At Atlas Pressed Metals, our Secondary Operations Department offers a comprehensive range of post-sintering processes to enhance component performance, precision, and surface finish. These operations allow us to refine properties, achieve tighter dimensional tolerances, and improve surface characteristics – ensuring your parts meet exact specifications and deliver superior functionality.

To maintain consistency and dependable quality across production, Atlas performs these operations in-house and through certified partners.

Repressing

Repressing increases the density and dimensional accuracy of a sintered part. It’s used when higher strength or tighter tolerances are needed beyond what compaction can provide.

Secondary Operation	Typical Parts	Objectives
Coining Objective	All	Densification, dimensional control
Sizing	All	Dimensional control

Impregnation

Impregnation powder metallurgy processes seal porosity within a part to improve integrity and surface condition. Resin impregnation also prepares parts for plating and supports better machinability in structural components.

Secondary Operation	Typical Parts	Objectives
Resin	Structural	Improve machinability. Prepare surface for plating with other metals. Seal parts gas or liquid tight.

Heat Treating

Heat treating changes the structure of ferrous parts to improve strength and hardness. Steam treating further protects the surface, sealing porosity and providing a dark, wear-resistant finish.

Secondary Operation	Typical Parts	Objectives
Quench and Temper	Ferrous Structural	Improve strength and hardness
Steam treat	Ferrous	Make surface hard and wear resistant. Improve corrosion resistance and seal porosity. Provides a black/blue surface appearance for coloration needs.

Machining

Machining powdered metal components creates precise dimensions and refined surfaces that can’t be achieved through pressing alone. Each operation is selected to match the part’s geometry and tolerance needs.

Secondary Operation	Typical Parts	Objectives
Drill and Tap	All	To install set or assembly screws.
Turning	All	Machine to exact tolerances. Form undercuts not possible with punch and die tooling.
Milling	All	Form undercuts or slots.
Grinding	All	Remove stock, make faces parallel, and improve surface finish and tolerances.
Honing	All	Improved dimensional control.

Finishing

Finishing prepares the part for its final use by refining its surface and adding protection where needed. The result is a consistent, durable component that meets both performance and appearance goals.

Secondary Operation	Typical Parts	Objectives
Deburring	All	Smooths edges related to parting lines.
Burnishing	Ferrous Structural	Ball size, roller burnish for size control and surface finish.
Coating Oil Dip	Ferrous	Corrosion resistance. Lubrication
Copper, Nickel Zinc Plating	Ferrous	Corrosion resistance, appearance.
Welding	Ferrous, 6.8 g/cm min. density	Makes assemblies from two or more parts.
Black Oxide	Ferrous, resin impregnated	Corrosion resistance, paint base.
Mechanical Surface Treatments: Glass Beading Wire Brush, Sanding	All	Clean, improve surface.
Coating	Ferrous	High corrosion resistance.
Tumbling/ Vibratory Finishing, Grit Blasting	All	Improve surface fatigue life.