Contributing Editor: Dave Davidson, Deburring/Finishing Technologist 509.563.9859 | dryfinish@gmail.com | https://dryfinish.wixsite.com/iso-finish
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 contact Dave Davidson at dryfinish@gmail.com I can also be reached at 509.563.9859 Information about equipment for bringing Centrifugal Iso-Finishing capability to your facility is also available…
Reduce Hand-deburring Labor. Many hand operations can now be efficiently and economically processed. Consistent and repeatable results. This machine can allow you to fine tune your process for the best possible result – every time.
How it works. Centrifugal barrel machines work on the ferris wheel principle, with barrels mounted on the periphery of a rotating turret, while the barrel rotates in the opposite direction. The combined high-speed rotation and counter-rotation accelerate the cycle times needed to deburr and produce quality surface finishes. With these models, four barrels are mounted at the periphery of a larger turret. Each barrel is then loaded to approximately 50 -80% full with finishing media and parts, and water (for abrasive wet processes). During operation, rotation of the turret creates forces on the media and parts in the barrel which makes this process up to ten times faster than processes run in a conventional barrel or vibratory finishing equipment system. BELOW: See two models of Centrifugal iso-Finishing machines that are used widely in the dental/orthodontic, jewelry and other industries where fine or polished finishes are required for small castings or machined parts.
Model HZ-12 SPECIFICATIONS: Total Volume: 12 Liters Barrel Dimensions: (id) 5″ dia. x 8.375″ L Overall Dimensions: 29″L x 32″W x 29″H Weight: 500 lbs. Motor: 1 HP Voltage: 110 Volts Features: Variable Speed Drive, 80-250 RPM, Lightweight Barrels (12 lbs.) RPM Meter, Digital timer, Dual Jog Buttons. Fused Disconnect
BELOW: Also used widely in the dental, orthodontic, medical and jewelry industries is the Model HZ-40 machine for larger production runs.
Our process engineering team has applied years of experience to providing finishing solutions to the jewelry, dental, automotive, aerospace, screw machining and other small parts. We are the small part finishing and polishing experts.
Below: Small Part finishing gallery:
Mass 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.
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.
High-speed and hands-free Centrifugal Iso-Finishing can deburr, finish and polish all types of small manufactured parts much faster and efficiently than conventional vibratory and rotary barrel finishing
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.
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR 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 509.563.9859 or dryfinish@gmail.com. Let me know if I can be helpful.
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