Threading and Finishing
WSi supports several surface treatment and machining methods. All are Transform worksteps — insert them manually into the graph at the appropriate position.
Available methods
- Spray Painting — liquid paint atomised and applied as a fine mist. Suitable for colour finishes, corrosion protection, or complex geometries where powder coating cannot achieve full coverage.
- Powder Coating — electrostatically applied powder cured in an oven to form a hard, uniform finish. More durable than liquid paint; suitable for outdoor or corrosive environments.
- Countersinking — conical recess around a drilled hole for flush-fit fasteners.
- Tapping — internal threads in sheet metal or tube, either cutting or forming.
Spray Painting
When to use: colour/RAL requirement, complex geometry, thin coat, low-volume production.
Step-by-step
- Select the node before or after which the paint should be applied, in the Tree View or Graph View.
- Right-click the node and choose Append node(s) (or Prepend node(s)) from the context menu.
- In the process selector dialog, choose Spray Painting.
- If prompted, choose the paint type and colour, and review the film thickness — for most coating types this dialog opens automatically right after the node is created. Three types — Cathodic dip painting, Electro galvanizing, and Hot dip galvanizing — auto-populate with no dialog at all.
Powder Coating
When to use: durable/scratch-resistant finish, uniform colour, outdoor/corrosive environment, environmentally friendly (no solvents).
Step-by-step
- Select the node before or after which the coating should be applied, in the Tree View or Graph View.
- Right-click the node and choose Append node(s) (or Prepend node(s)) from the context menu.
- In the process selector dialog, choose Powder Coating.
- If prompted, select the coating colour and review the film thickness — for most coating types this dialog opens automatically right after the node is created. Three types — Cathodic dip painting, Electro galvanizing, and Hot dip galvanizing — auto-populate with no dialog at all.
Common Parameters
Some parameters apply to all or most surface treatment methods:
| Parameter | Applies to | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Edit Coating | All | Right-click a Transform node → Edit Coating to reassign or clear the coating type |
| Comments | All | Optional notes for the operator |
Result
After running any surface treatment:
- A Transform node appears in the Graph View at the position where it was inserted
- The Tree View shows the parameters and any warnings
- Export data includes specifications for ERP or production output
WARNING
Coating processes are optional modules. If the coating module is not licensed, Spray Painting and Powder Coating are blocked. Contact your sales representative at WSoptics to obtain the relevant licence.