What is the average finish roughness metal processed through metal fabrication?
The finishes left on metal parts after various metal fabrication processes will vary significantly based on a number of factors include material, fabrication processes involved and the batch being fabricated. The metal fabrication industry has established standards related to expected finishes resulting from metal fabrication processes. These metal finishes standards are qualified as the Roughness Average (Ra).
Below is a Table of the Ra expected on metal parts manufactured through various metal fabrication processes and a comparison of the expected Ra range for metal part:
| Fabrication Process | Expected Range of Ra |
| Flame Cutting | 1000 - 500 micro-inches (25 - 12.5 micro-meters) |
| Sawing | 1000 - 63 micro-inches (25 - 1.6 micro-meters) |
| Drillling | 250 - 63 micro-inches (6.3 - 1.6 micro-meters) |
| Milling | 250 - 32 micro-inches (6.3 - 0.08 micro-meters) |
| Laser Cutting | 250 - 32 micro-inches (6.3 - 0.08 micro-meters) |
| Boring, Turning | 250 - 16 micro-inches (6.3 - 0.40 micro-meters) |
| Grinding | 63 - 4 micro-inches (1.6 - 0.10 micro-meters) |
| Electropolishing | 16 - 4 micro-inches (0.40 - 0.10 micro-meters) |
| Lapping | 16 - 2 micro-inches (0.40 - 0.05 micro-meters) |
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