NEW OIL BASED DEBURRING OF SMALL PARTS MEETS THE DEMANDS OF SHORTER CNC MACHINING CENTER CYCLE TIMES

The traditional disc finishing machine method required small parts to be degreased, cleaned, dried and accumulated to form a large optimal batch before deburring takes place. After deburring, parts then needed to be separated from the media and often re-oiled for further processing.

A major advancement of the new Otec machine is the removal of the need to degrease parts before deburring. In fact, a compound-oil mixture is used in place of compound-water in the barrel. Both the oil and media are separated and recovered from the processed parts. The oil is automatically filtered and recirculated. All this simplified handling means greater efficiency, increased throughput and cost savings for manufacturers.

Bosch provides a good example of how the new Otec CF oil machine improves production processes. The company used disc finishing to deburr micro bearings produced on a CNC machine. However, prior to deburring, the company had to remove oil from the micro bearings in a cleaning unit. Deburring then took place in a disc finishing machine that required a water connection and water cleaning unit. The work pieces were then cleaned with water and dried in a drying machine. Most importantly, the micro bearings then had to be re-oiled to avoid corrosion.

Installing the new CF oil machine has dramatically simplified this process. By using a special oil in place of the water/compound means micro bearing cleaning, drying and re-oiling are eliminated. This reduces labor costs and saves time. There is also no need for a water connection or water treatment and as the new machine runs on 230V it can be placed anywhere for increased flexibility. CF oil machines are more compact needing only slighty more than one square yard space compared with five square yards for a conventional finishing unit. This allows location within the CNC manufacturing cell if required. Finally, as the micro bearings are constantly in oil there is no risk of corrosion.

The principle of disc finishing is not a new technology. However, the demands for improved process times and better finishing by companies such as Bosch are leading to real innovations. The new Otec CF oil based deburring machine from Otec Precision Finish Inc represents a major leap forward for manufacturers seeking to fine tune productivity.

Uploaded: Janaury 22, 2001

More information: Jonathan Dean, Vice President, OTEC Precision Finish Inc.
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