Mirror surface. Enhanced passivation. Pharma-grade clean.

Electropolish: better corrosion resistance (removes smeared surface material), no embedded abrasive contamination, deburrs automatically, accesses complex internal surfaces. Mechanical polish: faster for small areas, doesn't remove material (no dimensional change), lower cost per part for simple geometry. For pharmaceutical, medical, and corrosion-critical applications, electropolish is dramatically better. For cost-sensitive decorative, mechanical polish is often adequate.

Yes — typically 10–25 µm (0.01–0.025 mm) of material removed per surface. Plan machined dimensions accordingly: for a bore that must be Ø10.0 mm finished after electropolish, machine to Ø9.98 mm before electropolishing. We can advise on specific allowances based on part geometry during DFM review.

Yes — and this is one of the best applications for electropolishing. Weld heat-affected zones and weld metal have different surface chemistry than parent metal. Mechanical polishing cannot equalize this. Electropolishing removes the surface layer of both parent and weld metal uniformly, leaving a homogeneous passive layer across the entire welded assembly. Standard for pharmaceutical and food welded vessels.

ASME BPE (Bioprocessing Equipment) specifies Ra 0.38 µm maximum surface finish for pharmaceutical process contact surfaces. Mechanical polish can achieve this but electropolishing is preferred for: better cleanability, reduced biofilm adhesion, easier sanitization. Certified-compliant BPE electropolishing available through our qualified partner with full documentation.

Typical electropolishing lead time: 3–5 business days after parts arrive at finishing station. This is an added step to overall manufacturing — plan for total lead time including CNC/fabrication plus finishing. Documentation (surface finish verification, process records) adds 1–2 days for pharma orders. Rush available with 2 days.

Small parts (under 100 mm): $3–10 per part. Medium parts (100–500 mm): $10–40 per part. Large vessels or long tubing: priced per surface area — typically $100–300 per m² of surface. Cost justifies itself for pharmaceutical and medical applications through reduced cleaning/validation overhead. For general stainless applications, electropolishing premium may or may not be justified depending on requirements.