Nampower Abrasive Disc Brushes – Speed and Cut Depth

The Nampower Resource Guide explains how to select nylon abrasive brushes for deburring, edge radiusing, and surface finishing. Available in dot and turbine styles, NamPower disc brushes feature a combination of ceramic and silicon carbide abrasive that produces maximum burr removal rates and provides an optimum surface finish at the same time. Dot style brush tools are used for light deburring. Turbine style deburring brushes are recommended for medium to heavy-duty burr removal. 

Product Specifications

As the Nampower Resource Guide explains, users should specify NamPower abrasive disc brushes based on parameters such as trim length, grit, and brush diameter. NamPower disc brushes are available in 18-mm and 38-mm trim lengths and in 80, 120, 180, and 320 grit. For best results, choose a deburring tool that’s three inches larger than the workpiece. If fixture restrictions limit brush size, the centerline of the brush tool should be aligned with the targeted edge with a minimum of 1-1/2” overlap.

Recommended Brush Speeds

Product specifications help determine recommended speeds for NamPower abrasive disc brushes. Users need to consider grit, brush style, brush diameter, and trim length, as well as whether the abrasive disc brush will be used under wet or dry conditions. In general, brushes with shorter trim lengths (18-mm) run at higher speeds than brushes with longer trim lengths (38-mm). In addition, lower-grit brush tools generally run at higher speeds than higher-grit brush tools.

Speed Chart

The NamPower Resource Guide provides speed information graphically, in the form of a bar chart that accounts for both product specifications and application conditions (wet or dry). This technical resource also notes that, as a rule, NamPower abrasive disc brushes should be operated at under 2,500 surface feet per minute (SFPM) in dry applications, and 3,500 SFPM in wet applications. Excessive speeds, especially with longer trim-length brushes, can cause filaments to flair and bounce off the workpiece. 

Cut Depth

Product specifications also determine cut depth. As a rule, set the cut depth up to 10% penetration of the available trim length on smaller diameter filaments, and up to 5% penetration on larger diameter filaments. Decrease the spindle speed with increased depth of interference, so that filaments conform smoothly to part contours. This ensures that rather than hitting the part and bouncing off its surfaces, the filaments wipe across part surfaces and edges like a file. As the NamPower Resource Guide explains, this brushing action also contributes to longer brush life.