Metal Polishing and Buffing

• Stainless Steel
• Carbon Steel
• Aluminum
• Titanium
• Copper
• Brass

Plastics Polishing and Buffing

• LLDPE, HDPE ,UHMW, PTFE
• polycarbonate, polypropylene
• Acetal
• abs
• Acrylic
• cab
• Nylon
• Ultem
• Peek

Composite Material Polishing and Buffing

• All hard material composites

Polishing

The term polish has different meanings depending on who you are talking to. The Metal Finishes guide defines polishing as a "process that enhances the surface of a part by means of metal removal"( Dickman, 2008) That can be accomplished in a number of different ways.

1. Use of an abrasive belt ( sand paper)
2. Use of an abrasive wheel ( a wheel manufactured with an abrasive in it
3. In a mass finishing process with abrasive media

All of the processes mentioned above RPA uses to help reach the final finish of a customers product. Whither it is metal finishing, plastics finishing, or composites finishing some removal of the surface is required.

RPA has developed over many years of experience a combination of processes such as polishing on a belt or wheel to mass finishing or tumbling and even bead blasting to achieve the desired finish of the customer.

reference; Metal Finishing Guide Book and Directory, The Science of Scratches- Polishing and Buffing Mechanical Surface Preparation, Dickman, Alexander Jr. (2008)

Buffing

Buffing unlike polishing is the process that will give the part its final finish. This to can be accomplished in many different ways. Depending on the desired finish of the customer, you can go from bright to dull, mirror to satin or brushed look. Some of the ways to reach the desired finish are;

• cotton wheel with a specific compound
• mass finishing with various medias
• bead blasting

In many cases when a customer talks about a buffed finish, it will usually mean a bright, maybe a mirror finish with no scratches or noticeable marks.