Precision
 Deburring
Rhodes handles the widest variety of precision tumblers!
Barrel Tumbler Deburring
Most parts can be processed in the mass of media in
tumbler barrels. However, in some cases fixtures are used
to prevent part-on-part impingement, bending or interlocking
of complicated or delicate parts. Fixtures also protect
heavy parts from impact damage. Some fixtures may be mounted
on the doors of the barrel. Fixtures may be used to mask and
protect certain part areas. Also, fixtures tend to cause one
area of a part to receive more abrading action than another;
hence, it may be necessary to reverse barrel tumbler rotation for
half the cycle to improve finish uniformity.
Submerged barrel tumbler finishing (tubbing) is done in a
perforated barrel loaded with work pieces and media, rotated
in a tank containing a water solution of compound. The
process is used for certain types of jewelry finishing and
for chemical cleaning of parts. The system permits fines,
metal slivers and contaminants to pass through the barrel
perforations and settle out in the tank. Sometimes the
method is automated so that the barrel is moved from station
to station (different tanks and / or solutions), submerged
and rotated at each station of the installation.
Variations in barrel tumbler equipment include the
open-end tilting type, bottlenecked tilting-type,
horizontal-octagonal (conventional), horizontalpolygonal,
-multiple-drum, -compartmented (common), -end-loading, -
submerged. The open-end tilting barrel and the bottlenecked
tilting barrel are used for finishing and drying parts, for
ball burnishing and self tumbling. Parts run in this barrel
can be inspected during cycle, water and compound can be
added. Barrel can be tilted to discharge the load. The
horizontal barrel tumbler (in all its design variations) can process
batch after batch of parts uniformly if the media, water,
cycle time, and compounds are controlled within specified
limits. The barrel tumbler is an outstanding tool for
generation of radii on stamping, but is less effective in
finishing part cavities or recesses. Flat parts requiring a
heavy radius on all edges can be processed more efficiently
in tumbler barrels; barrels have the ability to do a
considerable amount of work on part edges because of the
differential slide which occurs during rotation.
Find out more about vibratory finishing and vibratory tumblers in our free deburring and mass finishing booklet by signing up for our
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