Surface finish hub
Category overview and RFQ checklist.
Surface finish hubSurface finish
Chrome Plating on Plastics: Mold and Design Notes
Mirror chrome on plastic is rarely a mold polish outcome alone. It is a plating stack on the right resin.
Surface finish
Separate decorative chrome from molded gloss
ABS and PC ABS blends dominate plating routes. Confirm resin before quoting cosmetic mold polish.
Plateable grades need consistent process control. Non plateable resins need real metal inserts or alternate cosmetics.
Gate scars on visible faces fail plating inspection. Design gate location early.
Quote checklist
What to send with CAD
Finish specs stall quotes when they live only in email threads.
Resin grade confirmed plateable if chrome required
Plating vendor thickness stack
Keep exploring
Related finish guides
Open siblings on the same hub path before you lock mold texture on the quote.
Color options
Appearance and resin color control.
Color optionsSPI finish chart
A1 through D3 on one page.
SPI finish chartMolding textures
MoldTech and VDI selection.
Molding texturesTexture selection
Pick a spec before steel is cut.
Texture selectionFAQ
Common questions
Does high SPI polish equal chrome?
No. Chrome plating is a separate secondary operation.
Next step
Ready to attach a finish target to your upload?
NetProto quotes one hardened steel tool with piece price. Finish level still drives DFM and mold texture scope.