Centrifugal barrel finishing, or CBF, is a surface finishing process which uses specialized high-energy machines to mass finish, deburr, radius and polish multiple parts simultaneously. Also referred to as tumbling or harperizing, centrifugal barrel finishing creates an isotropic, non-directional, surface finish with cycle times which are significantly less than other finishing methods.
CBF machines are typically made up of two to four barrels mounted on a turret, similar to a Ferris wheel. The turret is then rotated at a high speed in one direction, while the barrel’s contents (parts, tumbling media, surfactant and water) move in the opposite direction. The centrifugal forces created from the spinning turret, along with the hexagonal shape of the barrels, compresses the load while the media and parts slide against each other. Despite the g-forces created during CBF processing, the action between media and parts remains relatively gentle. The result is uniform, mass finished parts free from burrs, heat-treat scale and formed radii with an isotropic polish.
More than just creating shiny surfaces, the benefits of CBF include:
Whether delicate or heavy duty, parts in any material for any industry — including medical, aviation and automotive — can be finished via CBF. Some common manufacturing processes include:
The type of processing needed — wet or dry — is determined by the level of finish required. To reach the designated finish, parts may go through multiple finishing steps, using different kinds of media. Cutting media, such as ceramics or plastic, are used wet for deburring and pre-polishing steps, while corn cob and walnut grit is used dry for polishing delicate plastic or metal parts.
One of the greatest benefits of CBF is the ability to run parts in the same barrel at the same time! Depending upon the material type, finish required and final intended use, some parts may need to be separated within a barrel using dividers or fixturing devices to prevent part impingement, while others can be processed together as a batch.
Centrifugal barrel finishing can deburr, deflash, descale, polish and radius parts in ANY material, including:
The cost of CBF processing varies depending upon multiple factors such as part size, material and required finish. At ISO Finishing, we offer free sample processing so we can accurately quote your parts. The best way to show you how our finish will become your finish is by finishing your sample free of charge. Let us show you what we can do.
LET'S GET IT FINISHED.