Tumbling media is any material that is used for modifying or altering the appearance of a part – that is cleaning, polishing, smoothing parts and separating parts. Tumbling media are rough in nature. Tumbling compounds are compounds that are used in the tumbling process as aids.
The tumbling media is also recognized as finishing media as it is used to offer the finishing touches to parts. The parts to be polished or cleaned or separated are put into tumbling or vibratory machines along with the tumbling media. When the equipment start to run, the tumbling media and the parts rub next to each other which supply an abrasive accomplishment. This act in turn gives the smoothing and polishing outcome. There are two types of tumbling media – natural and simulated. Natural tumbling media consist of corn cob media and walnut shells media. Corn cob grit is used as tumbling media as it has efficient abrasive and cleaning properties. Walnut shells are also powdered to different grit sizes and are used in cleaning and polishing. The benefit of tumbling media is that they are bio degradable and therefore are environment friendly. They are also robust and cost effective. They are characteristically used in tumbling processes where soft abrasive property is needed.
Artificial tumbling media includes plastic finishing media and ceramic media. Mutually come in preformed shapes and sizes. Depending on the necessity, the right material, shapes and sizes can be selected. Plastic tumbling media is establish to be ultimate for metal removal, pre plated finishing, fast and heavy cutting. It is used efficiently on metals like brass and aluminium which are soft metals. They are also ideally suited for use on stringy materials because they prevent burrs rolling over into holes. Plastic media are good for providing very smooth finishes without much shine. Ceramic tumbling media is suited for light as well as heavy deburring and in aggressive removing of hard metals. Ceramic media come in very small sizes and they work better than plastic media on heavy parts.
Tumbling compounds are helpful in improving the efficiency of tumbling media as they prevent glazing over. They also provide additional abrasiveness and help to maintain the metal colour of the parts being tumbled. They also help in imparting an anti rusting and anti corrosive properties to the parts apart from giving shiny and bright finish. They are very useful while cleaning of parts – in de-scaling and heavy grease removal. They provide a medium that ensures that the cleaned grime does not get re-deposited on the parts. They also assist in the deburring procedure and separating of parts. Tumbling compounds are also good for using with delicate parts as they act as good cushions.
Tumbling compounds can be dry or wet or creamy. They could be ph-balanced, acidic or alkaline in nature depending on the purpose they are anticipated to serve in the finishing method. The flow rate of the tumbling compounds has to be maintained in proportion to the quantity of the tumbling media used in order to attain optimum fin
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Mass Finishing Parts by means of Vibratory Finishing Machines
Mass finishing refers to the finishing process on many parts simultaneously. Finishing involves the deburing, polishing, smoothing, cleaning and separating of parts. The finishing procedure is carried out in a tumbling or vibratory machine, with finishing media, finishing compounds and the parts to be mass finished thrown in together.
Depending upon the nature of the parts that call for mass finishing, the finishing machine, finishing media and finishing compounds should be preferred. In tumbling machines, parts can be tumbled with or without media. These machines are well matched for aggressive cutting and producing shimmering polishes; they are good for working on edges and rounded corners. Vibratory machines are suitable for shaking parts and media at a elevated rate of speed; they are secure for use on frail parts and these machines provide very smooth finishes even in parts with holes and deep recesses. Natural media like corn cob media and walnut shell media are used when a soft abrasive effect is required. For heavier abrasive needs, man made media like plastic and ceramic media can be used.
When general deburring has to be done, ceramic media is very useful. Hard ceramic media are used for light deburring and polishing. Softer ceramic media that have more abrasive ingredients are used when faster cutting is needed. If delicate parts are subjected to mass finishing, plastic media can be used to give very smooth finishes without much shine. Because plastic media are much lighter compared to ceramic media, they do not hurt fragile parts. It is essential to use the right quantity of media for the amount of parts being finished so that the parts remain safe. Finishing compounds are used to boost the efficiency of the finishing media being used and to progress finishing cycle times. Compounds could be alkaline or acidic; they are very helpful in de-greasing and de-scaling and they also help in increasing cutting speeds.
Vibratory finishing machines are used in mass finishing of parts. They comprise of tubs called finishing or processing tubs that are vibrated at elevated speeds. The parts to be finished are put into the tub along with finishing media and when the tub vibrates, the parts and media graze against each other. This abrasive action produces the deburring of parts. The cutting action that happens in a vibratory system is precise and thorough. Compounds specially suited for vibratory systems can be used to provide better performance.
The vibratory finishing machines run at high speeds and very short strokes. So, they are powerful; yet, because of the short strokes, they do not place any undue stress on the parts. They can therefore be safely used on large parts like wing spans and landing struts. The vibratory finishing machines easily dislodge material from holes and recesses in parts like bores and can work very fragile parts without causing any damage. The vibratory machines can be automated very easily – a full automation can be done for a finishing process that is sequential in nature. It can also be used as part of a large batch finishing process.
Depending upon the nature of the parts that call for mass finishing, the finishing machine, finishing media and finishing compounds should be preferred. In tumbling machines, parts can be tumbled with or without media. These machines are well matched for aggressive cutting and producing shimmering polishes; they are good for working on edges and rounded corners. Vibratory machines are suitable for shaking parts and media at a elevated rate of speed; they are secure for use on frail parts and these machines provide very smooth finishes even in parts with holes and deep recesses. Natural media like corn cob media and walnut shell media are used when a soft abrasive effect is required. For heavier abrasive needs, man made media like plastic and ceramic media can be used.
When general deburring has to be done, ceramic media is very useful. Hard ceramic media are used for light deburring and polishing. Softer ceramic media that have more abrasive ingredients are used when faster cutting is needed. If delicate parts are subjected to mass finishing, plastic media can be used to give very smooth finishes without much shine. Because plastic media are much lighter compared to ceramic media, they do not hurt fragile parts. It is essential to use the right quantity of media for the amount of parts being finished so that the parts remain safe. Finishing compounds are used to boost the efficiency of the finishing media being used and to progress finishing cycle times. Compounds could be alkaline or acidic; they are very helpful in de-greasing and de-scaling and they also help in increasing cutting speeds.
Vibratory finishing machines are used in mass finishing of parts. They comprise of tubs called finishing or processing tubs that are vibrated at elevated speeds. The parts to be finished are put into the tub along with finishing media and when the tub vibrates, the parts and media graze against each other. This abrasive action produces the deburring of parts. The cutting action that happens in a vibratory system is precise and thorough. Compounds specially suited for vibratory systems can be used to provide better performance.
The vibratory finishing machines run at high speeds and very short strokes. So, they are powerful; yet, because of the short strokes, they do not place any undue stress on the parts. They can therefore be safely used on large parts like wing spans and landing struts. The vibratory finishing machines easily dislodge material from holes and recesses in parts like bores and can work very fragile parts without causing any damage. The vibratory machines can be automated very easily – a full automation can be done for a finishing process that is sequential in nature. It can also be used as part of a large batch finishing process.
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