Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
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SPE / SPI Standards, and DME Mold Finish Kit
Q. Came across a drawing for a rubber part from the 1960s. The part is used where sealing compressed air is important. The part is 0.031" thick sheet and both flat sides have a finish callout which states "Cellophane finish". I have searched for what this might mean in term of a Ra value or Rt value.
Any thoughts or ideas what was meant by "cellophane finish"?
Engineer - Centennial, Colorado
January 4, 2022
⇩ Related postings, oldest first ⇩
Q. Where can I obtain a copy of 'SPI/SPE' Standards.
Rick F [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- McAllen, Texas
2001
Q. Where can I get the steel finish for SPE / SPI standards?
We need to know what a SPE / SPI #5 finish is. We have looked at DME [Ed. note: Detroit Mold Engineering] Mold Finish Kit, but it does not shows any # 5 finish. They only show A 1-3, B 1-3, C 1-3 & D 1-3 finishes
Leandro V [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]plastics - Bensenville, Illinois
2003
Q. I too am looking for this info. I have Googled all over the place but cannot find this info. We have several drawings of parts that call out finishes like SPE #4 MINIMUM or SPE-SPI #5 MINIMUM. I have found the SPE-SPI A-1 through D-3 finishing spec, but not this other scale. Surely someone out there knows what it is? I have been to the Society of Plastics Engineers and the Society of the Plastics Industry, but no luck.
David G [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Greenville, South Carolina
2003
A. THE OLD WAY TO DOCUMENT SPE-SPI FINISH WAS #1-#5. SPI HAS CHANGED THIS TO A1, A2 ETC.
SPI HAS A MOLDED PLAQUE WITH SAMPLES OF THESE NEW FINISHES AND A PAPER COMPARING THE OLD STANDARD WITH THE NEW.
- Phoenix, Arizona
2003
Thanks, L. The current place to get the "Mold Finish Guide" is at
http://store.plasticsindustry.org
Look for item AR-106.
I don't know the order number for the cross referencing paper for the old vs. new system, but it may be AR-101. Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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Ed. note: Sorry that link has been broken for a while; we don't know if it's coming back.
If there anybody who knows where can I download a free copy of the SPI-SPE surface finish standard for reference? Or anybody know what is meaning of "Gloss: SPI-SPE#2 finish" and "Matte: SPI-SPE#3 finish with liquid hone." Please help, thanks.
Thomas C [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]OEM manufacturer - Hong Kong, China
2004
Sorry, Thomas, these are copyrighted specs, and they are for sale, not available for free. Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2005
A. The listing correlates as follows:-
#1 = A-1
#2 = A-3
#3 = B-3
#4 = C-3
#5 = D-2
#6 = D-3
The info is on page N-112 of the current DME [Ed. note: Detroit Mold Engineering] catalog. There is also a chart with further info.
- Australia
Q. I want to buy SPI-SPE mold finishing guide, can I buy it anywhere in Hong Kong or China?
Janet Y [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Hong Kong
2006
Q. I am looking for guidance on texturing standards for injection molded parts that goes beyond the SPE/SPI AR-106 guidance which appears to just discuss polished and blasted finishes. I am looking for etched, cross-hatch, and other more "aesthetic" finishes.
I would like to reference, if possible, a better defined standard than an internally used description that individual metal finishers use in their sales literature.
product development - Maple Grove, Minnesota
June 8, 2009
September 30, 2009
A. SPI FINISH GUIDE
A-1 GRADE #3 DIAMOND BUFF
A-2 GRADE #6 DIAMOND BUFF
A-3 GRADE #15 DIAMOND BUFF
B-1 600 GRIT PAPER
B-2 400 GRIT PAPER
B-3 320 GRIT PAPER
C-1 600 STONE
C-2 400 STONE
C-3 320 STONE
D-1 DRY BLAST GLASS BEAD #11
D-2 DRY BLAST #240 OXIDE
D-3 DRY BLAST #24 OXIDE
SPI Finish A-1 -- Grade #3, 6000 Grit Diamond Buff
SPI Finish A-2 -- Grade #6, 3000 Grit Diamond Buff
SPI Finish A-3 -- Grade #15, 1200 Grit Diamond Buff
SPI Finish B-1 -- 600 Grit Paper
SPI Finish B-2 -- 400 Grit Paper
SPI Finish B-3 -- 320 Grit Paper
SPI Finish C-1 -- 600 Grit Paper
SPI Finish C-2 -- 400 Grit Paper
SPI Finish C-3 -- 320 Grit Paper
SPI Finish D-1 -- 600 Stone Prior to Dry Blast Glass Bead #11
SPI Finish D-2 -- 400 Stone Prior to Dry Blast #24 Oxide
SPI Finish D-3 -- 320 Stone Prior to Dry Blast #24 Oxide
SPE -- The Society of Plastic Engineers
SPI -- The Society of the Plastic Industry
- Dongguan City ,Guangdong province, China
Q. I wonder if anyone knows were I might find a chart the compares SPI surface finish to a RMS or a Ra surface finish?
Jay C [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Q. SPI also produced a "Cosmetic Specifications of Injection Molded Parts" (AQ-103) document with a Surface Identification and Classification scheme which closely parallels the Mold Finish Guide scheme, i.e., surfaces A through D and grades 1 through 4 -- but really speaks more about how a part should be inspected. This would seem to be confusing since they mean very different things. Does anyone have a nice way of distinguishing these callouts on a drawing?
Dave
- Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
February 5, 2015
Q. I'm interested in a final appearance of a SPI C3 finish. With a a picture to show the part in question, it has a surface appearance and feel that is not smooth. The part is a 3D printed FDM part. Can someone email me a picture of the required or close to surface appearance of this call out?
David Torres- Huntington Beach, California. United States
January 20, 2016
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