Polishing surface finish
Polishing applied by YiguProto

Surface finish

Polishing for CNC & Molded Parts

Polishing smooths a surface to a bright, mirror-like shine. It reduces friction and makes parts easy to clean.

  • Mirror shine, low friction, easy to clean.
  • Ideal for molds, optics, and decor.

What it is

What Is Polishing?

Polishing uses fine abrasives to remove tiny peaks on the surface. Step by step, the surface gets smoother and shinier. At the highest level it becomes a mirror. Polished parts have less friction and are easier to keep clean.

We can reach a true mirror finish or stop at a satin polish, depending on your need.

How it works

How Polishing Works

Pre-polish

We start with coarser abrasives to remove marks.

Refine

Progressively finer compounds smooth the surface.

Buff

A soft wheel brings up the shine.

Inspect

We check roughness and reflection.

Lower Ra means a smoother, shinier surface; we target the Ra your part needs.

Why choose it

Benefits of Polishing

Mirror look

Bright, reflective, premium appearance.

Low friction

Smooth surfaces slide with less resistance.

Easy cleaning

Few crevices for dirt to cling.

Corrosion help

Smooth surfaces resist stain and buildup.

Mold quality

Mirror cavities release parts cleanly.

Typical specs

Typical Polishing Specifications

SpecificationTypical range / valueNotes
Surface roughnessRa 0.05 – 0.8 µm by grade
Finish levelsSatin to mirror
Base materialsStainless steel, aluminium, brass, acrylic
ColorNatural, bright

Best applications

When to Use Polishing

Mold cavities

Mirror surfaces for clean release.

Optical parts

Reflective and lens components.

Decorative metal

Jewelry and trim.

Sanitary parts

Easy-clean food surfaces.

Materials

Compatible Materials for Polishing

We apply Polishing to the materials below. Not sure if your material qualifies? Our engineers will confirm it for free.

Stainless steelAluminiumBrassCopperAcrylic / PMMA

Our solution

Our Polishing Solution

We polish metal and plastic to satin or mirror grades. We match the Ra to your function, from decorative shine to mold-quality cavities.

  • Satin to true mirror finishes.
  • Ra measurement on every batch.
  • Combines with passivation or plating.
  • Machining and polish in one order.
For molds, a mirror cavity reduces ejector force and improves part quality.

Design tips

Design & DFM Tips for Polishing

Pick the grade

Mirror costs more; satin may be enough.

Allow stock

A little material is removed during polishing.

Topcoat if wet

Add passivation for stainless in wet use.

FAQ

Polishing — Frequently Asked Questions

Send your drawings or 3D files. Most quotes come back within a few hours on business days, never more than 24 hours.
Yes. All customer files and ideas are treated as confidential. We sign NDAs when needed.
Yes. Our engineers review your design and suggest changes that cut cost, improve quality, or speed up delivery.
For Polishing, we support one-off prototypes and full production runs. There is no strict MOQ.
We can make samples for your approval. Cost depends on the process, and it is credited back on a production order.
Up to a true mirror (Ra ~0.05 µm) on suitable materials.
A small amount of material is removed; allow stock.
Stainless, aluminium, brass, and acrylic all polish well.
Buffing is the final shining step within polishing.

Need Polishing on your parts?

Send your files and get a finish recommendation + factory-direct quote.

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