What Goes Into Synthetic Tumbling Media?
Synthetic tumbling media is designed for long wear when you are using it to deburr metals like aluminum and brass. Compared to other tumbling media, it is lighter weight and ideal for soft metals and smooth finishes. Synthetic tumbling media has 20-45 percent lower bulk density than polyester and ceramic media, providing greater volume per pound and yielding lower working costs. Using synthetic media leads to fine finishes, which is ideal for aerospace, medical, and dental industries. But how is synthetic tumbling made?
Water-Based
Most synthetic tumbling media is water-based, making it the most cost-effective and easily treated material for removal of unwanted things in water treatment systems. They also settle solid quickly and make closed-loop waste water systems more practical and cost-efficient by saving water.
Plastic Bonding Abrasives
Synthetic deburring media are made with plastic bonding, which means these tumbling media are made from a blend of abrasives that are bonded together with plastic. The abrasives are a complex blend of abrasives that are put together in a stock of mixed abrasives. The abrasives can vary from relatively soft materials like the polishing agents used in jewelry cleaners to abrasives as hard as diamonds. Although surely no manufacturer uses diamonds to make synthetic tumbling media, everything in between can be used to create deburring materials.
Benefits of Synthetic Tumbling Media
Some benefits of synthetics are that it can provide a smooth surface finish that is ideal for soft metals, a small amount of residue, minimal chipping, and can polish and moderately cut. These media have light bulk density and come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. They also provide moderate cycle times.
Tumbling Uses
Synthetic tumbling media can deburr brass and aluminum, polish metals and plastics, round the edges of plastics, eliminate machining lines, and form a light radius. In addition, synthetics can create pre-plate finishes, finish discs, and provide high energy finishing. Synthetic tumbling media are just what you need for performing these tasks on soft materials.
To find the right abrasive suited for your finishing needs, reach out to our team at Kramer industries. We’ve been in the business for over 100 years, and are committed to finishing your project the right way.
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