Deburring Metal Parts | Cryogenic Deburring | Phosphor Bronze Electrical Contact

Nitrofreeze® Cryogenic Deburring vs. Other Parts Deburring Methods

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Nitrofreeze® cryogenic deburring is a fast, safe, and consistent way to remove burrs from batches of machined parts. During cryogenic deburring, parts are cooled below the material’s glass transition temperature (Tg) so that burrs become brittle and easy to remove. Parts are then blasted with a specified cryogenic-grade polycarbonate media that comes in different diameters to finish specific part features.

Unlike other deburring methods, cryogenic deburring removes surface imperfections without affecting surface finish or critical part tolerances. It’s especially effective at removing burrs from hard-to-reach geometries, and Nitrofreeze® can process tens or hundreds of parts at the same time. Plus, because our standard turn-around time is just two days after receipt, you won’t lose valuable time waiting.

When you compare cryogenic deburring to other deburring methods, the choice is clear.

Manual Deburring

Manual deburring uses hand tools such as trimmers, blades, or brushes to remove burrs from machined parts. Compared to cryogenic deburring, it’s labor-intensive and inefficient since one worker can deburr only one part at a time. Across employees, shifts, or different runs of the same part, the result of manual deburring may vary. Plus, workers with hand tools risk removing too much or too little material.

Thermal Deburring

Thermal deburring feeds a precise mixture of gases into a deburring chamber and ignites them with a spark. This process can remove multiple burrs from a workpiece at the same time but there’s a risk of damaging the part from excessive heat. In addition to heat distortion, thermal deburring may cause surface discoloration.

Punch Deburring

Punch deburring is a machine-based process that can be used to remove burrs from holes or the corners of parts. Unlike cryogenic deburring, this process requires metal tooling. Rough blanking dies, fine blanking dies, and sizing dies are all more efficient than hand tools, but they add costs and can extend project timelines. Plus, punch deburring is not recommended for complex part geometries.

Tumbling

Tumbling puts batches of parts in a barrel along with water, a compounding agent, and abrasive media. As the barrel rotates, the resulting friction abrades the parts. Although this deburring process is relatively efficient, there’s a risk of denting the parts as they tumble against each other. Plus, unlike cryogenic deburring, tumbling doesn’t support automation and may leave residues behind.

Vibratory Finishing

Vibratory finishing is a mass-finishing process that is similar to tumbling but that uses specially-shaped pellets instead of an abrasive. Although it can deburr smaller parts, vibratory finishing often provides inconsistent results. Unlike cryogenic deburring, vibratory finishing can also damage machined components and may compromise surface finishes or critical tolerances.

Electrochemical Deburring

Electrochemical deburring produces an anodic reaction by using a cathode acting under DC current and an electrolytic fluid. This deburring process is relatively complex and requires a skilled operator to filter out the electrolyte stream and maintain consistent electrolyte quality. Plus, unlike cryogenic deburring, electrochemical deburring is limited to electrically-conductive materials.

Choose Nitrofreeze® Cryogenic Deburring

Nitrofreeze® cryogenic deburring has many advantages over other part deburring methods, including the ability to save the optimal deburring recipe for future batches of the same part. The consultation with Nitrofreeze® Cryogenic Solutions is free of charge, so contact us at the phone number or email listed below to get started.

(508) 49-7447 x 105 | info@nitrofreeze.com