How to safely deburr various material types

Sometimes job shops receive unexpected orders. If the materials change, caution must be taken when deburring - otherwise damage to the material, or the machine, may occur.

Some job shops are setup to process different materials in various locations: Steel is processed in one location and stainless steel or aluminum in another. Materials, machines, and tools therefore remain separated.

For divisions to be profitable, the company must first have reached the right size. So what do you do, if a customer wants a component made from a different material for just a one-time order?

In this case, the materials do not have to be separated in the fabrication facility, but they do have to be separated in the machine itself. A versatile deburring machine with a quick tool change is optimally equipped for this. However, in order to avoid danger, operators must adhere by three important precautions:

A separate tool set should be kept for each material type.
The machine should be cleaned thoroughly between each material change.
The different metal dusts should be separated for disposal.

A quick-change system for the deburring tools is advantageous for operators. Different tool sets prevent particles from being carried over onto other materials. The abrasive media of the right grain size is important when choosing between grits. This is because finer dusts clog the tools faster.

Additionally, the deburring machine should be readjusted for new materials. For example, aluminum is easier to deburr than stainless steel. These days, modern machine controls support the operator with an intuitive user interface and suggests the appropriate settings. Therefore, these machines are extremely flexible with regard to changing materials.

Procedure for vacuuming off the metal dust in the deburring machine

The best and easiest way to clean the deburring machine is to vacuum off the remaining abrasive dust. It is important to attach a powerful dust extraction system from the outset. Despite having the best design, some nests may form, in which metal dust accumulates. Operators should ensure when buying a deburring machine that it is easily accessible and can be cleaned easily.

If operators disregard this, there are two main dangers they could face. When deburring different materials in the same machine, steel particles can travel onto stainless steel. In this case, even stainless steel can corrode. Also, depending on the material, metal powder, or shavings, are sometimes flammable. Caution should be taken, especially with aluminum. It’s certainly worthwhile to invest in a cleaning option when buying a deburring machine. For example, wet suction is mandatory if deburring of aluminum takes place.

The right deburring machine for processing different materials

The EdgeBreaker® 6000 deburring machine processes components far beyond just thin sheet metal.

Flexible deburring with the EdgeBreaker® 6000

Dry deburring is sufficient for most requirements.

Dry deburring is sufficient for materials that are most commonly used by a job shops. Wet machines are on the decline due to high operating costs, time-consuming cleaning and the disposal of the water.

Overall, the risks involved in deburring various material types is manageable – even when working with aluminum and steel. As long as operators follow the necessary precautionary measures, several materials may be processed with one deburring machine.

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