Tumbling media is the material that is used to provide a great finish to another part or material. The media is used in in a more abrasive process to help get rid of unwanted machining edges. Besides, it is also used to surface polish, de-grease, finish, form radii or de-greasing. Selecting the right tumbling media is determined by several factors you should know. Here are some of the factors to consider when choosing the right tumbling media for metal finishing.
Process required and part of material
It is good to consider the part of the material and process required. Ceramic tumbling media is best for hard material such as steel and heavy cutting. It works perfectly when deburring hard burrs or if a small media is required. Porcelain media is whitish in colour and available in cylinder and sphere shapes. The sphere shaped media works well in polishing soft metals such as aluminum, while the cylindrical ones work well on harder materials like steel. There is also plastic media that is applied for softer materials such as aluminum and brass.
Size of your part
If you have larger parts, you will require large sized tumbling media because they have larger burrs and marks. For smaller parts, you require smaller media. Avoid using larger media for fragile parts because they can cause damage to them. During the selection process, make sure you size the media to make it easy to separate from your desired parts. Always choose a tumbling media you can separate by using a screen.
Consider the type and size of your parts features
You should also take into consideration whether your part has features that require a finish or deburr. In addition, consider the size of the features and the size of tumbling media that will reach all these features effectively. You should select a tumbling media size that will reach your features, but never get lodged in your parts. Angle, pyramids and angle stars are the perfect ones because they can reach all areas without getting lodged. For holes, angle cut cylinders are the best option.
Bottom line
Choosing the correct tumbling media might require some trial and error. Make sure you evaluate all your parts well before you move out there to do the shopping. For the best media check https://www.shinysmooth.com/tumbling-media/ where you get a wide range of them and be guided on the best option that will work best for your parts.
