Factory focus Production equipment The right equipment for the right finish
Mass finishing is becoming the preferred method of finishing many types of metal or plastic parts. Machines and equipment come in all shapes and sizes and varieties, and should be selected to suit the required operation according to finishing specialist PDJ Vibro of Milton Keynes
V
ibratory finishing is a mass fin- ishing process used to burnish, deburr, clean, radius, de-flash, remove rust, brighten, surface harden, surface improve and edge break. Whether the finishing machine is vibratory, barrel or centrifugal the finish of the final component will be of a higher quality and have a more con- sistent surface result than with hand finishing – removing the possibility of human error means fewer rejects. All these finishing processes can be fully or partially automated and inte- grated into production lines using con- veyors or specially engineered component infeed and outfeed sys- tems, enabling 24/7 operation to max- imise throughput .
From a purely business perspective deburring using a dedicated deburring machine makes complete sense. Deburring equipment does not have to cost the earth, but it is essential to source the machine from a reputable and trustworthy supplier. One such supplier, Milton-Keynes based PDJ Vibro, can provide initial and ongoing technical and maintenance support. Vibratory deburring: Vibratory mass finishing machines are essentially motorised process chambers mounted on springs. The components and media held in the chamber oscillate and rotate in a toroidal (corkscrew)
movement. The surfaces of the com- ponents are agitated much like pebbles on a beach. The result is the removal of burrs and a consistent polished finish. Fragile parts can be deburred in this way as the constant moving of the components and media means parts are not damaged. Barrel deburring: reduces surface irregularities to produce a clean, smooth surface. It achieves this by tumbling the parts against themselves or additional media such as steel balls. It is also usual to add water and a cleaning agent. Tumblers offer an aggressive form of deburring that is ideal for parts that require a significant radius. Components need to be robust as part-on part damage can occur. It is not suitable for CNC milled compo- nents or pre-anodised finishing. Centrifugal deburring: is an enhanced barrel deburring process. A disc within the chamber is rotated adding centrifugal forces to the process, which in turn speeds up the polishing process by 25 to 50 times that of barrel finishing machines. Centrifugal disc finishers require a constant flow of water and chemical additives to ensure the required finish is achieved. As technology advances, more and more tiny and fragile compo- nents are being manufactured. If these small parts are robust, like coin
PDJ Vibro works closely with
customers on the development of vibratory and associated surface finishing processes, offers free sample processing, and has produced a cost calculator explaining the significant produc- tion cost benefits of utilising vibratory finishing
blanks, centrifugal finishing may be a better alternative to the standard vibra- tory machine.
The centrifugal disc machines have the added advantage over centrifugal barrel machines (planetary finishers) of being open. This allows the heat generated by the process to escape. Centrifugal barrel finishers need to be periodically shut down to allow the build-up of pressure to be relieved. This is avoided with the centrifugal disc machines.
Correct choice of media The success of all these mass finishing options rely on the correct use of media. Expertise is crucial to buying the right mass finishing machine but also when it comes to selecting the right consumables.
PDJ Vibro T: 01908 648757
www.pdjvibro.co.uk Enter 304
Whatever the required finishing process, it is important to find a sup- plier who will undertake production quality testing before they recommend which mass finishing machine is needed – ask that their recommenda- tion includes the specification of the media as well as processing times.
POU industrial vending machine pays for itself in 12 months T
he British-made Pro-Vyda from Propeller GB, a point of use (POU) industrial vending machine is designed to be genuinely usable for a variety of appli- cations and product types. It is said to offer seven times more capacity than the current market leader, considerably reducing the required installation footprint, while accelerated endurance testing has demonstrated at least five years’ dependable service without failure. It incorporates the latest gener- ation of web-based software that enables the automation of re-ordering processes and the interrogation of stock data from any location with internet access. Combining these features with streamlined aesthetics, a user-friendly VDU with ‘shopping basket’ facility, and an extendable modular configuration, the Pro-Vyda is suitable for dispensing MRO (maintenance, repair & overhaul) consumables, PPE (personal protection equipment), pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, office equipment and sundries, and the dispensing and return of tools. It has already been proven in the demanding environments of automotive, aerospace and components
Factory Equipment MAY 2012
manufacturing, the pristine environments of electronics factories and clean rooms, and the hygienic settings of food processing. The Pro-Vyda is engineered from heavy duty sheet steel, with a series of 3mm galvanised steel drawers, each having a load capacity of 50 kilos. Customisable internal drawer compartments accommodate different sized parts and are protected by clear polycarbonate slides, enabling only authorised items to be removed. The automated dispensing technology means the drawers open themselves electronically after parts selection, eliminating the breakages associated with user opened drawers on other vending machines. Modular in design, each Pro-Vyda unit has a footprint of just 0.86m wide x 0.75m deep, with an overall height of 1.85m providing high density vertical storage. The master module incorporates a touchscreen user interface and has a capacity for up to 5,400 items. Pro-Vyda permits user access to inventory by means of PIN number, swipe card, biometrics or other terminal. The savings from an average 20-40 per cent reduction in inventory consumption, the elimination of shrinkage and ‘squir- relling’, and overall stock issue security should mean payback in 12 months. Propeller GB T: 0191 569 1690
www.propellergb.co.uk Enter 305 11
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