Surface finish affects a machined part’s durability, performance, and appearance. A smooth finish can reduce friction and wear, allowing the part to operate more efficiently and last longer. High-quality finishes with tight tolerances also help optimize final product assembly by providing a precise fit.
Understanding a machined part’s critical features and characteristics is essential in identifying the root causes of poor finishes and other quality problems. A critical characteristic is a feature or specification that is crucial to the quality of a machined part. These characteristics are referred to as “critical” because any deviation from the specified requirements could have a significant impact on the performance and quality of the final product.