Page 26 - MetalForming May 2012

Burnish, Deburr and Clean
be designed to automatically separate parts and media. Tub-style vibratory finishers get the call for larger parts.
Growing in popularity among metal stampers, according to the Dyers, is use of continuous-flow vibratory fin- ishing. In stamping, they say, about 80 percent of the objective with finishing is to create parts free from sharp edges to enable safe handling during assem- bly and packaging.
“Cleaning of parts during the fin- ishing process also has become more important,” says Terry Dyer. “We can design a continuous-flow finishing line that will burnish or deburr, and also remove stamping lube. This eliminates secondary cleaning processes, making the stamper more cost-effective and competitive.”
For those stampers needing to do more to their parts than just burnish or deburr—such as imparting an edge radius to facilitate press-fit assembly— a batch operation still is required, “due
to the longer cycle time required,” adds Terry Dyer.
For more aggressive finishing appli- cations with small to midsized parts, the Dyers note more stampers opting for the centrifugal-disk (CD) process. CD finishers typically operate 10 to 20 times faster than standard vibratory- finishing equipment. These units are specifically designed for removing heavy burrs and for intensive radiusing, and, notes Tim Dyer, they provide opti- mum batch-to-batch integrity since the machines empty completely after each run.
CD machines feature a spinner on the bottom of the bowl that rotates to create centrifugal force that drives high-speed part movement through the finishing media. The process proves ideal, the Dyers say, for finishing flat parts that tend to stick together during finishing—washers, seatbelt buckles, hardware and fineblanked parts and the like.
Media Selection
Media composition is the most challenging finishing decision. The choice of composition or abrasive type, shape and size is based on the work objectives—burnishing, light deburring, general purpose or fast cutting.
1) Ceramic media can be used in a variety of delicate or aggressive appli- cations, including burnishing, radius- ing, polishing, rapid cut down, deflash- ing and deburring.
2) Resin-bonded media produces softer surface finishing action and provides a uniform finish, best for parts requiring more restricted edge and corner radiusing. The media smoothes parts but does not impart a high luster. Resin bonded media are very effective in pre-plate and pre- paint applications.
3) Steel media is the most effective means to a highly burnished surface, and proves particularly useful for reliev-
In 1964, LSP introduced the original PresSpray, introducing airless, automatic spraying of die lubricants. Today, presses are faster and more high tech, tolerances are tighter, and lubricants better. The PresSpray-II has evolved to meet the demands of twenty first century stamping.
If you’re tired of trying to make one stamping lubrication design fit for all your jobs, talk to LSP. We offer a wider range of lubication solutions than any other manufacturer. Learn more about PresSpray and other technologies at
www.lspind.com
COMPUSPRAY
MINICOATER
FLOATERCOATER
MAXAMIZER METERMIZER
LSP Industries Inc. Rockford, IL Tel: 815.226.8090 email: sales@lspind.com
24 MetalForming/May 2012
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