Post-Processing

3D printing is done, but the part isn't finished there. Mechanical properties, dimensional stability and surface quality are refined through post-processing.

In additive manufacturing, a part's final performance depends on correctly applying heat treatment, surface finishing, machining and other post-processing steps. At Norm Additive we manage these processes as an integrated part of production, so what we deliver isn't a semi-finished part fresh off the printer, but a ready-to-use final product.

Post-Processing Services We Offer

We integrate the post-processing steps a part's usage requirements and technical specifications call for directly into production, securing its final properties and performance.

Heat treatment Stress relief and material-specific heat treatment; aging, hardening, HIP and custom heat treatment applications.

Removal from build plate and cleaning Removal from the build plate by wire EDM, support structure removal and deburring.

Surface finishing Blasting, wet blasting, tumbling, polishing and other surface finishing applications as needed.

Machining Complementary machining operations such as 3- and 5-axis milling, turning, precision hole drilling and tapping.

Protection / appearance Passivation, coating and painting; applications addressing sealing requirements on polymer parts.

Assembly Tapping, brass insert installation and assembly work on manufactured parts.

Measurement and quality control Dimensional verification and 3D measurement with 3D scanning and CMM; quality documentation such as FAI and CoC.

The Post-Processing Sequence for Metal Parts

The final geometry, mechanical properties and surface quality of a part built by metal additive manufacturing depend on getting the post-processing sequence right after 3D printing.

Stress relief (on the build plate) → removal from the build plate → support structure removal → material-specific heat treatment → surface and machining operations → dimensional verification

Applying the post-processing steps in the right order, under the right process conditions, is critical for controlling warping and deformation, achieving the target mechanical properties, and securing the final dimensions.

Equipment We Use

Engineering Note

We bring surfaces that need tight tolerances into the target range with machining operations applied after additive manufacturing. We plan the whole production process up front by deciding which surfaces need machining, and their machining allowance, at the DfAM (Design for Additive Manufacturing) stage. Managing production and post-processing under a single process strengthens coordination between steps, prevents responsibility from being split across different suppliers, and lets us control the part's final requirements end to end.

Next step

Let's build your part's post-processing plan together.

Share your part's 3D model, technical requirements and end-use expectations; we'll assess the heat treatment, surface finishing, machining and dimensional verification steps needed, and build a post-processing plan tailored to your part.

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