Products & Services
Protocase manufactures fully finished custom electronic enclosures and associated parts from a wide variety of materials and components, in 2-3 days with no minimum order. Protocase also provides expert and affordable enclosure design services.
Bare-Metal Finishes
Protocase offers several bare finishes for custom parts, enclosures and panels.
No Finish: CNC Sheet Metal
- Part is de-burred with no additional finishing
- No added cost
- Best economics for functional parts that will not be on display
- This is not 'decorative' in anyway
- Minor surface scratches, swirl marks and blemishes are to be expected
- Surface can be digitally printed and silkscreened, although it is not advisable due to the fact that No Finish is not a decorative or aesthetically appealing finish
- CNC machined parts will have visible toolmarks
Grained Finish: CNC Sheet Metal
- Part is de-burred, and then given a specific linear grain direction via brushing
- Applied to sheet metal parts before bending
- Can only be applied to accessible flat exterior faces on machined parts
- Aesthetically superior option for bare finish for parts or enclosures that will be displayed
- Can be digitally printed and silkscreened
Vibratory Finish: CNC Sheet Metal
- Smooths and imparts random finish via tumbling in abrasive medium
- Excellent for machined parts
- Great option for a random (non-directional) bare metal finish
- Maximum part size is 10"L x 10"W x 10"H
- Minimum part size - part must have a cross-sectional dimension of at least 1" (25.4 mm), and a length of at least 3" (76.2 mm)
- Rolls over corners very well
- Minimizes toolmarks on CNC machined parts
- Not available for copper
- Can be digitally printed and silkscreened
Sheet Metal Samples:
CNC Samples:
Media Blasting: CNC Sheet Metal
- Part is deburred and cleaned, then sprayed with a steady stream of tiny glass beads via compressed air
- End result is a smooth, uniform finish that’s flat and non directional
- Excellent for machined parts
- Great option for sheet metal parts, but large, thin sheet metal should be avoided in order to avoid warpage
- Materials: Aluminum, Stainless Steel and Copper
- Maximum part size: 16"x24"x16" (406.4mm x 609.6mm x 406.4mm)
- Minimum part size: Part must have at least one dimension that exceeds 2” (50.8mm)
- If you do not choose anodizing or another secondary finish after media blasting, we recommend handling with gloves in order to avoid staining or smudging the parts
- Can be digitally printed and silkscreened
- Can be permanently marked with laser marking and rubber stamping
Sheet Metal Samples:
CNC Samples:
Stock Finish: CNC Sheet Metal
Stock Finish is similar to No Finish in that there is no additional finishing applied. The outer surfaces of your machined parts are left as the raw material (For example: plate, tubing or bar stock). Stock Finish parts may have scratches, as well as material identification print or stickers from the supplier.
Things to Consider:
- • Appearance is not decorative in any way. Stock Finish should only be chosen if the parts will not be on display.