Deburring and Polishing Aluminum
The aluminum heat sinks needed to be deburring after machining with the machine marks removed and the final finish to be bright and polished. The challenge with parts like these is getting to the internal areas without media getting stuck.
The part on the left is after the deburring step. This wet vibratory tumbling process using Plastic Tumbling Media removed the burrs, rounded the edges, and got most of the machining marks off (except for those deep areas between the fins). After the step, the part has a smooth, tumbled finish.
The polished part on the right was tumbling with a Premium Treated Tumbling Media for about 18 hours in a vibratory tumbler. This took the matte, dark look and brought the surface finish to a very bright, near-mirror finish. While this finish is not necessary for the performance of the heat sink, it does provide an aesthetically pleasing look.
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