Pasts sticking in Vibe tumblers

[Les George]

I run a lot of flat parts though my vibe tumbler and they tend to want to stick together because of the capillary action of the fluid.

Is there any way to make that stop? It would be a lot easier if I didnt have to check on the parts all the time to make sure they are not bunching up... Speaking of which.....

TIA!

[wedwards75]

I'm not sure if you are still having this problem or not but I just ran across this board and figured I would try and help. I use to be in the metal finishing business but now work for a machine shop. A common solution to aid in parts sticking together is to add glass beads (easily bought from Grainger or other supplier, used for media blasting) These come in 50 lb bags or buckets depending on where you buy them. Depending on the size of your tumbler start with a couple cups of glass beads until you start seeing an improvement. If you need any further help please let me know.

[Les George]

Thanks boss! It's not so bad now, I am running a flow though system now with a bigger tumbler.

I have tried the glass bead thing before, but it didnt seem to help. Maybe I didnt use enough?

I stopped messing with that particular idea since I figured it would end up in the flow though bucket...

what I would like now more than anything, is an easy way to remove the parts from the media without hand fishing each one out!

[wedwards75]

What type of tumbler do you have?

Most manufacturers of new equipment have an option for parts unload, which is a ramp that comes up or down depending on manufacturer then the parts unload across a screen deck and media falls back down into machine. I don't think I asked but is it a round bowl of rectangular tub? IF its a tub then this is not an option at all.

I have seen a couple of people make a ramp for parts to come up in a machine that did not have it originally. Depending on capabilities at your place you can either make it all internal and still have to grab parts or modify it to exit the machine.

What is the overall diameter of the machine if it round?

[Les George]

Raytech TD-75 Vibratory Finisher USA Item Number: 202154 Raytech quality finishing systems provide the capacity and features you need for effective, versatile productivity. Bowls are designed to run wet or dry. Tumble-dump base lets you invert the bowl directly into a separating screen. Use with the Flow-Thru system kit (item #202-127). • Finisher has a tumble-dump base with adjustable amplitude , 6-gallon flow-thru bowl (20" diameter x 9-1/2" deep) • Workpiece capacity: 12 cups/400 rings • Media capacity: ceramic: 66 lbs.; plastic: 50 lbs.; hardwood: 22 lbs.; shell: 43 lbs

That is the tumbler that I have, is there a link to pics of what you are talking about? THANK YOU!

[wedwards75]

Ok, now that I see the type that you have it makes this easier for me to discribe, but may be not easier for you to hear. The table top models pretty much have to be hand picked. The option to unload only comes with larger floor models.

However, with a little engineering you might, and notice I said might, be able to fabricate a ramp for the parts to travel up. This all depends on the mass of the part and the power of the machine to push the parts up via the frequency. I never tried this on a table top model. I will try and find a good picture of the ramp on a floor model for you to look at. This is the first one I came to on the net, even though I never heard of the company:

http://www.vibratoryfinishing.co.uk/...ad-p-1324.html

What you see in the pictures is the screen deck where the parts come out and the media falls back in. most machines have a gradual rise on the bottom of the bowl so there is no sudden ramp up. what I'm thinking is you could make a new "bottom" for the bowl with a gradual rise then a small shaft with a ramp attached and then drop down the ramp when you want to unload. If your interested I can find more details, just don't know how much you want to put into this project

[wedwards75]

Or easy option if it is easy as your web link says, then build a separation screen outside the machine and just dump the media and parts on it then pour back in the media.

[Les George]

Originally Posted by wedwards75 Or easy option if it is easy as your web link says, then build a separation screen outside the machine and just dump the media and parts on it then pour back in the media.

I'll play with it and see what I can do, thanks for the help!