Large Vibratory Systems Provide Gentle Single-Part Finishing
Aerospace manufacturers are able to mechanize and automate the finishing of large, long, heavy, and delicate work components thanks to Rosler Metal Finishing’s large vibratory systems. These tub vibrators are capable of replacing expensive and inconsistent manual finishing with cost-effective and precise mass finishing.
While manual finishing is still the prevailing method, Rosler’s tub vibrators are a highly effective solution for the automatic finishing of large and heavy single work pieces. These machines are equipped with custom engineered vibratory drive systems developed and built in-house. Depending on the finishing process, their speed can be varied between 1,500 and 3,600 RPM. Automatic process water cleaning and recycling systems ensure that the vibratory process produces absolutely consistent and repeatable finishing results.
Aerospace Applications
One of Rosler’s tub vibrators is utilized by a leading aircraft manufacturer for deburring and edge radiusing of structural fuselage components made from aluminum with lengths of up to 7,150 mm (282 inch). The processing tub with a width of 425 and a length of 7,400 mm (17 x 292 inch) is equipped with a powerful vibratory TUD drive.
The drive system, directly connected to the processing tub, evenly distributes vibratory energy over the complete tub length with multiple imbalance units. This guarantees a highly intensive media/work piece movement at very short cycle times. Within certain time intervals the processing media is removed from the tub and passed through a vibratory undersize media classification system, before being returned. This ensures a stable media operating mix and prevents lodging of undersized media in the part. The sound enclosure ensures that the ambient noise level does not exceed the customer’s permissible limits.
Another aircraft manufacturer uses Rosler equipment to process various sizes of complex, structural components after CNC machining. The purchase of a tub vibrator measuring 650 x 4,000 mm (26 x 158 inch) replaced a manual finishing process to create a homogeneous surface finish for the different sized work pieces.
In order to process assorted smaller work pieces at the same time, the processing tub can be partitioned into several chambers with special dividing plates. The work pieces are loaded into and removed from the tub with a crane. If desired, the partitions can be removed to finish a single component. The telescopic sound enclosure lid makes the loading and unloading of the parts very easy.
A leading supplier of landing gear utilizes large vibratory systems from Rosler for deburring and edge radiusing components milled from a 2-meter (79 inch) long titanium slab weighing 400 kg (880 pounds). After the milling stage, burs must be removed, the edges radiused, and the milling grooves smoothed out to prevent a potential notching effect.
Work pieces are individually lifted into the processing tub measuring 800 x 3,000 mm (32 x 1,181 inch) with a crane. This particular tub vibrator is equipped with a TSD direct drive. Two powerful vibratory motors mounted to the frontal walls of the tub generate an intensive, rotary movement of the processing media. The processing intensity can be adjusted by varying the drive speed or the imbalance weight settings.
All three example vibratory tub systems are equipped with custom engineered noise suppressing enclosures. Their design ensures not only a significant reduction of the operating noise but also easy access to the tubs for quick loading and unloading of the work pieces. In addition to keeping the noise level down, sound enclosures also prevent the transmission of low frequency sound waves to surrounding equipment.
The Rosler Way
True to our motto of “finding a better way…” Rosler considers all inputs and outputs of your process. We offer experienced finishing engineering and an entire range of surface finishing equipment and consumables (media and compound) to ensure that the entire process is optimized.
Whatever your aerospace finishing needs are, you can count on Rosler Metal Finishing to find a better way. Contact us today to start the conversation.