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Machines & equipment for sale

What is the Barrel Tumbling Process?

barrel tumbling

The tumbling process is used on an industrial scale for the removal of surface flaws caused by previous processes and for polishing the surface of components. Tumbling processes are used for the polishing of plastic, metal alloys, precious metals and natural metals. A tumble or barrel finishing process provides an action similar to rocks tumbling down a steep hill; the parts are placed in a barrel along with abrasive media, water, and agents. The rotation of the barrel causes the media mass and parts to tumble causing friction and grinding the parts in a mass. This movement produces a cutting action that results in an efficient way to deburr part´s surfaces.

What are the options for a great finish?

As with all finishing methods, the variables can vary the result greatly. Raw quarried stone tumbled in a wet slurry will produce very different results to delicate cutlery tumbled with walnut shell chips.

Below are some of the options that make a difference to the machinery and finish you need.

What Media is Right for You?

Media is the extra hard ingredient added into the tumbler to prevent parts from just banging together. Different media has different properties.

  • Steel Media: heavy deburring, shining, polishing, and burnishing metal, plastic, or ceramic parts.
  •  Plastic Media: great at finishing delicate parts in a process that does not involve the excess wearing of work parts. Used for general metal deburring, precision deburring, polishing and burnishing. This type of media is used on softer metals such as aluminium or brass and on threaded parts.
  • Ceramic Media: used for heavy, light and when fast deburring is needed. This type of media is good for heavy, and hard metals such as steel, and to remove rust on parts. Also used for general purpose polishing. Plastic, steel, stainless steel and aluminium parts are often polished using ceramic media.
  •  Organic Media: walnut shells can be used for medium to light deburring and for light finishing and polishing. Corn cob is used when finishing some metal parts because of its ability to absorb surface oils on the parts. Organic media is the natural, and safer way for the environment as they are biodegradable, durable and reusable.

Wet Tumbling Compounds

Wet tumbling compounds are used by mixing with solid media to deburr, finish and polish parts. If the media is treated with a cutting compound, there will be a grinding action and with a polishing cream, a smooth lustre will appear.

Speed of Barrel

The speed of the barrel is highly important; if it is too slow there will not be enough friction between the parts. The best results of the process depend on the work to be done and the size of the

barrel. Greater speeds will have a faster action but poorer finish, and slower speeds will take longer but will be safer for large or delicate parts.

Wet Barrel Tumbling: Involves the use of water as a lubricant

  •  Water level in the barrel depends on the desired finishing output: as water increases, you get a more refined finish and slower cutting rate.
  •  Water washes out the cutting residue to improve efficiency
  •  Barrels are lined with wood, rubber, neoprene, urethane, PVC or vinyl for better cushioning.

Dry Barrel Tumbling: Dry material is used as a lubricating agent or cleaning compound instead of water.

  • Sand, ceramic parts, wood pegs, or corn cob can be used as dry materials.

Benefits of Barrel Tumbling

  • Delivers consistent results than polishing by hand.
  •  Fast speed
  • Equipment is versatile
  •  Mass finishing: machines can be designed to process a massive volume of parts as efficiently as possible. The barrel tumbling technique allows for processing many orders at once with little handling required.
  • Tough technique: ideal for small and harder metal pieces that need a lot of work.

At Riley Surface World, we have barrelling and rumbling machinery to suit your needs. These machines can be used for wet and dry processes, and a variety of components can be cleaned and deburred.

CRUICSHANKS Barrel Type Motorized Deburring Machine More Images Available

Cruickshank Barrel Type Motorized Deburring / Cleaning Machine

Open ended, medium duty, tilting tumble barrel for use with a variety of components for cleaning and deburring.

Stock No
VA221
Category
Barreling & Rumbling Machinery
Model
Cruickshank Medium duty barrel
Capacity
255 dia x 350
Type
Open Ended Barreling / Rumbling Machine
Other Info
Upgraded Electrical Controls
Condition
Seen working by RSW, Good Condition
Sold As Seen Price [?]
£ Login or Register for price.
CRUICSHANKS barrel Type Motorized Deburring Machine More Images Available

Cruickshank Barrel Type Motorized Deburring Machine

Open ended, medium duty, tilting tumble barrel for use with a variety of components for cleaning and deburring.

Stock No
VA222
Category
Barreling & Rumbling Machinery
Model
Cruickshank Medium duty barrel
Capacity
335 dia x 490
Type
Open Ended Barreling / Rumbling Machine
Other Info
1425/31 rpm
Sold As Seen Price [?]
£ Login or Register for price.
S.M. Systems High Energy Horizontal Barrel Tumbling Machine Video Available

S.M. Systems High Energy Horizontal Barrel Tumbling Machine

Super Fin centrifugal finishing is a unique high energy mass finishing process. In this machine, four barrels are mounted on the periphery of the rotating turret. The turret rotates in one direction and the four barrels in the opposite thus creating a high energy polishing/barrelling action.

Stock No
VC2223
Category
Barreling & Rumbling Machinery
Model
S.M. Systems Super fin SF 30
Capacity
4 x 7.5 Litre Barrel - 135 dia x 490 mm
Type
Centrifugal Finishing Machine
Other Info
Infinitely Controllable Variable Speed
Condition
From a working environment, Excellent Condition, Current Model
Refurbished Price [?]
£ Login or Register for price.
Sold As Seen Price [?]
£ Login or Register for price.
Twin Barrelling Machine More Images Available

Osro Canning DB50 Twin Drum Barrelling Machine

This twin barrel Osro Canning DB50 is a heavy duty industrial quality construction to support media on part, part on part and steel ball burnishing finishing applications. Standard barrel sizes of 400mm A/F with 2 compartments per machine.

Stock No
VV1109
Category
Barreling & Rumbling Machinery
Model
Osro DB50
Capacity
2 x barrels of 400mm AF x 200 wide
Type
Horizontal barrelling machine
Other Info
Variable speed unit 15-55 rpm
Refurbished Price [?]
£ Login or Register for price.
Sold As Seen Price [?]
£ Login or Register for price.
Canning Open Ended Barrel Machine More Images Available

Canning Open Ended Drying / Barreling Machine

Drying out barrels are used for the speedy drying of small articles after electro-deposition, bright dipping or wet barrel burnishing. For maximum efficiency it is recommended that Grit-o-Cobs be used with these barrels.

Stock No
VZ1239
Category
Barreling & Rumbling Machinery
Model
Canning Gas fired sawdust drying barrel
Type
Manual
Other Info
gas fired
Sold As Seen Price [?]
£ Login or Register for price.