How to Select Deburring Tools for Small Parts Finishing

Small parts that require burr removal can present manufacturers with more than just surface finishing challenges. Manual deburring is suitable for secondary finishing operations, but often slows productivity and produces inconsistent results. Automated deburring can improve consistency and speed operations, but manufacturers still need to select the right deburring tool for the job. In addition to surface finish requirements, buyers must consider brush tool specifications such as size and filament type.

Factors such as part contours, the material being worked, and the amount of material to remove should also be evaluated. With automated deburring, manufacturers must consider the speed of the machine tool, feed rates, and the deburring tool’s optimum wear life, too. If the selection of miniature deburring brushes requires engineering assistance, buyers should also consider the full capabilities of suppliers and distributors, including the availability of product videos and resource guides.

As a full-line manufacturer of industrial brushes, Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) offers expert advice and a variety of deburring tools for small parts finishing. Manufacturers can choose from high-quality brush tools that feature carbon steel, stainless steel, brass, nylon, or abrasive nylon filaments. Choices of abrasive include aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, silicate, and diamond. BRM Flex-Hone® tools are available for applications with bore sizes of 4-mm or greater.  

Metal Wire, Nylon, and Abrasive Nylon Filament Brushes

Although hard materials such as ceramics and glass may require abrasive nylon brushes with diamond abrasive, miniature deburring brushes with metal filaments are suitable for some small parts. BRM supplies all-stainless-steel brushes in diameters as small as 0.024 in. (0.6 mm). These metal filament brush tools are used for clearing chips from holes, and for removing protruding and break-through burrs. BRM also supplies miniature brushes with stainless steel filaments for cross-hole deburring.

Nylon brushes for small parts finishing feature non-reactive nylon filaments that will not impart carbon impurities to the work surface. Nylon is a synthetic polymer that does not oxidize, and nylon brushes are often regarded as safer than wire brushes because metal filaments can develop wire fatigue over time.  If metal filaments break off during surface finishing or burr removal operations, problems can occur with machine tools and machinery. 

Abrasive nylon brushes are best suited for applications involving tight tolerances, edge blending, deburring, and other finishing requirements for bores as small as 0.032 in. (0.6 mm). These industrial brush tools are also recommended for removing burrs from threads. In addition, abrasive nylon is used for polishing thread peaks and flank angles, particularly in tapped aluminum holes.

Flex-Hone® Technology

Flex-Hone® tools are resilient, flexible honing tools with a soft cutting action. Self-centering, self-aligning to the bore, and self-compensating for wear, BRM ball hones feature abrasive globules that are permanently laminated to the ends of nylon filaments. Flexible hones are available in 8 different abrasive types and 11 grit sizes, and are used in both handheld electric tools and machine centers.

For small parts deburring with bore sizes of 4 mm or greater, Flex-Hone® tools are preferred. With their low-temperature, low-pressure abrading process, BRM ball hones remove burrs and improve surface finish at the same time. For more information, including advice about tool selection, download the Flex-Hone® Resource Guide today.