Mechanical Finishing
Blasting
Bead blasting is the process of removing surface deposits using glass beads blasted at high pressure. Bead blasting is less damaging to the surface than typical abrasive blasting and creates a clean, bright, uniform matte texture. This process is both an environmentally friendly and an extremely effective form of cleaning.
Glass bead blasting can be used on a wide range of materials including:
- Steel
- Aluminum
- Cast iron
- Stainless steel
- Brass
- Titanium
- Sterling silver
Tumbling
Vibratory finishing is a type of mass finishing manufacturing process used to deburr, radius, descale, burnish, clean, and brighten a large number of relatively small workpieces.
In this batch-type operation, specially shaped pellets of media and the workpieces are placed into the tub of a vibratory tumbler. The tub of the vibratory tumbler and all of its contents are then vibrated. The vibratory action causes the media to rub against the workpieces which yield the desired result. Depending on the application this can be either a dry or wet process.
Unlike rotary tumbling this process can finish internal features, such as holes. It is also quicker and quieter. The process is performed in an open tub so the operator can easily observe if the required finish has been obtained.