Case Study: Cryogenic Deflashing Peek Aerospace Components

Nitrofreeze® Cryogenic Deflashing provides OEM manufacturers, job shops, and molding houses with reliable and efficient way for them to deflash Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) molded parts. Cryogenic deflashing utilizes polycarbonate blast media and part tumbling in a cryogenic atmosphere to remove residual flash material. Below is a deflashing study of a molded PEEK part:

 

Material : PEEK   Description : Aerospace    Area for Concern : Parting Line and Ejector Pin Flash

 

The Challenge
A molder located in Rhode Island contacted the Cryogenic Institute of New England (CINE) to request trialing of flashed PEEK parts with the Nitrofreeze® Cryogenic Deflashing process. The aerospace parts sit in an electric housing and need to be free of heavy flash. Excessive flash inhibits the parts ability to function reliably. The molder needs the parts to have flash extending no more than 0.003”. Production volumes were reported to be between 400 and 800 pieces per week. Previous hand trimming efforts had yielded unacceptable nicks along the parting lines and ejector pin locations.

The Solution
Prior to production runs, sample parts along with a part drawing were delivered to CINE for testing. Upon evaluation the pieces had parting line flash extending 0.012” from the part with a thickness of 0.005” at the base. Flash at the three ejector pins measured 0.020” tall and 0.004” thick respectively. Proprietary process parameters were developed on the cryogenic deflashing system for use on the PEEK parts. Upon initial sampling, these parameters served to reduce parting line and ejector pin flash within tolerance. A production procedure was then successfully extrapolated for use in subsequent orders.

The Result
The transition to Nitrofreeze® Cryogenic Deflashing eliminated scrap from the customer’s deflashing process. Processing batches exceed one hundred parts per cycle and deflashing time was significantly reduced. The molder’s weekly deflashing orders receive two business day turnarounds after receipt with expedited processing as needed. The molder had reported hand trimming cycle times of one minute per piece. With their shift to Nitrofreeze® Deflashing, the molder was able to save nine labor hours per week, reducing deflashing costs by 83.4% versus the previous manual methods.

Learn More

The Nitrofreeze® Cryogenic Deflashing process is ideal for all grades of PEEK (polyetheretherketone) materials. The process can be used on medical and implantable grades of PEEK as well. PEEK parts traditionally have hard residual flash and benefit from freezing and part tumbling in order to become flash free.

Contact Nitrofreeze
Contact one of our deflashing experts today to discuss your PEEK deflashing requirements. If the part is deemed a viable candidate for the Nitrofreeze® Deflashing process, sampling can be performed to prove out the concept. A consultation is free of charge, so we encourage you to contact us today. We can be reached by phone or email below:

(508)459-7447 x105
info@nitrofreeze.com