Surface Finish Introduction

      Questions > Surface Finish Introduction

As the very purpose of Diamond Polish is to upgrade the Wire Guide's Surface Finish, an
introduction to the Surface Finish, also known as Surface Roughness, seems to be appropriate.

          From our Wire Guides, you may choose among four Surface Finish standards, denoted by the suffix in the Part Number. Where no Surface Finish suffix is specified, the SF (Semi-Finish) standard will apply. All our Surface Finish Standards are monitored by Direct Contact Profilometer.

Surface Finish
Standards

Part No.
Suffix

Profilometer
Reading

 Application

Super Finish

      SP

0.0125 – 0.025 microns or
0.5 – 1.0 micro-inches Ra

Coil winding nozzles, precision miniature pulleys

Diamond Lapped

DL

      0.1 - 0.2 microns or
      4 - 8 micro - inches Ra

Fine wire drawing

P1 Polish

P1

0.25 – 0.5 microns or
10 - 20 micro-inches Ra

General purpose

Semi Finish

SF

0.525 – 0.75 microns or
21 – 30 micro-inches Ra

General purpose

Surface Characteristics

Model of Surface Characteristics         Surface Finish is a measure of the roughness of the wire guide's surface. It is not feasible for a surface to be smoothened to perfection; under proper magnification, there will inevitably be a certain level of roughness and waviness, as shown in the description of Surface Characteristics Model at left.

         Surface Characteristics evidence the history of the mechanical processes a surface has been exposed to, including natural processes, for instance: the formation of the pebbles.
  
                             
Surface Finishing is the ultimate endeavor for reducing
                             a ceramic wire guide's surface roughness to a minimum.


Case in point

          Emery papers are used to impart a matte finish on wooden artifacts. Rocks are tumbled in abrasive media to remove sharp edges and, with persistence, become artificial pebbles.

          The best abrasive to reduce the surface roughness of ceramic wire guides is, without question-- the diamond -- and the process is known as Diamond Polishing or Diamond Lapping.  Wire Guides processed through Diamond Polishing manifest to the naked eye a mirror-like surface, consequently, the term Mirror Finish