To understand what mass finishing is please see our post: Mass Finishing – What Is It And Why Should You Consider Using It?

 

Mass finishing machines come in different shapes, sizes and styles; from vibratory bowls and troughs, high energy centrifugal disk machines to drag finishing.  Machines can often be chosen in batch and continuous flow versions and as such their application range is as wide as it is varied.  below are just some of the possible applications:

The Aerospace Industry

The de-burring and surface finishing of airframe components, usually of aluminium alloys. Processes usually involve the use of long, straight trough machines – sometimes fitted with divider plates. Machines can be supplied for wing spars and stingers which can exceed 10 metres in length.

The de-burring of jet engine housings.

The de-burring and finishing of turbine discs in bowls and/or trough vibrators by fixturing or in separate compartments, or by plunge grinding for speed.

The leading and trailing edge radiusing of compressor and turbine blades and the improvement of surface finish down to single digit readings in microns Ra.

 

The Automotive Industry

Engine components, e.g. cylinder heads, manifolds, pistons and connecting rods, valve, spark plug bodies.

Camshafts and crankshafts using fixtures or special machines.

Gearbox components,  i.e. de-burring of brass blocker rings and finishing gears and shafts.

Suspension components, i.e. springs and swivel pin holder.

Seat belts buckles, pressings and components for window opening mechanisms.

Aluminium wheels for cut down prior to further treatment and/or through to pressure burnishing.

 

The Cutlery Industry

 To cut down and/or polish knife blades.

To cut down and radius spoon and fork blanks, usually prior to forming.

To re-burnish and clean cutlery in use at hotels, catering companies and on airlines.

 

Coins and Medals

To de-scale after annealing.

To burnish blanks.

To lubricate blanks for ease of flow in presses.

 

General Domestic Architectural Hardware

 Deburring lock components.

Pre-paint or pre-plate finishing of steel, mazak or brass door and window fittings.

 

Die-castings (Aluminium or Zinc)

De-flash and de-sprewing.

Surface blending and polishing.

Finishing cast metal toys.

 

Stampings and Forgings

The cleaning and polishing of hot brass stampings prior to machining.

Cut down of forgings and removal of scale.

 

Pressings

Deburring, surface finishing, edge radiusing and heat treatment scale removal.

 

Fasteners

Cleaning and polishing of screws, rivets, nails.

De-nibbing of nails.

 

Electrical Fittings

The de-burring and cleaning of brass plug components and contacts.

 

Bearings

Cut down and finishing of rollers and balls.

De-burring of bearing cages.

Finishing of spherical ball and bearing components.

Finishing of white metal bearings.

 

Surgical Implants and Instruments

Fine finishing of surgical implants.

Fine finishing of surgical instruments.

Burnishing of scalpel blades.

 

Pipe and Tube Fittings

Burnishing brass and copper pipe fittings.

Burnishing of stainless steel fittings.

Cut down and deburring or surface blending of cast or fully machined fittings.

 

The Plastic Industry

It is not generally acceptable to put heat formed plastic in abrasive processes because the surface is easily scratched and damaged by the abrasive and cannot be restored. Certain plastic components are able to be processed in Rősler machines though such as:

Heat formed plastics (thermosets – electric plugs, m.c.b. housing, etc…)can be de-flashed using steel of porcelain media, or wood block.

De-flashing and polishing buttons

Spectacle frames.

Buckles.  Media used for these processes would include wood blocks impregnated with grinding or polishing creams for bright finished. Plastic media can be used for cutting down.  

 

The Wood Industry

Wood components, especially hard wood, can be smoothed and blended.

 

The Rubber Industry

A number of applications have been developed for this industry.

The rubber industry often needs to de-flash small parts such as ‘O’ rings and oils seals. This is often carried out in cryogenic (freeze) processes although successful deflashing can be achieved using centrifugal force machines with highly abrasive media meaning freezing is not required.

 

The Ceramic Industry

Removing the surface dust from biscuit ware prior to glazing. This is done in a one-lap operation in a bowl type machine using small ceramic or wood blocks and/or media. A dust extraction system is typically required.

The burnishing of gold ornamentation on fine chinaware – replacing traditional hand-burnishing methods. The process uses steel media and a neutral polishing compound.

 

Additive Manufacturing / Sintering Industry

With the advent of new additive and sintering technology and developments in 3D printing plastics and metals can be deburred, smoothed and/or polished as required using a range of machine types with ceramic / plastic media.

 

For more information on mass finishing visit www.rosler.com

 

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Post written by
Stephen Lewis-Brammer
General Manager