BRM's Flexible Honing, Surface Finishing, and Deburring Blog Blog

BRM's Flexible Honing, Surface Finishing, and Deburring Blog

BRM's Flexible Honing, Surface Finishing, and Deburring Blog is the place for conversation and discussion about how to solve difficult finishing problems. For over 50 years, Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) has helped customers use brushing technology to clean, rebuild, and resurface components ranging from engine cylinders to brake rotors to flywheels to firearms. BRM's Blog on CR4 provides real-world examples of how flex hones and wire brushes work. It also evaluates related technologies and invites questions from the community.

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Miniature Brushes and Small Parts Manufacturing

Posted April 06, 2010 9:53 AM by BrushResearch

Small parts requiring deburring, edge blending or other surface finishing can present production challenges to manufacturers. Often, production is taken offstream where hand-held tools are necessary to perform the intricate secondary finishing many of these components require. This action frequently results in reduced productivity and inconsistent product quality. Even in instances where the process is fully automated, specifying the appropriate finishing brush for the application plays an integral role in improving the tool's overall performance and life span.

A miniature deburring brush can solve both the productivity and quality challenges involved when manufacturing parts of various small sizes, contours and materials. These tools are generally best suited to address tight tolerances, edge blending, deburring and other finishing requirements that have a direct impact on overall functionality.

Editor's Note: The above is excerpted from the March/April 2010 edition of American Tool, Die and Stamping News (Volume 38, No. 2). Click the link below to download the entire article, courtesy of Brush Research Manufacturing.

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Anonymous Poster
#1

Re: Miniature Brushes and Small Parts Manufacturing

04/06/2010 11:09 PM

I am appalled at how firmly BrushResearch is anchored in the 19th century. Wake up folks. Your business isn't brushes. It's mechanical microfinishing of surfaces with irregular geometries. You are completely oriented toward outside corners. I see nothing to cope with inside corners. .........Waiting I am. .......Or should I be racing toward the Patent Office. ...........EW

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#2

Re: Miniature Brushes and Small Parts Manufacturing

04/07/2010 4:30 AM

Hi,

have a look into the book: Burrs - Analysis, Control and Removal, by Aurich and Dornfeld (Editors), CIRP conference on burrs, April 2009. ISBN 978-3-642-00567-1

Guest is right that the greatest difficulties arise at the bottom of grooves. We grind and mill these in micro-shapes down to 10µm width.

RHABE

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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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#3

Re: Miniature Brushes and Small Parts Manufacturing

04/08/2010 3:29 PM

Yes, we are very much into mechanical microfinishing of surfaces with irregular geometries…..using brushes. Brush Research Manufacturing has been providing surface finishing and deburring solutions to a wide variety of industries since 1958. We prefer to use the word "tool" as opposed to brushes because we custom engineer our deburring tools to meet the exacting requirements of each application. We treat both inside and outside surfaces with a variety of solutions within the confines of brushing technology. We always try to recommend the right tool for each job. In many instances this involves a standard or custom brush suited to the application. We are also aware that brushes will not solve all deburring issues and we strive to recommend a solution, even if it is something we can't make ourselves. And, as the saying goes, if you have a better mousetrap…go for it. The world will certainly beat a path to your door.

Mike Miller

BRM

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#4
In reply to #3

Re: Miniature Brushes and Small Parts Manufacturing

04/08/2010 4:53 PM

Hi,

can you recommend a brush for deburring microgrooves:

width is 10 to 100µm

depth is 1 to 2 times the width

length is 1 to 50mm sometimes straight, sometimes curved, sometimes y-shaped

material is Ti..., PMMA, and similar.

Edge at side of grooves to surface needs deburring.

RHABE

RHABE

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#5
In reply to #4

Re: Miniature Brushes and Small Parts Manufacturing

04/09/2010 11:16 AM

Rhabe,

This is a perfect example of an application that is not a good match for a brush or Flex-Hone solution. We would suggest looking into Extrude Hone. The grooves you have specified are simply too small for our finest filament to reach into. Good Luck!

BRM

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#6
In reply to #4

Re: Miniature Brushes and Small Parts Manufacturing

04/09/2010 11:59 AM

Just a suggestion........how about an ultrasonic pad with .05µm lapping compound.

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Anonymous Poster (1); BrushResearch (2); Duckinthepond (1); RHABE (2)

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