Practically every forming process leaves burrs. Casting, stamping, cutting, machining — all of them produce sharp edges that vary widely in shape.
Burrs on parts machined at an angle are the hardest to remove.
Why they are removed
A burr is a sharp edge that cuts the operator’s hand, obstructs assembly and collects excess paint. On a delivered part, it is also a visible sign that finishing was skipped.
Wide belt machines, for sheet and flat parts
For sheet metal and flat parts, the most common solution is the wide belt calibrating and grinding machine. It has one or more working units mounted in series, and each unit can be equipped differently.
The contact roller — the grinding unit. It is covered with oil and heat resistant rubber and presses the abrasive belt against the part. An eccentric mechanism compensates for belt wear, so pressure stays constant as the belt is consumed.
The vertical rotating brush — cross brushing. It performs fine deburring and uniforms the edges. Brushes carry abrasive inserts and mount on a quick-change system, so replacement does not stop production.
How the part is held
Independent, adjustable pressure rollers sit ahead of and behind each working unit. They hold the part against the feed belt.
For small or slippery parts, a vacuum system under the belt provides extra grip. Without it, a small part is thrown by the brush.
When to choose vibratory finishing instead
The wide belt machine works on flat, accessible surfaces. Its limits are clear.
Choose vibratory finishing when the part has complex geometry, internal channels or areas the belt cannot reach. Vibratory finishing works every face at once, through the moving abrasive media. One more advantage: all edges are treated equally and surfaces come out uniform, without the intersection lines that classic machining leaves behind.
Choose the wide belt when you have sheet or flat parts in series, and you want thickness calibration as well as deburring.
Many production lines use both, on different parts.
Related reading
Not sure which equipment fits your parts? A Vibroblast specialist visits your factory, analyses your parts and current process, and recommends the right solution — even if that means a cheaper machine than you expected.
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