We live in an age of global manufacturing. While this offers an opportunity to work with a broader range of people across the world, it also means that manufacturing standards of those products are reliant on the manufacturer doing the work. Standards of work often vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and country to country. One example of this is the determination of what’s considered “burr free.” Depending on the manufacturer and the product(s) being deburred, this could mean anything from the removal of burrs that can be seen by the human eye to stricter standards employing total product quality inspections.

What’s not always understood is that shifting definitions tend to produce very different outcomes that don’t always meet the quality and safety concerns of customers. As a trusted designer and manufacturer of deburring solutions, we at CDMC believe deburring standards should meet a stricter standard. This is not only because of the potential for burrs and sharp edges to create safety issues on the manufacturing floor, it’s because deburring is the final step in manufacturing. A step that can extend the life of machines in the plant. Safety hazards, environmental concerns and unexpected downtime in the form of broken machines do not bode well for the company, its employees or the bottom line.

Deburring Maintenance

Standardization of deburring as it pertains to the appearance of the finished product is extremely important. Thankfully, there are a range of processes such as those offered by CDMC that are designed to minimize burrs through tool and process design. Determining the right manufacturing process can help eliminate burr properties such as roughness, shape, thickness and location, in addition to eliminating the troublesome build-up of burrs on gears and sprockets.

Eliminating burrs through these various proven processes can improve edge fitting interference in product assembly, eliminate jamming of mechanisms along the assembly line, decrease wear on parts, improve seals where seams join and minimize unnecessary cuts and bruising for workers on the line. Deburring using a range of surfaces including silicon carbide and diamond brushes is a reliable way to remove troublesome burrs.

CDMC Deburring Options

Model 5000 – deburrs parallel-axis gears with consistent, repeatable results

Model 1220 – uses a large diameter nylon radial brush for ring gears up to 15” in diameter

Model 3000 – perfect for standard bevel gears up to 48” in diameter

Deburring is a critical aspect of quality manufacturing processes and one that should not ever be overlooked. Cleveland Deburring Machine Company (CDMC) offers customers around the world reliable, consistent and repeatable deburring processes.

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In the third quarter of 2019, many in manufacturing are waiting and watching to see where the last half of the year will leave the industry after a slight dip in manufacturing production in April. The 0.2 percent year-on-year drop created a revision from the 0.7 rise in March, according to TradingEconomics.com. U.S. manufacturing production averaged 3.79 percent from 1920-2019, according to the data provider.

Calculations from Trading Economics’ global macro models and its associated analysts shared a forecast for U.S. manufacturing of 2181.00 USD billion. Predictions for the long-term, based on econometric modeling, were expected around 2266.00 U.S. Billion in 2020.

Economics and Politics

Economic predictions for 2020 will also be impacted by the upcoming election year. 2020 is already attracting speculation from political pundits. This election like many others will find candidates looking to ally with voters, exploiting the associated economic element of a stronger manufacturing industry. Some within the political world are already touting a manufacturing comeback, crediting current and proposed tariffs on Chinese goods. Others who aren’t ready to give credit still see an imminent boom. Nevertheless, candidates on both sides of the party aisle are casting their bets on the impact manufacturing will have in the upcoming election as many candidates look to regain votes on manufacturing-centric platforms.

One example of this occurred when former vice-president Joe Biden announced his bid as a 2020 Democratic candidate in May. The announcement took place in front of Pennsylvania union workers. Biden told these potential voters they would likely be instrumental in who ultimately wins the candidacy. Biden is one of many looking to capture the vote of Rust Belt voters who seek stronger economic development and growth.

Importance of Reliable Deburring

With elections come campaign promises. Following the last election, several companies pledged to bring their business back to the U.S. In some cases, the outcome of those promises remains unresolved because of the recent trade wars and tariff stand-offs. Despite this or perhaps because of this, there remains an increasing demand for consumer goods. Lower unemployment and more manufacturing jobs create an associated increase in the production of raw materials manufactured stateside.

With an increase in raw materials comes a greater need for reliable deburring and edge finishing processes. Deburring remains an important and recommended finishing aspect throughout the manufacturing industry. The manufacture of sprockets, gears, camshafts and other parts depend on the trimming and polishing inherent in the deburring process.

Deburring is regularly used in a variety of manufacturing industries from automobile and aircraft to the production of computer parts and in toy manufacturing. Each of these areas rely on deburring and edge finishing to remove rough edges, improve cost and performance and enhance safety and appearance. Throughout the world, deburring is a necessary and expected application within the manufacturing process. As the global economy becomes more interconnected, deburring will remain an important element in the production of quality goods throughout the world.

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In life consistency proves to be a key of success. Boring, yet repeatable actions managed over time are one of the best ways to keep things, processes and people functioning at their best. This is true for the most basic of human activities from brushing teeth to moving the body to keep it healthy and nimble. Other working items also benefit from consistent processes. In a manufacturing facility, routine maintenance is an essential part of operations and maintaining productivity.

The importance of observing a maintenance schedule in a manufacturing facility cannot be overstated. Every piece of machinery contains a multitude of moving parts and with complexity comes the potential for stresses. Each piece has a different life span and because of that, there is some expectation of failure during its lifetime. Knowing this, operations and facilities personnel are always on the lookout for ways to improve and lengthen the amount of life a part and/or machinery can provide.

Maintenance Schedule

Having a schedule for service and maintenance is necessary for everything from the HVAC system and the lifts below and everything in between. It’s a mammoth task that’s mission critical, especially when you consider the expense of unexpected breakdowns and downtime. The balancing act becomes even more complicated when you consider each part and every machine is on a slightly different schedule.

Because of this, there is some level of estimation involved. Should the person tasked with maintenance follow the manufacturer’s suggested length of time, should they implement something unique to the manufacturer or do they roll the dice, so to speak, and see how much life a part or machine has? A scheduled maintenance approach means there will be some element of life left in the part, which to some can feel like leaving money on the table.

Deburring is Good Maintenance

One process that can add to the life of machines throughout the manufacturing plant is deburring. Regular deburring of gears and sprockets can extend the life of a machine. Deburring using silicon carbide and diamond brushes can remove the troublesome burrs that can keep a machine from functioning at its best. The removal of sharp pieces of metal and hard plastic also benefits those working on the machines. Burrs left in place can dislodge and end up falling into machinery seams and can cause cuts and bruises in those working with the machinery.

Deburring Machines

Cleveland Deburring Machine Company (CDMC) specializes in the deburring of gears and sprockets. CDMC offers many machines for nearly any gear application.

Model 5000 – deburrs parallel-axis gears with consistent, repeatable results

Model 1220 – uses a large diameter nylon radial brush for ring gears up to 15” in diameter

Model 3000 – perfect for standard bevel gears up to 48” in diameter

OLS Series – used for pump gears, can deburr the gear profile on both surfaces in one rotation

For information on a deburring machine to fit your manufacturing needs or for a free evaluation, contact CDMC today at (216) 472-0200!

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