Sheet Metal Deburring – Types and Methods Discussed

Today, sheet metal is used across industries for creating workable parts. A sheet metal may not always be in a plain and workable condition and may have burrs which need to be removed before using them. Burr removal is usually performed using automated equipment or manual tools. Owing to their increasing use, these tools are available in a variety of designs and specifications. With so many choices available for consideration, it is quite obvious to think about how to choose the right tool for deburring. However, the answer can be bit complicated, if you are unaware of the types of burrs, and methods of sheet metal deburring. This post will help you understand the process and make the right selection of tools.

methods of sheet metal deburring

An Outlook on Various Types of Burrs

A burr may appear as a raised edge on a metal sheet. It may be inflicted during any metal forming process such as shearing, welding, or fabrication of metal parts. They are differentiated into two types based on their appearance.

Mechanical Burrs: These are again differentiated into two types– rollover burrs, and breakout burrs. Of these, the first and the last type of burr is inflicted during metal forming processes such as drilling, shearing, punching, sawing, and routing. These burrs can be reduced by using the right type of tools, as well as setting the correct speed and feed rates.

Thermal Burrs: The burrs of this type are created due to the heat produced by plasma or laser cutting machines. These burrs can be easily avoided by setting the correct cutting speed of these machines, and by using the right optics as well as well-adjusted cutting tips.

Know the Different Methods of Sheet Metal Deburring

The following are a few popular methods of sheet metal deburring:

Manual Deburring: This is one of the oldest and the most popular processes of deburring. In this method, the burr is removed using manual tools. This method remains popular owing to its cost effectiveness; however, it is not recommended for large parts.

Electromechanical Deburring: The burred part of the metal sheet is dipped into a glycol solution or salt solution and exposed to electrical current. This type of deburring is perfect for small metal pieces that may be burred in hard-to-reach places.

Thermal Energy Deburring: This is also one of the most discussed methods of sheet metal deburring. In this method, a metal plank or metal sheet is placed in a sealed chamber, and burrs are removed through a combustive reaction. This sheet metal deburring method is suitable if you aim to target various metal pieces at a time or remove burrs from multiple surfaces.

Vibratory Finishing: If you are working with softer metal parts, many of the above-discussed methods of sheet metal deburring may not be perfect. This is where vibratory finishing may serve your purpose. The burred part is placed in a rotating barrel along with different types of abrasive components or liquids. The media will be brushed on the affected part, as the machine moves at a high speed. Some popular abrasive components used include plastic, ceramic, steel finishing media, and so on. This method is perfect for removing sharp edges as well as metal imperfections.

Water Jet Deburring: In this process, water is used to remove burrs from metal pieces. Water jet deburring also assures cleaned surfaces.

Sheet metal deburring is one of the key challenges in the sheet metal industry. It is important that you use the right type of tools to achieve finished and burr-free edges. To accomplish this, you need to source these tools from a reliable manufacturer like Woodward Fab. The company provides a comprehensive range of sheet metal deburring equipment as well manual deburring tools.

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