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Centrifugal Isotropic Finishing Media – Ceramic Preformed Shapes and Random Shapes

Contributing Editor:  Dave Davidson, Deburring/Finishing Technologist | 509.230.6821 | dryfinish@gmail.com | https://about.me/dave.davidson


If you have parts that need edge or surface finishing improvement and would like to have FREE sample part processing and a quotation developed for finishing the parts please contact Dave Davidson at

dryfinish@gmail.com    I can also be reached at 509.230.6821. Information about equipment for bringing Centrifugal Iso-Finishing capability to your facility is also available…Dave Davidson | dryfinish@gmail.com |http://dryfinish.wordpress.com


Ceramic Media Varieties

Ceramic media for tumbling and finishing

Ceramic media is the most commonly used media in mass finishing processes. This heavy material comes with a wide variety of shape and angle options that can increase or decrease its cutting ability. Ceramic media is commonly used for machined or cast parts that have rough tool marks, or rough surfaces. Ceramic media can quickly and effectively remove burs and grinding marks leaving you with a smooth part ready for the assembly line.


Depending on the shape, density, and size of the ceramic tumbler media, you can achieve a wide variety of surface finishes. This abrasive media is typically used in the first step of a finishing process and can easily remove difficult and troublesome burs from your parts.

Below you’ll find a list of some of the different types of Ceramic Tumbler Media we have available. Contact us so we can help you decide what ceramic media size and shape and grit for your part finishing application you should use. If you already know what type and how much you need, simply ask us for a quote.  State the size, shape, abrasive grit and the amount required. We can also take orders for other sizes, shapes and compositions upon request.

Angle Cut 30° Cylinders

Sizes Available:

  1. 1/8″ x 11/32″

  2. 3/16″ x 11/32″

  3. 5/16″ x 9/16″

  4. ½” x 7/8”

  5. 5/8″ x 1-1/2″

  6. 7/8″ x 1-1/2″

  7. 7/8″ x 1-3/4″

45° Angle Cut Cylinders (AC-45°)

Sizes Available:

  1. 3/8” x 5/8”

Angle Cut 20° Stars

Sizes Available:

  1. 5/8″ x ¼”

  2. 7/8″ x 5/16″

  3. 7/8″ x 3/8″

  4. 1-1/8″ X 3/8″

  5. 1-3/8″ x ½”

Angle Cut 20° Triangles

Sizes Available:

  1. 3/8″ x 3/16″

  2. 3/8 x ¼”

  3. 3/8″ x 3/8″

  4. 5/8″ x 3/16″

  5. 5/8” x ¼”

  6. 5/8″ x 3/8″

  7. 5/8″ x 9/16″

  8. 5/8″ x 5/8″

  9. 7/8″ x 5/16″

  10. 7/8″ x 3/8″

  11. 7/8″ x 7/8″

  12. 7/8″ x 15/16″

  13. 1-1/8″ x 5/16″

  14. 1-1/8″ x 3/8″

  15. 1-1/8″ x 15/16″

  16. 1-3/8″ x ½”

  17. 1-7/8″ x 5/8″

Cones

Sizes Available:

  1. ½” x 5/8″

  2. ¾” x 7/8″

  3. 1-1/4” x 1-1/4”

Fast Cut Spheres

Sizes Available:

  1. 1mm

  2. 2mm

  3. 3mm

  4. 4mm

  5. 5mm

  6. 6mm

  7. 9mm

Fast Cut Pins

Sizes Available:

  1. 1.5 x 5mm

  2. 2.5 x 8mm

  3. 3 x 6mm

XA and XM

Sizes Available:

  1. From 2 to 30

  1.  _____________________________________________________________

Centrifugal Iso-Finishing technology for deburring, finishing and polishing of machined and manufactured parts and components

Centrifugal isotropic Finishing

Centrifugal Isotropic Finishing (CIF) is a high-energy finishing method, which has come into widespread acceptance in the last few years. Although not nearly as universal in application as vibratory finishing, a long list of important CBF applications have been developed in the last few decades.

Similar in some respects to barrel finishing, in that a drum-type container is partially filled with media and set in motion to create a sliding action of the contents, CBF is different from other finishing methods in some significant ways. Among these are the high pressures developed in terms of media contact with parts, the unique sliding action induced by rotational and centrifugal forces, and accelerated abrading or finishing action. As is true with other high energy processes, because time cycles are much abbreviated, surface finishes can be developed in minutes, which might tie up conventional equipment for many hours.

barfunc

Centrifugal Barrel Finishing principles – high-intensity finishing is performed with barrels mounted on the periphery of a turret. The turret rotates providing the bulk of the centrifugal action, the barrels counter-rotate to provide the sliding abrasive action on parts.


The principle behind CBF is relatively straightforward. Opposing barrels or drums are positioned circumferentially on a turret. (Most systems have either two or four barrels mounted on the turret; some manufacturers favor a vertical and others a horizontal orientation for the turret.) As the turret rotates at high speed, the barrels are counter-rotated, creating very high G-forces or pressures, as well as considerable media sliding action within the drums. Pressures as high as 50 Gs have been claimed for some equipment. The more standard equipment types range in size from 1 ft3 (30 L) to 10 ft3, although much larger equipment has been built for some applications.

Media used in these types of processes tend to be a great deal smaller than the common sizes chosen for the barrel and vibratory processes. The smaller media, in such a high-pressure environment, are capable of performing much more work than would be the case in lower energy equipment. They also enhance access to all areas of the part and contribute to the ability of the equipment to develop very fine finishes. In addition to the ability to produce meaningful surface finish effects rapidly, and to produce fine finishes, CBF has the ability to impart compressive stress into critical parts that require extended metal fatigue resistance. Small and more delicate parts can also be processed with confidence, as the unique sliding action of the process seems to hold parts in position relative to each other, and there is generally little difficulty experienced with part impingement. Dry process media can be used in certain types of equipment and is useful for light deburring, polishing, and producing very refined isotropic super-finishes.

Below are some process video footage demonstrations of high-speed centrifugal isotropic finishing.  These automated edge and surface finishing methods are capable of producing very refined low micro-inch surfaces that can improve functional part performance and service life.





















Dave Davidson: Contributing Editor | dryfinish@gmail.com | 509.230.6821 https://about.me/dave.davidson |  https://dryfinish.wordpress.com 

BIOGRAPHY –  David A. Davidson, [dryfinish@gmail.com]

Mr. Davidson is a deburring/surface finishing specialist and consultant.  He has contributed technical articles to Metal Finishing and other technical and trade publications and is the author of the Mass Finishing section in the current Metal Finishing Guidebook and Directory.  He has also written and lectured extensively for the Society  of Manufacturing Engineers, Society of Plastics Engineers, American Electroplaters and Surface Finishers Association and the Mass Finishing Job Shops Association.  Mr. Davidson’s specialty is finishing process and finishing product development.

More about Dave Davidson…

I am a deburring and surface finishing specialist, consultant and advisor to SME’s

[Society of Manufacturing Engineers] Technical Community Network. The focus of my activity is assisting manufacturers and machine shops with reducing their dependence on hand or manual deburring and finishing methods, and helping them to upgrade the edge and surface finish quality of their parts. I currently work from Colville, WA but I assist clients nation-wide. I can arrange for free sample processing and process development for your challenging deburring and finishing needs and can provide you with either contract finishing services or the in-house capability to produce improved hands-free finishes on precision parts. I can be contacted at 509.230.6821 or dryfinish@gmail.com. Let me know if I can be helpful.

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