Deburring

Deburring is the process in which cut and shaped materials of all types are rendered smooth and usable in a factory setting. When a material, let’s say metal, is cut before it can be used to actually make something it needs to be safe and functional. There are specific deburring methods used for certain materials.


Blast Deburring is when a media is directed while under pressure to the item needing finishing. Numerous media types are used in blast finishing. Sand, water, and beads are a small sample of the types of media used. The process used to remove burrs also depends on what the final product will be. A fine highly polished item needs more attention and finer and finer types of media used than something that is not to be seen.


The material will need to have smooth edges in areas that are intended to be smooth. Nicks and scratches will be removed as well as any loose material that was not removed in the cutting or molding process. Sometimes a grain is put into the material which will give a uniform scratched appearance, this process is called graining.


The process can include tumbling or vibratory deburring which is often one of the final stages in burr removal. Tumbling and vibratory media will (as with blasting) depend on which type of material is being polished.


There is a wide variety of deburring equipment and tools available for use in both the home and shops that provide the parts to the assembly plant. The necessary equipment includes the finishing media and the device that introduces the media to the rough product.


Home deburring equipment can be as simple as a file or can be more complex such as a deburring wheel. A small example of a deburring wheel that is used at home would be the regular old dremel tool. These are small quick rotating sandpaper covered tools that can be found in most homes. Larger wheels are used in a professional setting but they work on the same principles.


Other types of deburring include thermal (heat), cryogenic (cold), and dry ice. Each method has its place and is preferred by some materials or some people.


Thermal deburring uses heat to remove burrs by oxidation. The burrs themselves have a smaller surface area which means that the burrs will be effectively destroyed while the metal that they are attached to remains unchanged except the burrs are no longer present.


Cryogenic deburring is often used on rubber and plastic. Liquid nitrogen and the media are tumbled together and the result is a smooth burr-free finish.


In dry ice deburring the ice itself is the media and it is blasted to remove burrs and the dry ice then evaporates which leave no media to dispose of after the process is completed.

A very basic definition of deburring but one must start with the basics and work up from there.