What this is
The cut edge is half the part. A clean cut from any of our machines is most of the job, but the final finish on that edge depends on what the part is for. A backer panel hidden behind a fascia? Raw cut is fine. A retail display front? You want polished. The middle ground — counter detail, signage backers, marine fittings — depends on the look.
We offer a graded set of edge finishes that you pick per job. Raw machine finish is the cut edge straight off the router or laser, no second step — fine for hidden or utility work. Sanded finish removes machine marks and gives a uniform matte texture; good for parts that will be painted or for fittings where the edge needs to be safe to handle. Polished finish (sanded then buffed) gives a satin or near-clear edge depending on material and the number of stages applied. Flame-polished is a separate higher-tier process for acrylic (see the Flame Polishing page).
Material matters. Aluminium edges can be sanded smooth and brushed for a fabricated look, or polished to a near-mirror finish for premium signage. ACM edges sand cleanly and take edge-paint well. Acrylic responds best to sand-then-flame-polish. MDF and ply edges sand smooth but need filler-and-paint for a finished look — talk to us about prep for paint.
For your enquiry, tell us "raw / sanded / polished / paint-prep" against the visible edges of each part. We'll quote against the spec.