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Case Study

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Brass Stamping
Remove graphite scale and polish

ActOn engineers have processed the brass stamping in a vibratory bowl machine and vibratory dryer to descale and polish the surface. A porcelain media and an acidic compound helped in removing the scale and brightening the surface. We used ActOn's agro-media to dry the stamping and ensure it remained free of stains.

The vibratory finishing process delivered the required finish in a considerably reduced time, and the dimensional integrity of the part was maintained.

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Typical Applications in General Engineering Finishing

General engineering components vary widely, which makes finishing processes highly application-specific.

Some of the applications include:

  • Deburring steel fasteners and bore heads.
  • Cleaning and polishing brass stampings.
  • Removing stains from diamond cutting tools.
  • Polishing blades, cutting tools and formed components.
  • Improving surface finish on aluminium parts.

These applications highlight the need for flexible finishing systems capable of handling both simple and complex parts.

Key Finishing Processes for Engineering Components

To achieve the required results, multiple finishing processes are often combined.

These include:

  • Deburring to remove sharp edges and improve safety.
  • Cleaning to remove contaminants and residues.
  • Surface smoothing to enhance function and appearance.
  • Polishing for improved aesthetics and performance.
  • Drying to prevent staining and corrosion.

By integrating these processes, manufacturers can achieve consistent surface finishes that meet both functional and visual requirements.

Maintaining Dimensional Integrity While Improving Surface Finish

One of the biggest challenges in engineering finishing is improving surface quality without altering critical dimensions.

ActOn's vibratory finishing, high energy, disc finishing, drag finishing, dry electroplating and dry and wet blasting processes can remove scale, achieve a tight surface finish, smooth finish and polish components while maintaining dimensional integrity.

This is achieved through:

  • Careful selection of media type and size.
  • Controlled process timing.
  • Optimised compound chemistry.
  • Machine settings tailored to the component.

This ensures that parts meet tolerance requirements while benefiting from improved surface quality.

Process Development for Complex Engineering Requirements

No two engineering components are the same, which is why process development is essential.

ActOn works closely with manufacturers to:

  • Analyse component material, geometry and any post processing defects.
  • Test and validate the most effective finishing processes through trial.
  • Manufacture the surface finishing system based on customer's requirements.
  • Install the machine at customer's facility and train the operators.
  • Maintain the finishing system to avoid future major refurbishment requirements.
  • Offer full technical advice during the initial stages and after installation to ensure the finishing process runs smoothly.

This approach ensures that every solution is fit for purpose, repeatable and production-ready.

Precision Finishing and Quality Control for Engineering Components

In many engineering applications, surface finish directly impacts performance, assembly and longevity.

ActOn Finishing supports this through:

  • Precision-controlled finishing processes.
  • Consistent surface quality across batches.
  • Reduced variation in finished parts.
  • Integration with inspection and quality control processes.
  

This ensures that components meet both technical specifications and customer expectations.

FAQs

Yes. ActOn systems are designed to process a wide range of materials including hard and soft materials, specialised alloys, plastics and ceramics across various component shapes and sizes.

Yes. ActOn provides process trials to test and optimise finishing solutions based on your specific components and requirements.

Yes. Surface finishing improves functionality such as fit and durability while also enhancing the visual quality of the component.

You can Contact ActOn Finishing to discuss your application and receive a tailored recommendation and quotation.

Request a quote for General Engineering today and evaluate your surface improvement potential.

 

Request a Free Trial: sales@acton-finishing.co.uk

Call: +44 (0) 24 7646 6914