Looking to improve your vibratory finishing process? We recommend using separation system accessories, which improve the overall efficiency of your vibratory finishing process.
In this blog we explore what separation system accessories can do and how they can help your vibratory finishing process. ActOn have our own range of separation system accessories for you to choose from.
Why should you include a separation system into your finishing system?
A separation system allows you to separate media from parts at the end of the finishing process. When you add accessories for separation to your finishing machine, you will reduce laborious tasks such as unloading components from machine, separating media and parts and cleaning parts after process with a dewatering screen or an air knife. This will ensure an efficient and consistent process and repeatable high-quality results.
Moreover, based on your finishing process, media used and part size and shape, you have the option to choose different separation screens for the separation system. For example, for heavier parts you can use reinforced screens that are designed to be more durable for heavy duty applications. When media is larger than the parts, inverse separation can be used. You can even decide on the pattern of the separation screen holes and slots, so that media can fit through these.
How can these accessories help your vibratory finishing process?
Depending on the separation accessory you choose and need, it can help to improve your vibratory finishing process in a range of ways:
- When you go from manual to automated separation, you save time and money.
- All ActOn separation systems can guaranty 100% separation from media and parts.
- Dewatering screens and air knifes will clean residues from components, after the process, or can spray lubricants to protect parts after the wet process.
- Will enable you to remove undersized media from the machine. Hence there is no risk of media to get lodge in part’s slots or holes.
- At ActOn, the separation systems and accessories are manufactured in Britain and are designed to be durable.
ActOn’s separation system accessories
At ActOn, we have a range of separation system accessories that have been designed with the goal of improving your vibratory finishing process:
Magnetic separation system
The Magnetic Separation System has been designed to offer full control of the vibratory finishing process with minimum reliance on the operator. This accessory has been designed to complement the Bowl M Series machine, or any other finishing system where parts can be magnetically separated. For separation of components from media, an overband electro-magnetic separator is used. The process of separation and demagnetisation is automated, giving the required control of the process. In this case, vibratory finishing machines are designed with a higher ramp, allowing smaller parts to be separated magnetically.
Portable Media screening unit
Over a period of time media starts to wear, which can cause the undersized media to lodge in holes, slots, bores and blind holes of components. This can result in damaging the geometry of the part. To avoid these risks, we have designed the Portable Media Screening Unit to enable our customers to separate the undersized media by moving the screening unit near the mass vibratory finishing machine or underneath the finishing machine door. Media can then be unloaded via the machine door and fed into the Portable Media Screening Unit to be separated via the screen.
Some of its features include:
- Allows to separate the media straight from the finishing machine. It screens 25kg of media every 90 seconds.
- Approx. unit dimensions in mm / inch (L x W x H): 1794 x 833 x 1135 / 71 x 33 x 45 – Max. motor power: 0.31 kW, 3 phase, 50 Hz.
- Time efficient – using this system our clients have managed to reduce the down time by 3 hours, depending on the media condition.
- Easy to move around as it is mounted on castor wheels.
Separation Screen
Our standard separation screens are made out of polypropylene and the sizes of holes, slots or other patterns can be manufactured depending on the geometry of the part being processed and the type of media used. The separation screen is mounted by wedges which makes it vibration resistant and easily interchangeable. For heavier parts, we have reinforced screens that are designed to be more durable for heavy duty applications. When media is larger than the parts, inverse separation can be used. This is where the parts fall through the separation screen as these are smaller than the media being used.
Air Knife
Air knife can be integrated with the activation of the unload system flap on the vibratory finishing machine. This system ensures 100% separation as any media that might be carried over on the separation screen is blown back by the air knife. Alternatively, a brush option can be provided.
Dewatering Screens
The dewatering screens are used to spray water or compounds once the parts have been processed and discharged from the machine. This is used for cleaning any residue after the process and to protect it from the environment. To comply with local Water Authority regulations, the liquid compound and water are dosed separately to the vibratory equipment via a dual feed system, eliminating the need for expensive header tanks to be fitted.
We hope this blog has given you a deeper understanding of how our separation system accessories can improve your vibratory finishing process. If you would like to buy our separation accessories then get in touch with our friendly team and we’ll be happy to help or download our brochure for more information.
Want to find out more about how a separation system can make your mass finishing process more efficient? Read our last blog for more information on separation systems.
FAQs
What is a vibratory finishing machine?
As a common finishing method in the manufacturing industry, vibratory finishing is an efficient process used to optimise all types of small products and parts. Vibratory finishing machines help you clean and deburr products at a faster pace.
What is vibratory deburring?
Vibratory deburring removes the rough edges from parts and enables them to fit together more efficiently. This leads to fewer part rejections as well as improved safety. In addition, deburring is an important step in preparing parts for painting.
How does vibratory polishing work?
In this stage a combination of media, parts and compounds are placed in a vibrating machine. The vibrations cause the contents to move in a circular motion and the media to grind against the part to get the desired finish.
What is a tumbling barrel?
Barrel finishing, also known as barrel tumbling or vibratory finishing, is a surface improving operation in which a mixture of parts, media and compounds are placed in a six- or eight-sided barrel and rotated at a predetermined speed for the purpose of rounding corners, deburring, grinding, descaling, deflashing, improving surface finish and much more.
What are the different types of finishing?
There are several types of metal finishing such as metal plating, chemical finishing or coating, grinding, buffing, electroplating, and sandblasting. Each process has basic steps with all processes beginning with surface preparation. Metal finishing processes can include anything from technical processes to buffers.