dirty parts after tumbling deburr 1

[BobM3]

I've been deburring some aluminum castings in a vibratory deburring machine. It works great for removing the burrs. However it leaves the parts dirty. I'd like for the machined surfaces to remain shiny after deburr. I'm using ceramic media and a burnishing compound. I'm thinking I should try plastic media and a detergent. Any ideas?

 

[kenvlach]

Doing aluminum in a setup for steel parts?
Not sure what you mean by "dirty?" Stuff sticking on the surface or so finely scratched as to give a diffuse finish?

There are many variables in vibratory finishing. Usually a plastic resin filled with ceramic abrasive and a compound specifically for aluminum are used, wet. Visit some mass finishing media/compound supplier websites for something appropriate.

http://www.finishing.com/Mechprep/index.html

http://www.roslerusa.com

http://www.remchem.com

[link not working?]

Also, find articles & suppliers at

http://www.metalfinishing.com

http://www.pfonline.com

 

[JohnNabors]

My previous job was in a facility that made aluminum fastening blocks for automotive A/C systems. We tumbled the parts in various media inluding three types of stainless steel media. One was about the size and shape of rabbit food, cylinders about 1/8" in diameter by about1/2" long. Another was shaped like Marvin the Martian's spaceship and was about 7/16" in diameter and the third looked like a 3/4" long section of a 3/16" diameter cylindrical rotory file. I don't know the geometry of your parts but one suggestion regarding the size of the media: Choose the media size to be either so big that it can't possibly get inside any holes or crevices or so small that a dozen pieces or more will fit into the smallest opening. I once saw a pan of maybe 400 parts come out of the tumbling operation and every one of them had 7 pieces of tumbling media packed into one bore and it was pure hell getting that stuff back out.

 

[ck1999]

You may want to contact the manufacturer of the deburring compound and mention your cleaning issue.

Is this issue something new or has it been ongoing?

Also are you reusing the deburring compound or is it being used only once?

Ck1999

 

[BobM3]

I contacted the maker of the deburring machine. They also sell compound although it's not the one I use. Their guy said to use more water and less compound in the mix and not to add a cleaning compound to the mix. I didn't notice much difference. I replace the mix more often now. The parts aren't quite as dirty but still, even with a fresh batch, they come out a bit dirty.

 

[JohnNabors]

Bob-

Have you looked into the stainless media I mentioned above? Not only do the parts come out of the tumbler clean, they get a nice polish.

 

[ck1999]

Is the solution in your reservoir tank dirty or does it look like it is still fresh? If your deburring compound is cleaning your parts then you should notice a difference in your water.

What concentration are you using your deburring compound?

Do you monitor your concentration?

What kind of soils are you cleaning?

Ck1999

 

[BobM3]

I haven't looked into the stainless steel media. I'll look for some.

The solution in the tank gets very dirty quickly. I don't know what makes up the dirt. There's a thick gray colored sediment that forms in the bottom of the tank. I switch it out after about 3 hours of use. I use the minimum compound mixture ratio recommended by the manufacturer (2 oz/gal).

 

[ck1999]

Most of the vibratories our customer use are using the solution only once. The solution then goes to waste treatment from the bottom of the vibratory bowls and is not reused. This may increase you cost but the media and parts should be cleaner this way. Is the burnishing compound acidic or alkaline?

ck1999

 

[rabbitwax]

BOB are you using soft water and detergent? The reasson I ask is A nearby company asked us to put a softener in so the detergent would foam and the part became sliprier when wet and made them shinnier. These were for cabinet handles. You are going to want to keep the hardness down so the detrgent can do it's job. Otherwise you'll need to get a detergent with lots of khelants to soften the water while you use it. Believe me it's cheaper to buy bags of salt than the soap with khelants.