Plastic parts can carry mould lines, gates, burrs, dull areas or handling marks that need a controlled finishing route. The right process depends on the polymer, part geometry, protected surfaces and the appearance or inspection result that must be accepted.

Classify the incoming condition

Separate mould-line removal, edge smoothing, cleaning and visual improvement before choosing a machine or media. Tell the finishing team where the defect appears and whether it affects a cosmetic face, a sealing surface, a fit, a hole or a thread.

Check the part geometry

• Material, dimensions and approximate weight
• Thin walls, ribs, holes, slots and recessed areas
• Faces that must remain protected or dimensionally stable
• Risk of nesting, impact marks, trapped media or residue

Vibratory, barrel, disc and dry-finishing directions can expose different surfaces and create different contact patterns. Machine, media, compound, loading, movement, cycle control, separation and inspection must be evaluated together.

Use a representative sample

A useful trial uses parts from the production range and an agreed inspection method. Record the starting condition, inspect at fixed intervals and note edge change, cosmetic variation, trapped media, cleaning effort and any protected feature. A product photo or a general industry statement is a discussion reference; it is not proof of a result on your parts.

What to send

Send clear whole-part and close-up photographs, a drawing when available, polymer information, batch quantity, target appearance and downstream assembly or cleaning requirements. This lets the team screen a practical process direction before a sample is shipped.

Video reference

Review the footage for visible equipment and part-handling observations only. Add chapters or model-specific details after human frame review.