Mass Finishing Services by SPC
Invented more than six decades ago, modern mass finishing — also commonly referred to as mechanical surface finishing — builds upon material surfacing concepts and techniques developed over many centuries. A revolutionary technology for finishing a wide variety of materials, mass finishing represents a group of manufacturing processes that allow large amounts of bulk parts to be polished to specific surface conditions simultaneously. Originally used primarily for deburring, mass finishing dramatically impacted numerous industries by making it possible to manufacture uniform, high-quality parts faster and at a lower cost than ever before.
Over time, mass finishing services have evolved to accommodate the needs of many industries that rely on the uniform production of often small, highly-technical parts. It is used in the medical implant industry for the grinding and polishing of artificial knees and hips, by automotive parts producers for superfinishing gears, and in a variety of applications of aero-engine componentry.
Primary Components of Mass Finishing
There are four basic requirements for mass finishing operations: mass finishing machine, water, compound and media. Since there are variables within each component, it is essential for the operator to possess the expertise to identify which settings are optimal to produce the desired finishing result.
The two primary types of mechanical surface finishing techniques are vibratory finishing and tumble finishing (also known as barrel finishing). Vibratory finishing is typically a wet process for metal, glass and other materials, while tumble finishing is performed both wet and dry; it represents more advanced technical capabilities and has a faster, quieter process.
Media and Materials in Mass Finishing Services
Media is introduced to accomplish four main actions in mass finishing (cut, luster, part separation and surface scrubbing). Along with surface smoothing and deburring, typical mass finishing solutions include radiusing for smooth round contours, decorative and functional surface polishing, ball burnishing and ball polishing, degreasing of oil or grease covered parts, and general surface cleaning, descaling and derusting.
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Common Types of Mass Finishing Media
- Preformed Ceramic Media
- Plastic or Preformed Resin-Bonded Media
- Steel Media
- Aluminum Media
- Organic Media
- Natural Random-Shaped Media
Sharretts Plating Company for Mass Finishing Services
Extremely technical, complex and frequently misunderstood, mass finishing services are a careful blend of scientific precision and artistic craftsmanship. Sharretts Plating Company has been a recognized industry leader in plating services since opening our doors in 1925, and we are intimately familiar with all aspects of the modern mass finishing process. We provide both tumble bowl and vibratory bowl mass finishing services, and we have the capabilities to handle multiple types of media shapes and materials. When you need to polish, debur or radius parts after manufacture and prior to final plating, SPC is the industrial plating company you can trust.
For over 80 years it has been our goal to provide faster service and superior quality at an affordable cost to our clients. Gain a competitive advantage by choosing SPC for your mass finishing services today. Contact us to discuss your needs, find out more about our advanced capabilities and request a free quote!
LEARN WHAT OUR MANY SATISFIED CUSTOMERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT Us
"I would like to thank you for the help you have provided us in developing an electroless nickel plating technique on an unusual substrate. The sample platings you provided show that we should be able to reach our goals. I especially appreciate your willingness to take on an unusual job, with the uncertainties that that entails...We are looking forward to working with you in the future on our plating needs."
– Robert K.
