Construction Hardware Prototyping: Parts
Exposed architectural parts live in sunlight and rain, and the finish specification is the whole game.
Discuss your partWhat we build for construction & hardware
Send a drawing and a target quantity. We will come back with material, process and a realistic date, or tell you what we would change first.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Typical parts | Fittings and brackets · Balustrade components · Door and window hardware · Decorative covers |
| Common materials | Al 6061 · Al 7075 · Brass · SS 316L · Copper |
| Achievable tolerance | ±0.10 mm architectural fit, ±0.05 mm on visible features |
| Typical lead time | 5–10 working days |
| Industry requirements | ISO 9001 quality systems at partner factories · Material certification per lot · Batch colour approval before production · NDA available |
What actually goes wrong in construction & hardware
These are the three problems that decide whether a construction & hardware prototype succeeds or gets scrapped on arrival.
RAL colour matching under sunlight
Architectural finishes are specified to a RAL or Pantone reference and viewed in daylight. Anodised colour drifts more than powder coat, so the specified process has to follow the specified colour standard.
Weathering and coastal exposure
Anodising is good but not universal. Coastal and pool environments need a specific alloy and finish pairing, and the assembly has to be considered too — a perfect part in a wrong alloy still corrodes.
Architectural tolerances are not machining tolerances
An architectural fit may be a millimetre or two, while the visible finish and the edge break are held to a much finer standard. The drawing has to say which requirement is which.
Our approach on construction & hardware parts
- 01 We match the process to the colour standard you specify — anodised and powder-coated parts are not interchangeable for RAL matching.
- 02 We recommend the alloy-finish pairing for the exposure condition before quoting.
- 03 Edge break and cosmetic surface are specified explicitly so the visible result is predictable.
The numbers that matter
Related pages
Where a prototype stops short
A prototype answers geometry and fit. It does not qualify a product, and we will not pretend otherwise. These are the questions that need a test programme.
- Weathering over a service life
- Structural adequacy — that is an engineering calculation, not a prototype
- Colour match against a future production lot