Vibratory tumblers the way to go?

[msomerville]

I have been thinking about purchasing a vibratory tumbler for a little while now, and I'm just not sure if it will work for my application or not. I have been looking at a couple of benchtop models that look like they should do the job. Right now I have maybe 5,000 parts a week I need deburred. Here's the thing, these are little brass washers ranging in size from 5/8" diameter to 3/8" in diameter with a 8-32 tapped hole in the middle .13" thick. My question is that I have a small burr on the backside of this washer where it was parted off, which media would be best for 360 brass and some aluminum, and can I successfully remove the burr and not damage the threaded hole?

Thanks in advance for any input.
Matt

[tobyaxis]

Matt,

I have seen a lot of places actually use sand (pure not from the beach ). There are also plastic rocks (I don't know the proper name). They are about the size of a dime or a nickel and work well on soft materials.

[msomerville]

The one thing I was worried about was "rolling" over the first thread in the hole or something like that. My understanding is that is all controlled by what media you use in the tumbler.

[tobyaxis]

Originally Posted by msomerville The one thing I was worried about was "rolling" over the first thread in the hole or something like that. My understanding is that is all controlled by what media you use in the tumbler.

Does your thread have a lead/chamfer or is it without a broken edge?

There is a method in which burs are electrified off a part. More like burning them off. Maybe that would better suite your needs.

[InspirationTool]

Originally Posted by msomerville The one thing I was worried about was "rolling" over the first thread in the hole or something like that. My understanding is that is all controlled by what media you use in the tumbler.

From what I've seen and heard, you can either "hammer down" the burr or abrade it off depending upon media and vibratory action.

If you use larger media, it won't get in the threaded hole.

I'd say go ahead and get a good mid sized system. Just don't expect it to work without doing some research and testing.

-Jeff

[msomerville]

I have a 100 degree chamfer on both sides of the piece. I've heard of the burning proceedure but it sounded like something I would have to send out to have done. I would really like to keep this in house if I could.
Jeff you say a good mid-sized system. I was looking at a benchtop model the volume of this particular one is .1 cu ft. Do you know if the smaller ones hold up or is there a reason as to why you would get a good mid-sized one?

[Roger N]

Any good supplier of finishing media and machines will take a sample of your products and test finish them. It is way better to spend the time testing than to spend your money on media and machines that don't work.

[copper3416]

Try a lead angle on your parting tool.Spin fast slow feed.Try a place called Kaiser tool company.They have super thin cutting tools in carbide with the lead angle already. Reduced waste and a burr for me.