How to Automate Surface Finishing and Deburring

Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) supplies a complete line of surface finishing solutions for inner diameter (ID) and outer diameter (OD) applications. For ID surface improvement and burr removal, BRM’s Flex-Hone® tool is the industry standard. For OD applications, BRM solutions include NamPower technology, a family of high-performance nylon abrasive brushes.

Flex-Hone® Tools for ID Applications

BRM Flex-Hone® tools are flexible, resilient honing tools that remove burrs and improve the surface finish of cylinder walls. They feature abrasive globules laminated to flexible nylon filaments, and are manufactured in 10 different abrasive types and 11 grit options. Self-centering, self-aligning to the bore, and self-compensating for wear, BRM ball hones come in standard sizes from 4 mm to 36”.

The Flex-Hone® is a low RPM tool that’s suitable for most any rotating spindle. Examples include drill presses, milling machines, lathes, CNC equipment, robotic arms, and machine centers. Built with a double-wire metal stem, ball hones are secured in a chuck, collet, or similar holding device. With CNC equipment and machining centers, use a Jacobs style chuck or CAT 40 collet.

Flexible cylinder honing’s low-pressure, low-temperature abrasive process is ideal for a wide variety of finish requirements. Flex-Hone® tools are not designed for heavy-duty or high-precision metal removal, however. Instead, manufacturers use flexible cylinder hones to reduce surface roughness, and improve surface finish down to the single RA level.

Flexible honing imparts a substantially flat or plateau finish with a uniform pattern of oil-retaining grooves for optimum lubrication. Flex-Hone® tools also remove cut, torn, folded, and jagged metal that can affect dimensional tolerances, cause part misalignments, and limit the overall efficiency of machined components. Flexible cylinder honing also blends-in radius ports and deburrs cross-drilled holes. For more information, download the Flex-Hone® Resource Guide and watch the Flex-Hone® In-Machine Setup for Surface Finishing and Deburring video.

NamPower Technology for OD Applications

BRM NamPower technology includes abrasive disc brushes, abrasive hex-drive tools, composite hub wheel brushes, and accessories such as lightweight tool holders that provide vibration damping and flow-through cooling. Like Flex-Hone® tools, NamPower nylon abrasive brushes can be used with automated machinery, CNC machining centers, transfer lines, and robotic cells.  

NamPower brushes feature flexible, abrasive nylon filament that enable manufactures to deburr, edge radius, and surface finish the outer diameter (OD) of parts. Additional applications include cleaning and surface preparation. With their balanced construction and high-quality components, NamPower brushes combine a cost-effective design with dependable, high-performance results. 

NamPower abrasive disc brushes come in two types: dot for light deburring and general-purpose use, and turbine for medium and heavy-duty deburing.  NamPower abrasive hex-drive tools are designed for semi-automatic and fully automatic machinery, including NC, CNC, and robotic machine tools. Their unique Hex-Drive System allows these brushing tools to turn in both directions for 360° finishing.

NamPower composite hub wheel brushes feature indestructible cores and silicon carbide or diamond abrasive filaments. Silicon carbide is ideal for deburring and edge radiusing most metals. Diamond filaments are recommended for harder materials such as ceramic, glass, carbide, and hardened tool steels. NamPower nylon abrasive can be used under wet or dry conditions.

For more information, download the NamPower Resource Guide and watch the How to Automate Deburring and Surface Finishing – NamPower Abrasive Disc Brushes video.  

Visit BRM at IMTS 2014 (Booth N-7163)

Do your tradeshow plans include a visit to the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) next month? From September 8 to 13, BRM will be in Booth N-7163 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Meet with our technical specialists at IMTS 2014 and find solutions to your surface finishing challenges. For more information, contact us.