Surface finish
Heat Treatment for CNC & Molded Parts
Heat treatment changes the inner structure of metal. It controls hardness, strength, and toughness.
- Tune hardness, strength, and toughness.
- Essential for durable metal parts.
Surface finish
Heat treatment changes the inner structure of metal. It controls hardness, strength, and toughness.
What it is
Heat treatment is the controlled heating and cooling of metal to change its properties. Common methods are annealing (soften), quenching and tempering (harden then toughen), and stress relieving. The shape stays the same, but the metal performs very differently.
How it works
Heat
The part is heated to a target temperature for the method.
Soak
It holds at temperature so heat reaches the core.
Cool
It is quenched, air-cooled, or furnace-cooled as needed.
Temper / relieve
A second low heat step tunes hardness or relieves stress.
Why choose it
Set the right surface and core hardness.
Balance load and impact resistance.
Reduces warpage after machining or welding.
Annealed stock is easier to cut.
Typical specs
| Specification | Typical range / value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Methods | Annealing, normalizing, quench & temper, stress relief | |
| Hardness | Per material and method (e.g., 20–60 HRC) | |
| Process temp | Up to ~1000 °C | |
| Base materials | Steel, stainless, tool steel, aluminium alloy |
Best applications
Hardened cutting and forming tools.
Strong, fatigue-resistant motion parts.
Frames and load-bearing components.
Stress relief after welding.
Materials
We apply Heat Treatment to the materials below. Not sure if your material qualifies? Our engineers will confirm it for free.
Our solution
We heat treat steel and aluminium to your required hardness and temper. Every batch is tested so properties are verified, not assumed.
Design tips
Hard metal is harder to cut; allow stock.
Heat treat can warp; plan straightening or grind.
Higher hardness means lower toughness.
FAQ