What is mass finishing?
Mass finishing or “tribofinition” in French refers to the surface treatment process that makes it possible to treat a variety of parts using machines (such as circular or linear vibrators) that generate a rotary and vibratory motion.
This process is often used for deburring, descaling, burnishing and cleaning a wide variety of parts.
Several terms for this process can be found online, including:
- Mechano-chemical polishing
- Barrel finishing (tumbling)
- Vibratory finishing
- Trowalizing
Our mass finishing machines are available in different models to suit all needs and all budgets (between €8,000 and €300,000).
Thanks to mass finishing, a wide variety of parts can be processed.
By using suitable abrasive media , this process makes it possible to polish parts made of different metals, such as aluminum, brass or stainless steel, and different types of parts: adjustable wrenches, mechanical parts, medical prostheses, rim mass finishing, cutlery, etc.
Compared with older vibrator models, our mass finishing vibrators are much faster, more economical, more practical and quieter.
They are the most widely used surface treatment machines today.
During operation, the vibrators generate a three-dimensional vibratory motion forming a spiral movement.
In addition, at FINISHTECH, we offer you the possibility of customizing your machine according to your needs.
Without further ado, let us take a closer look at how our mass finishing machines work.
To do this, we will look at the technology behind 4 machines from our range of mass finishing vibrators.
Overview of our range of mass finishing vibrators
1. Circular vibrator:
Our circular vibrators were designed to meet a wide range of application needs for our customers.
These vibrators will give you complete satisfaction for all your deburring, descaling, edge radiusing, polishing or parts cleaning applications.
The pluses:
- Easy to use
- Optimal efficiency
- Possibility of customization (dimensions and design) to suit your needs
The special design of the processing tub of our circular vibrator keeps the parts in constant contact with the abrasive media, which guarantees effective processing in a very short time.
All our circular vibrators are equipped with a hinged flap system, operated manually or pneumatically, which guides the parts and media to a screening deck.
This system returns the media to the processing tub and collects the mass finished parts at the machine outlet.
2. Linear vibrator:
Our linear vibrators come in many sizes and combinations of lengths and widths, which makes this range of machines very versatile.
They are designed and manufactured with a single-speed motor producing a uniform vibratory motion in the processing tub to deliver an optimal finish on the parts.
The pluses:
- Possibility of creating several processing compartments using hot-cast polyurethane dividing panels
- This separation system prevents parts from knocking into each other
- Allows the processing compartments to be adapted to the dimensions and specific features of the parts
Operating principles of mass finishing vibrators
To make the most of the performance and power of your vibrator, there are a few basic rules to follow.
These rules are roughly the same for both circular and linear vibrators.
- The fill rate of the processing tub:
The fill rate refers to the volume of parts and media that the vibrator’s processing tub can hold.
It is very important to ensure that this volume always remains between 60% and 80%.
The processing result varies depending on the chosen fill rate.
The lower the fill rate, the more aggressive the mass finishing process will be, producing powerful deburring results.
On the other hand, the closer the fill rate is to 80%, the gentler the treatment will be, which is fully recommended for polishing or burnishing applications.
Caution: in all cases, it is strongly advised not to exceed a fill rate of 80%, because when the machine is running, the vibrations generated may cause media to fall out of the machine.
3. Dual machine:
Our dual machine is a 2-in-1 machine that both processes the parts and dries them after mass finishing, without having to move the parts to a dryer.
The entire process takes place in one and the same machine.
The dual machine has two processing tubs:
- The inner tub: designed with a hot-cast polyurethane lining, it is ideal for carrying out all your applications such as deburring, descaling, edge radiusing, polishing and cleaning parts.
- The outer tub: designed for drying and cleaning parts after mass finishing. Parts can be automatically transferred from the first tub to the second to be dried without manual intervention.
The pluses:
Both tubs of the machine have a screening deck so that the parts can easily be separated from the media when needed.
4. Dryers:
We also offer a range of elliptical dryers designed to meet a variety of needs.
Compact and easy to use, our dryers stand out for their separation system, which completely separates the parts from the media.
The heat emitted by the air circulation fans fitted to some of our dryers dries the parts.
The parts are loaded onto a metal conveyor that passes through the drying unit and allows them to be collected at the machine outlet.
