IQS Newsroom Articles on Tumbling and Deburring Media
Tumbling and Deburring Media
Tumbling media are small abrasive steel, ceramic, plastic and organic shapes
which are used in tumblers and vibratory
finish machines for mass deburring, finishing and polishing. In industrial
applications they are used in mass quantities help to shape, finish, polish
or deburr metal, plastic or wood parts. There are many different types of deburring
media, each designed for a specific type of deburring or polishing. Types of
materials used to make abrasive tumbling media include plastic, ceramic, steel
and natural biodegradable media such as walnut shells, coconut shells and corn
cob. Tumbling media manufacturers make each of these materials into a variety
of spheres, cylinders, pyramids, stars, ovals and other shapes, each shape
being designed to do a different kind of cutting, deburring, shaping, smoothing,
light deburring or polishing.
Steel media shapes are used for either heavy deburring and cutting or shining,
polishing and burnishing. Ceramic or graded stone media are ideal for general
purpose polishing, light and heavy deburring, fast and extra fast deburring,
aggressive metal removal and deburring of hard, heavy metals. Ceramic tumbling
media also provide an effective way of removing rust while leaving a uniform
surface on parts. Plastic finishing media, being much lighter than ceramic
media, are used on softer metals such as brass, aluminum or threaded parts.
Plastic media shapes are used for general metal deburring, burnishing, precision
deburring, pre-plated finishing and polishing. Common plastic media shapes
are cones, triangles, pyramids, wedges and stars, all of which are designed
to create an extremely smooth, matte finish.
Organic dry finishing media, available in various size grades, offer many advantages
as tumbling media. They are biodegradable, highly durable and reusable, natural
and safer for humans and the environment than their inorganic alternatives.
Walnut shells and coconut shells can be used for medium to light deburring,
and walnut shells, coconut shells and corn cob meal are excellent at light
finishing, deburring and polishing. Organic tumbling media, especially corn
cob, are advantageous in some metal parts finishing due to their ability to
absorb part surface oils, leaving a clean, smooth finish; as a result, organic
tumbling media are often used to clean and dry wet or soiled parts. Deburring,
finishing and polishing sometimes involves the use of wet tumbling compounds
mixed in with solid media. Wet compounds are designed for enhanced deburring,
for cleaning, or for rust and corrosion protection.
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Tumbling and Deburring
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