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CNC Machining

Thermal deburring results magnified

18 Sep 2007

Deburring Centre, Poole, has posted a series of recent photographs on its website to demonstrate the superb ability of thermal deburring to remove burrs.

After washing off the oxide scale deposited during thermal deburring. Notice where it has been parted/turned after drilling, one side of the hole is rounded over whilst the other side of the hole has been pushed into a sharp edge. This 'rough' edge is actually a deburred edge showing the fluctuations in surface texture caused by the milling/parting.
After washing off the oxide scale deposited during thermal deburring. Notice where it has been parted/turned after drilling, one side of the hole is rounded over whilst the other side of the hole has been pushed into a sharp edge. This 'rough' edge is actually a deburred edge showing the fluctuations in surface texture caused by the milling/parting.

The images taken at up to 60x magnification at Portsmouth University, show the burrs before removal, the resultant oxide on the component from oxidizing the burrs and the finished effect on the component after the oxide has been washed off.

“The speed of CNC multi-axis milling and drilling machines has an Achilles' heel”, claims Martin Bridges of Deburring Centre. Modern machines spit out components faster than man's ability to deburr them. Even though machines can be programmed to manufacture out burrs, burrs still exist in difficult to reach places or are only made smaller.

Images for this article - click to enlarge

Before thermal deburring, showing burrs in the 2mm hole
After thermal deburring but with the resultant oxide/scale. Notice the scale whiskers and rounded scaled surface
After washing off the oxide scale deposited during thermal deburring. Notice where it has been parted/turned after drilling, one side of the hole is rounded over whilst the other side of the hole has been pushed into a sharp edge. This 'rough' edge is actually a deburred edge showing the fluctuations in surface texture caused by the milling/parting.

Unless otherwise stated, all images copyright © Mercator Media 2008. This does not exclude the owner's assertion of copyright over the material.

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Deburring Centre Ltd

Stevens Rowsell is a specialist precision sheet metal engineering company in East Sussex