How We Calculated This
This tool scores each of 12 surface finishes against your inputs. It checks material compatibility first, then scores each finish on four criteria: how well it matches your application type, whether it fits your budget, how well it aligns with your priority, and overall versatility.
Material Compatibility
Not every finish works on every material. Anodize only works on aluminum and titanium. Black oxide works on steel and stainless. Passivation is for stainless steel only. The selector filters out incompatible finishes so you only see options that work with your material.
Application Scoring
Each finish gets a score from 0-10 for each application type. For example, electropolish scores 10 for medical because it creates an ultra-clean, smooth surface. Powder coat scores 10 for cosmetic because it offers the widest color range. The tool uses these scores to rank finishes for your use case.
Budget and Priority
Budget filters finishes by cost level. A low budget favors as-machined, bead blast, and passivation. A high budget opens up electropolish, chrome plate, and hard anodize. Your priority further adjusts the ranking. Choosing "durability" boosts hard anodize and nickel plate. Choosing "lead time" boosts finishes with no extra processing time.
Pro tip: If you are not sure what finish to use, start with as-machined for prototypes. You can always add a finish later for production parts. This keeps prototype costs low and turnaround fast.