Deburring

There are two kinds of burrs:
• Mechanical burrs
• Thermal burrs

Definition of the burr

Mechanical burrs are caused by:
• Shearing
• Punching - Nibbling
• Drilling
The size of these burrs can be reduced by sharp tools, correct die clearance and precise feed rates. However, burrs cannot be completely eliminated.


Picture on the left shows a mechanical burr on a punched part. Click on the pictures to enlarge




Picture on the left shows a thermal burr caused by laser cutting Click on the pictures to enlarge

Thermal burrs, also referred to as “slag” or “dross”, are by-products of plasma or laser cutting. The size of burrs can be reduced by using the correct fuel mixtures, the timely replacement of burning tips,
the correct cutting speeds and the proper alignment of optics on lasers. As with mechanical burrs, thermal burrs are unavoidable and are very difficult to remove.

Burrs can be removed with the following tools:
• Abrasive belt
• Barrel brush
• Top brush

The abrasive belt

The abrasive belt is driven and supported by a contact drum. The hardness of this contact drum, (also known as durometer or shore), plays an important role in the deburring and finishing process. Choosing the right contact drum diameter, is essential.
A harder contact drum is more aggressive on both the burrs as well as the surface of the parts.
A softer contact drum in combination with a flexible abrasive belt, adapts better to the shape of the part. However, this might cause unnecessary rounding on parts.
Another important part of the equation is the combination of abrasive belt speed and feed speed. One speed does not fit every application! A machine with variable speed features allows for a wider variety of applications.

The barrel brush

Not only is the barrel or cylindrical brush a perfect tool for finishing, it is also a very good tool to remove burrs. Barrel brushes have the advantage that they can provide a visible rounded edge to a part. The disadvantage of a barrel brush is that not all edges are evenly “attacked” This means that a part needs to be fed diagonally into the machine in order to get the best deburring results. For more information on the barrel brush click here.

The top brushes (ECS)

Edge Contour System (ECS) also known as a system with top brushes, is the ideal solution for deburring. Steelmaster was the first to bring this technology onto the market and has perfected this system over the years. The top brushes operate in a rotating and oscillating movement enabling even removal of secondary burrs created by the abrasive belt. For more information on the top brushes click here.