What vibratory finishing media should I use?

Plastic deburring media

There are several things to consider when choosing vibratory finishing media

1) What do I want to achieve in my vibratory finishing machine?

  • Deburring – could be plastic or ceramic media – normally angular media for working on edges and holes. Rounded media would give a softer action for light deburring.
  • Polishing – organic media such as walnut shells and porcelain pins
  • Surface finish texture – could be any media depending on what you want. Generally ceramic media gives a duller finish and plastic can give a brighter finish.
  • Clean a laser or water jet cut finish – generally ceramic media normally needs to be an aggressive process.
  • Remove a cast “orange peel” effect – generally ceramic media normally needs to be an aggressive process

2) Material I am working with?

  • Stainless steel – Generally ceramic media is required
  • Aluminium – generally plastic media is required
  • Brass – generally plastic media is required
  • Cast iron Generally ceramic media is required
  • Plastic- generally plastic media is required – depends on the material

3) what size / shape is the part I want to finish?

  • Very small – generally small ceramic media would be used.
  • Intercalate parts – plastic media or porcelain pins for a softer action on delicate parts.
  • Medium size not very detailed part – larger media will lead to a shorter process time, larger media is also generally cheaper to buy. Media type and shape would depend on the application
  • Highly machined part – could be plastic or ceramic need to select media size and shape carefully to avoid packing of media
  • External thread – non aggressive plastic media for light deburring process

4) What machine do I have?

A small bench top bowl – go for more aggressive media small machine are not so powerful so process times can be very lengthy. A vibratory mini bowl 30, 60, 120 – these machines are very powerful so perfect for polishing processes. they are very effective for finishing very delicate parts where less aggressive media can be used for deburring. Also they flat bottom is ideal for more sensitive parts. Vibratory Trough machine – two dimensional action so good for a general deburring application plastic or ceramic media not so effective for polishing. High energy centrifugal – any media but the higher energy allows much faster process times and softer media to have much more action so gentle deburring and a polished finish is a quick and easy task.

5) Where can I buy vibratory finishing media?

You can shop on-line on our website:

Ceramic media – for deburring Steels and stainless steel

Plastic Media – for deburring aluminium, brass and softer metals also for pre-polishing harder metals

Polishing Media – including walnut shells and porcelain pins for creating a bight mirror finish

 

Prove a process – we can recommend and sample free of change

If you have acquired a second hand vibratory finishing machine but have no media or find the media you are using is not doing the right job. Media can be expensive especially if you have a large vibro bowl. We offer free sampling of your components so find the right media to fit your budget, surface finish requirements, vibro machine and process time. Please get in touch with us today. – go to our contact us page.

Why Rosler media?

Rosler make all their own media in Germany and have done for 60 years! They are always pushing the vibro finishing industry by creating better media and are global leaders in what they do. They keep in stock 8,000 types of high quality consumables, easily the most comprehensive range in the world. Rolser work with many global brands in the aerospace and automotive industry and many of the media is specially approved which also means consistency and quality is critical so you can be rest assured every time to refill your machine the finish will be consistent.

Roslers manufacturing process take no shortcuts and moulded and extruded media is always consistent and ensured the correct wearing pattern. The media is designed so it allows a consistent wear and cutting performance and above all reproducible results during the finishing process.

One thought on “What vibratory finishing media should I use?

  1. Bobby Saint says:

    I like that you provided some insights on what kind of finishing media to use such as determining first what type of material you’re working on. I didn’t realize that there is actually quite a variety such as aluminum, brass, and metal. Nevertheless, it’s good to know that there are certain websites on the internet where you can shop around to purchase the best vibratory finishing media according to your needs. If I were to purchase my own burnishing media, I would make sure to keep this in mind. Thanks.

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