cryogenic deflashing | deburring

Nitrofreeze® Cryogenic Deburring for PEEK Gears

Share

Nitrofreeze® cryogenic deburring removes burrs from PEEK gears without affecting part geometry or surface finish. Unlike other burr removal methods, cryogenic burr removal removes only the surface imperfections left behind by machining. The edges on gear teeth are maintained without unwanted rounding, and the Nitrofreeze® process can deburr challenging geometries and hard-to-reach areas.

Keep reading to learn more and contact Nitrofreeze® when you’re ready to discuss your burr removal application.

PEEK Gears and Burrs

Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is an engineering thermoplastic with excellent mechanical properties, high-temperature resistance, and an attractive strength-to-weight ratio. Due to this combination of properties, PEEK is replacing metal in some medical, automotive, and aerospace applications. This includes gears, rotating elements that transfer motion and power.

Polymers such as PEEK can be injection molded, but machining allows for greater precision and control over a gear’s final shape and tolerances. Gear hobbing, skiving, and broaching leave behind burrs. That’s because the cutting tools that are used stretch the workpiece, typically a PEEK rod, beyond the point that the surface of the material can return to its original dimensions.

Deburring PEEK Gears

Nitrofreeze® cryogenic deburring is a machine-based, computer-controlled process that cools batches of parts below the material’s glass transition temperature (Tg). The PEEK gears become brittle and are impacted with a cryogenic-grade, non-abrasive polycarbonate media that removes only the burrs. Otherwise, a part’s physical and material properties remain the same.

The polycarbonate media that Nitrofreeze® uses ranges in size (0.015” to 0.060”) to accommodate various deburring challenges. Nitrofreeze® can also develop low-cost custom fixtures to help remove burrs from blind holes, through holes, and other recessed areas. With high-precision gears, it’s important to deburr not only the bore but also any lightener holes that are used for weight reduction.

Manual Deburring vs. Cyrogenic Deburring

Manual burr removal doesn’t require computers or machines, but it can’t match the accuracy and consistency of the Nitrofreeze® process. Workers with hand tools can deburr only deburr one part at a time, and it’s easy to remove too much PEEK from one gear and too little material from another. Manual deburring is also labor-intensive, time-consuming, and raises the risk of hand injuries.

Nitrofreeze® cryogenic deburring is fast and consistent, but the benefits don’t end there. Through sampling, we measure part dimensions before and after deburring. Since our process is computer-controlled, we can also save your optimal recipe for future batches. Importantly, Nitrofreeze® cryogenic is cost-effective because we can process tens or hundreds of parts at a time.

Choose Nitrofreeze® Cryogenic Deburring for PEEK Gears

Do you need PEEK gears that are free from burrs, but that still have dimensions precise enough to capture with your coordinate measuring machine (CMM)? Contact the experts at Nitrofreeze® to review your burr removal requirements. The consultation is free of charge. If your PEEK gears are a viable candidate, we can perform sampling. The turnaround time on most orders is two days.

To learn more, contact us at the phone number and email listed below.

(508) 459-7447 x 105
info@nitrofreeze.com