Surface Texturing & Marking

Surface texturing and marking modify only the outer skin of a part to control appearance, grip, reflectivity, and permanent identification without changing core geometry.

Overview

Surface texturing and marking processes create controlled visual and tactile effects on finished parts, and add permanent identification such as logos, serial numbers, and traceability codes. Common methods include media blasting for matte or satin finishes, chemical etching for selective patterning, and laser etching/engraving for high-resolution, permanent marks.

Use surface texturing when you need consistent cosmetic finish, improved grip, reduced glare, or to hide minor machining or casting imperfections. Use marking when part identification, branding, barcodes, or regulatory information must survive handling, cleaning, and moderate wear. Tradeoffs: these processes add cost and process steps, and aggressive textures or deep engraves can create dirt traps, stress risers, or interfere with sealing surfaces if not planned. Properly specified, they deliver high cosmetic value and traceability with minimal impact on part function and lead time.

Common Materials

  • Aluminum 6061
  • Stainless steel 304
  • Mild steel
  • ABS plastic
  • Titanium
  • Brass

Tolerances

±0.005" on mark location and feature size (texture roughness typically specified as Ra/Rz range, not dimensional tolerance)

Applications

  • Branding and logos on housings and covers
  • Serial numbers and traceability codes on machined parts
  • Grip textures on handles, tools, and knobs
  • Glare-reducing matte finishes on optical and sensor enclosures
  • Decorative textures on consumer electronics and appliances
  • Patterned surfaces on mold cavities and dies

When to Choose Surface Texturing & Marking

Choose surface texturing and marking when you need to control how the part looks, feels, or reflects light, or when permanent identification is required. It suits most volumes, from prototypes to production, as long as you can define clear artwork, marking locations, and texture specifications. It works best on accessible surfaces that are not primary sealing, bearing, or precision datum features.

vs Machined Surface Finishing

Pick surface texturing and marking when you care more about consistent appearance, grip, or branding than tight dimensional control of the surface profile. Machined finishes often show tool marks and directionality; blasting, etching, or laser texturing evens out the look and hides minor defects with less machining time.

vs Polishing

Choose surface texturing over polishing when you want a controlled matte or patterned surface instead of a mirror finish. Texturing is usually quicker, more repeatable, and better for glare reduction and grip, while polishing targets maximum smoothness and reflectivity for low-friction or visual clarity needs.

vs Coatings

Use surface texturing and marking when you want to modify feel or appearance of the base material without adding film thickness or changing material properties. Coatings add color, corrosion resistance, or wear performance, but can chip or wear off, while laser marks and many textures remain visible even after minor coating damage.

vs Painting

Select surface texturing and marking when you want durable identification or tactile features that do not rely on paint adhesion. Paint changes color and appearance over large areas; texturing and engraving can be localized and remain legible after paint removal or wear.

vs Hard Coatings

Choose texturing and marking when your primary goals are cosmetics, grip, or ID, not wear life. Hard coatings improve surface hardness and durability; texturing can be applied before or after coating to tune friction and readability but does not significantly change surface hardness by itself.

Design Considerations

  • Call out texture using measurable parameters (Ra/Rz range or standard texture codes) and clearly show which surfaces receive which finish on drawings
  • Keep critical sealing, bearing, and datum surfaces free of aggressive textures or deep engraves; explicitly mark these as “no texture/marking” zones
  • Specify minimum text height, stroke width, and depth for markings based on process (e.g., laser vs engraving) and required readability after finishing
  • Provide vector artwork (DXF, AI, SVG) and exact location references for logos and graphics to avoid ambiguity and setup delays
  • Avoid placing dense text or deep textures at sharp corners, thin ribs, or stress-critical areas to reduce risk of cracking and stress concentration
  • Group textured and marked areas on accessible faces to simplify fixturing and allow consistent process angles, lowering cost and variation