These metal coating services are used in some fabricated metal applications, including outdoor power equipment, to create a more rigid hard finish than conventional paint. Our powder-coating paint line, including AAMA 2604 and AAMA 2605 specifications, is ready for your metal.
Anodizing—Durable and Corrosion Resistant
Accurate Metal Fabricating is the anodizing company that can deliver actual results when your aluminum product requires a durable, corrosion-resistant finish ready to add color or a sealant. Anodizing increases the thickness of the natural oxide layer on the surface of metal parts, changing the microscopic crystal structure of the metal's surface. Anodized aluminum surfaces are harder than aluminum but have low to moderate wear resistance that can be improved by increasing thickness or applying suitable sealing substances. In addition to hardness and corrosion resistance, anodizing is a good surface preparation for dyeing (coloring), improved lubrication, or improved adhesion. The anodic layer is also non-conductive.
PVDF Resin / Kynar
Polyvinylidene Fluoride, or PVDF, is a highly non-reactive specialty plastic material ("thermoplastic") in the fluoropolymer family generally used in applications requiring the highest purity, strength, and resistance to solvents, acids, bases, and heat and low smoke generation during a fire event. Compared to other fluoropolymers, it has a more straightforward melt process because of its relatively low melting point of around 177°C. Accurate Metal Fabricating uses Kynar® brand PVDF materials to apply this finish to your fabricated metal products.
Plating
Plating is a surface covering where metal is deposited on a conductive surface. It has been done for hundreds of years but is also critical for modern technology. Metal plating services are used to decorate objects, inhibit corrosion, improve solderability, harden, improve wearability, reduce friction, improve paint adhesion, alter conductivity, shield radiation, and for other purposes. No other metal plating company has as much to offer as we do.
Graphics / Logos / Decals
Accurate can apply graphics, logos, and decals to nearly any product surface, including metal, glass, wood, and painted material. We can work with our vendors to create custom, tailor-made graphics to meet your specifications. Choose the size, shape, material, or color that works for you. Use these applications to decorate and identify products, places, equipment, or systems; communicate ideas, instructions, or warnings; or promote companies, programs, services, or events. Accurate's experienced team also produces customized graphics or collaborates with your design team on your brand's metal logo signs, decals, screen printing, and silk screening. The finishing on your materials can be custom color-matched to your color palette.
Screen Printing / Silk Screening
Screen printing or silk screening is a stencil method of printmaking in which a design is imposed on a screen of silk or other fine mesh, with blank areas coated with an impermeable substance, and ink is forced through the mesh onto the printing surface. Screen printing is more versatile than traditional printing techniques. The surface does not have to be printed under pressure, unlike etching or lithography, and it does not have to be planar. Screen printing inks can work with various materials, such as textiles, ceramics, wood, paper, glass, metal, and plastic. Accurate Metal Fabricating has the capability and machinery to employ screen printing or silk screening on your finished fabricated metal product.
Polishing / Grinding / Deburring
Accurate Metal Fabricating saves you time and delivers a beautiful finished product with expert polishing, grinding, and deburring services. Grinding is considered one of the most accurate of the existing machining processes. In precision sheet metal fabrication, grinding yields an excellent finish with exact dimensions. In essence, grinding is a cutting process utilizing abrasives as the cutting tool.
Typical grinding tools include handheld power tools, such as angle grinders and die grinders, as well as fixed belts and bench grinders. Closely related to grinding is sanding, a process performed to either smooth the surface or to prepare the surface for a finishing technique. Both sanding and grinding demand a high level of skill to produce accurate dimensions and finish, and, like deburring, are carefully considered to deliver the best value and lowest costs to our customers. Burrs are generally unwanted material remaining after a machining operation, such as punching, grinding, drilling, milling, or turning, and are usually in the form of a raised portion ocomponent'snent's surface. When these burrs are removed, it is called deburring. Burr formation in machining processes can account for a significant amount of the total machining costs depending on the design and the need to remove burrs or sharp edges from the component. The cost impact of deburring should not be underestimated if it is essential to the plan. Effective deburring begins with the correct selection of die clearances used in the perforation process to minimize the formation of burrs.
Accurate utilizes a Timesavings machine wherever possible to provide the best value and incorporates other equipment available to ensure accurate, professional, and cost-effective deburring. After the grinding, sanding, and deburring process, we can polish your metal components with various finishes, including smooth and brushed finishes. We have earned a solid metal finishing reputation from years of flawless metal polishing, buffing quality, and competitive pricing. Our goal is to exceed your expectations. We will solve your challenges utilizing the knowledge, experience, and dedication our well-trained team offers.
Unrivaled Finishing Capabilities
We can manage any specialized finishing request you may have. With over 80 years of experience in metal fabrication and finishing, we have a wide breadth of knowledge to draw from and to offer suggestions and solutions for your project. With Accurate Metal Fabricating, your possibilities for metal finishing in Chicago are virtually endless. Get in touch with us today.