Flexible Hones for the Fluid Power Industry

Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) supplies flexible honing tools to pump manufacturers and makers of hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders. A form of power transmission, fluid power uses a liquid (typically an oil) or a gas (usually compressed air) to convert and distribute power while providing extremely high levels of force and torque. Using pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, fluid power systems produce linear motion and can transmit levels of power that are equivalent to those of electrical and mechanical drives.  

Cylinder Deburring and Surface Finishing

As a long-time supplier to the fluid power industry, BRM understands the importance of deburring and finishing tools for quality assurance and cost control. Unlike rigid hones, BRM’s Flex-Hone® tools are self-centering, self-aligning to the bore, and self-compensating for wear. Flexible hones are not designed for heavy-duty material removal, however. Instead, these high-quality deburring brushes remove torn, folded and jagged metal while gently smoothing cylinder walls.     

A flexible, resilient honing tool with a soft cutting action, the Flex-Hone® uses a low-pressure, low-temperature abrading process that leaves the base metal undisturbed. With their abrasive globules and flexible nylon filaments, BRM ball hones or cylinder hones are also versatile, reliable, and easy-to-use. Flexible honing tools mount in most machine spindles, and can be used in the field with handheld power tools or in the factory with CNC equipment, robotic arms, or machining centers.

Fluid Power Applications for Flexible Honing Tools

Hydraulic cylinder manufacturers use flexible hones to produce a plateau finish for optimum lubrication. By eliminating surface irregularities and reducing peaks to a uniform height, cylinder hones reduce oil consumption and support the anti-wear performance of hydraulic oils. In addition to single-acting and double-acting hydraulic cylinders, Flex-Hone® tools are used with hydraulic ram cylinders (plunger cylinders) and metal bodies for hydraulic motors.

Pneumatic cylinder and pump manufacturers also depend upon Flex-Hone® technology. For example, when small burrs in aluminum sleeves required costly and time-consuming manual deburring, a maker of pneumatic-driven liquid pumps chose flexible honing tools to speed operations and improve surface quality. After the metal sleeves are machined and drilled, flexible hones are mounted in a standard drill chuck and used to remove miniature burrs that could damage the liquid pump's O-rings.

Visit BRM at IFPE 2014 and CONEXPO-CON/AGG (Booth 82533)

From March 4 to 8, leaders in the fluid power industry will gather at the Las Vegas Convention Center for co-located tradeshows. IFPE 2014, the leading international exposition for fluid power, will meet CONEXP-CON/AGG, where the construction industry discovers emerging technologies and innovative equipment. Held just once every three years, CONEXPO will host thousands of exhibitors and showcase the integration of fluid power with other technologies for power transmission and motion control.

For tradeshow visitors in search of superior surface finishing solutions, Booth #82533 is the place to be at CONEXP-CON/AGG and IPFE 2014.  Visit BRM in IFPE – South Hall 3 and learn how Flex-Hone® technology is helping pump manufacturers and makers of hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders to improve quality and control costs.