| Name | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Product | CNC Milled Watch Back Cover |
| Material | 316 Stainless Steel |
| Order Quatity | 200 pcs |
| Tolerance | 0.01mm |
| Size | 42*42*18mm |
| Technology | CNC Milling+Electroplating |
| Location | Switzerland |
| Application | Watch industry |
| Lead Time | 21 Days |
A leading smart watch manufacturer is seeking a partner capable of mass-producing the stainless steel cases for its new-generation smart watches. This product has extremely high requirements for dimensional accuracy and surface finish, as it not only needs to perfectly fit the internal precision electronic components but also withstand two distinct surface treatment processes: one is PVD vacuum gold plating, and the other is nickel electroplating. Any tiny processing defects will be magnified after electroplating, directly affecting the final appearance and functionality of the product.
The main challenges faced by the customer include:
- Extremely high precision requirements: The interior of the case needs to have multiple micro-holes and grooves for installing sensors and circuit boards, with tolerances that must be controlled within 0.01mm.
- Material selection and processing: 316L stainless steel needs to be used. This material is strong and durable, but it is difficult to process, and it is prone to tool marks or thermal deformation.
- Surface treatment compatibility: The surface of the processed parts must be smooth enough to ensure that the electroplated layer can adhere evenly and firmly, avoiding problems such as bubbles, peeling, or uneven gloss.
RPS Solution: One-stop Professional Service for CNC Machining and Surface Treatment
As an expert with over 20 years of experience in precision mechanical parts manufacturing, RPS has provided customers with a perfect one-stop solution relying on its profound technical accumulation in CNC milling and metal surface treatment.
We have taken the following key steps to ensure the success of the project:
- Material selection and optimization: We recommended and used high-quality 316L stainless steel bars. This medical-grade stainless steel has excellent corrosion resistance and mechanical properties, making it an ideal choice for high-end watch cases.
- High-precision CNC milling: Using our 5-axis machining centers and high-speed CNC milling machines, we performed multiple precision milling processes on the stainless steel blanks. We designed customized fixtures and tool paths for each processing step to minimize vibration and heat accumulation, ensuring that all complex internal structures are processed under micron-level tolerance control.
- Multiple polishing and deburring: After the completion of CNC processing, we adopted multiple fine polishing processes, including manual polishing and mechanical polishing, to remove all tiny tool marks and burrs, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent electroplating process. Finally, we successfully reduced the surface roughness to below Ra 0.8, achieving a mirror polishing effect.
- Integrated surface treatment: We closely collaborated with professional electroplating partners to provide two services: PVD gold plating and nickel electroplating. Our quality team conducted strict inspections on the parts before electroplating, and performed salt spray tests and adhesion tests on the finished products after electroplating to ensure their long-lasting durability in extreme environments.
Watch Parts Manufacturing Standard
| Project | Parameter |
|---|---|
| Materials | Stainless steel (316L, 904L), titanium alloy (TC4), copper alloy (H62, be), ceramics (zirconia), special alloys (such as cobalt-containing and palladium alloys) |
| Surface Treatment | Polishing (mirror, wire drawing), electroplating (gold, rhodium, nickel), vacuum ion plating (PVD), anodizing (titanium alloy), sandblasting (matte effect) |
| Tolerance | Dimensional tolerance ±0.005mm – ±0.02mm (adjusted according to part functions), geometric tolerance (such as flatness, cylindricity) ≤0.01mm |
| Quality Inspection |
Equipped with 2D image measuring instrument and coordinate measuring machine for full-size inspection; conducting salt spray test (24 – 200 hours), wear resistance test (simulating wearing friction), and tensile test (for connectors)
|
Results: Perfect Delivery to Boost Customer’s Brand Growth
Through RPS’s one-stop manufacturing service, the customer not only obtained high-precision stainless steel watch cases that meet all design requirements, but also the gloss and texture of the product surface exceeded expectations. Our strict quality control and efficient production process helped the customer shorten the product launch time and gain a market first-mover advantage.
- Product precision: All key dimensional tolerances are controlled within 0.005mm, far exceeding the customer’s initial requirements.
- Surface quality: The PVD gold plating and nickel electroplating layers are uniform and smooth without any defects, which greatly enhances the visual appeal of the product.
- Manufacturing cost and efficiency: By integrating CNC processing and surface treatment into RPS’s one-stop service, the customer saved communication costs, simplified the supply chain, and ensured the quality controllability of the entire production process.
What Watch Parts Can We Manufacture?
(1) Exterior Parts
Watch cases (including all shapes such as round, square, and irregular); bezels (with scales and diamond inlay groove structures); crowns (with anti-slip textures and sealing structures); strap buckles (complex locking structures such as folding buckles and butterfly buckles).
(2) Functional Parts
Movement plates (supporting and positioning movement components, including multiple micro-holes and channels); balance plates (with high-precision dynamic balance requirements); pallets (ultra-precision transmission structures); buttons (adapting to timing and adjustment functions, requiring both good hand feel and precision).
Need Similar High-precision CNC Milled Watch Parts? Contact us now!
This success case once again demonstrates RPS’s excellent capabilities in high-precision CNC machining and complex metal parts manufacturing. No matter what level of complexity your project requires for prototypes or mass production, we are confident in providing you with the most professional solutions.
Advantages of contacting us:
- Fast response: Ensure that your requirements are handled in the first time.
- Professional support: Experienced engineers provide you with technical guidance and solution suggestions.
- Flexible processing: We can meet it efficiently whether it is a prototype or a batch order.
