Deburring is an important step in creating optimally performing parts, in some industries such as in the aerospace and automotive, even the smallest remaining burr can negatively impact the operation. However, precision finishing can present its own challenges, for example, applying a tool that moves beyond the required aggressiveness resulting in damage to the parent metal. Finishing problems can be easily overcome by selecting the right tool specifications for the application, ensuring a burr-free, consistent finish without damaging the project.
Breaking the edges of tools - a frequently used process for high precision parts - blunts sharp edges. Deburring brushes are ideally suited for this application due to their flexible nature: with the brush in rotation, fibers reach over tool angles, touching different surfaces while remaining in one setting.
How to break the the edges of a 3 in. x 3 in. steel gear.
A disc brush is ideal here. The disc lies parallel to the face of the part and rotates while moving along the outer edge. Flexible brush fibers will remove any standing burrs that result from gear teeth. Once complete, rotate brush in the opposite direction to ensure it sweeps over edges on both sides. Grit size: Steel is a hard metal, but 120 grit will do the job. This is mid-range in terms of aggressiveness and will not disturb the steel. Trim length: Go for 1½ trim, longer filament will have less impact and shorter filament could damage the surface. Filament diameter: Try a .028 inch diameter. Smaller filament diameters are more pliable allowing fibers to reach more surface area.
