Vibratory finishing and tumbling service

So how does it work? The metal parts are first placed into a vibratory tub or bowl, along with specially shaped abrasive media pellets and a liquid compound or water.

The machine then vibrates, creating powerful collisions between the media and the mass of parts. These collisions gradually grind away any sharp edges and clean/polish the surface to achieve the desired finish.

Unlike rotary tumbling, vibratory finishing can cut inside a metal part to treat internal features such as holes. It also tends to be a faster and safer option for processing fragile or large parts, as well as components with tight tolerances.

The parts, media and compound are placed into a horizontal barrel which is then rotated. The rotations cause the material to rise up and then tumble down on itself. This action generates friction between the parts and the media, thereby grinding and deburring the workpieces to achieve a smooth finish.

Although the process can achieve similar results to vibratory finishing, it’s a more aggressive technique that’s best suited to smaller, harder metal parts.

As well as performing the task required (eg deburring, polishing, cleaning etc), the media holds parts in suspension in the mass to prevent mechanical damage. It also helps to keep the parts separate and acts as a carrier for the compound.

The composition, size and shape of the finishing media can vary significantly. Common media materials include ceramic, plastic, porcelain, steel and even organic matter such as corn cob granules and walnut shells! Finishing media also comes in a range of shapes and sizes, from triangles and stars to cylinders and balls. The shape of the workpieces being processed usually determines the shape of the media.

Choosing the best composition, size and shape of media is vital as each variable can yield different results. With decades of experience in mass finishing, our team will select the most appropriate media to meet your unique specifications and deliver the perfect finish you require.