Deburring and finishing are critical elements of the manufacturing process. The production of parts would be incomplete without the use of these technologies. Often used as the final step in manufacturing, deburring and finishing are just as important today as when they were applied at the beginning of the industrial age. Deburring is a way to produce smooth, clean edges on parts and machinery. By employing quality deburring processes manufacturers add a measure of safety, consistency and reliability with the production of parts that are free from burrs and edge projections.

A burr is a ridge of roughness on a piece of metal or hard plastic that forms during the shaping or cutting process. Much of deburring occurs with metalwork and related manufacturing. The need to deburr relates to metal strengths. On a spectrum, cast iron rates low. 2024 aluminum used for the construction of aircrafts has a medium tendency for burrs, and 18-8 chrome-nickel steel has a higher propensity for burring because of its soft and easily moldable tendencies. Although such projections can appear to be slight to the naked eye, they have the potential to cause serious issues for people and machinery if not properly removed.

If not eliminated, these minute inconsistencies have the potential to increase friction. Over time, these small pieces can break off and land in the seams of machinery, eventually leading to interference on the assembly line. If the problem is not rectified, the machine can jam and possibly overheat, causing a dangerous situation on the floor. The imperfection of burrs can also create irregular mating surfaces in parts and machinery. If not attended to, burrs generate unnecessary waste and can be a cause of time lost on the floor for those tasked with remedying these issues.

Machinery and Parts

Some of the most important advantages of investing in quality deburring and finishing services is reliability and repeatability. These processes are a critical part of the manufacturing process and maintenance of machinery and parts prior to installation on the production floor. Beyond enhancing operations, parts and machinery that have been deburred also protect the workforce. The elimination of rough edges lowers the probability of parts jamming in critical mechanisms as well as preventing cuts and bruises for those working the line.

Deburring Solutions

The last step of the manufacturing process is something that should never be overlooked. Cleveland Deburring Machine Company (CDMC) understands the importance of reliability, consistency and repeatability during processes. We offer a range of cost-effective deburring solutions for high-volume, repeatable processes to flexible, easy-to-adjust solutions. Find out why CDMC is the first word on the last step in the manufacturing process.

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Earth Day celebrations each April 22 turn a spotlight on the concepts of conservation and environmental matters. Yet to be truly effective, Earth Day must be more than a one-day celebration. For those who care about the long-term sustainability of natural resources through environmentally sound practices, Earth Day is every day. Those ideas of conversation and environmental sustainability are also alive in the manufacturing industry, as manufacturers look to use sustainable manufacturing processes to minimize negative environmental resources and conserve energy and natural resources.

Positively Impacts Bottom Line

For many years, sustainability efforts remained largely lip-service but with time, these practices are becoming more of the norm for manufacturers throughout the U.S. Why the change? Manufacturers are seeing that sustainability done correctly can positively impact the bottom line for the company and create positive ripple effects for vendors, suppliers and consumers alike.

While there is no common definition of sustainable manufacturing, the U.S. Department of Commerce defines it as, “The creation of manufactured products that use processes to minimize negative environmental impacts, conserve energy and natural resources, are safe for employees, communities and consumers and are economically sound.”

Sustainable manufacturing is no small matter, encompassing a range of economic, societal and environmental factors. Creating and maintaining an initiative at your company requires looking at all departments throughout the company as well as throughout the supply chain. Done well, sustainability takes time and requires good communication to get everyone on the same page, understanding why the company has chosen to pursue this initiative, possible effects of ongoing actions and the impact of compliance/non-compliance throughout the company. With great effort and over time, good sustainability practices can empower employees, enhance the safety and quality of a product and benefit the community where the manufacturer is located.

Reasons to Create a Sustainability Initiative

Increase operational efficiency through reduced costs and waste

Growth of competitive advantage

Appeal to new customers

Method to protect and strengthen brand

Platform to build long-term positive reputation and improve trust

Boost competitiveness within the segment and industry

Consistent Action for Success

Some companies initially test the waters of sustainability by looking for ways to lower resource and production costs. If that initiative is successful, many manufacturers look for other ways to grow and formalize this initiative. Having a dedicated plan and staff tasked with the initiative can often determine if the endeavor will be successful or not. Sustainability practices are long-term and those who pick and choose applications rather than integrating them across all business functions will find it hard to achieve the same level of success as those that fully commit.

Baby Steps

Understandably, taking on a sustainability initiative in your business is a big step, one that deserves guidance throughout the process. To learn more about sustainability practices, visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for resources and tool kits to guide the process.

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Wearable technology and its many applications are all around us. Without looking too far, there’s a good chance you’re already familiar with wearables through the technology of an Apple or Samsung Watch, a Garmin model or a Fitbit. Compact, versatile and smart, these fitness trackers multi-task allowing a range of actions from counting steps or minutes spent exercising to answering phone calls or even taking an electrocardiogram on the spot.

Impressive, but when it comes to flexible electronics think of applications that are smaller and potentially even smarter. These incredibly thin electronics contain traces and circuits printed on paper-based flexible substrates.

Produced on foil, paper and even in ink, these electronics retain a high level of conductivity even on curved products and are flexible enough to bend or fold. Such a flexible application, pun intended, offers the potential of roll-able TVs and displays, electronic paper, transparent and smart sensors, not to mention a range of other applications in clothing.

Advantages of Flexible Technologies

Use inexpensive plastics

Low manufacturing costs

Lightweight and bendable

Easily portable

Potentially cheaper

Internet of Things

Over the last five years, tech companies have begun forming collaborations with clothing companies to produce a range of custom apparel products using stretchable electronic inks and flexible substrates. Today it’s easier than ever to find applications of the paper-thin, form-fitting circuits in smart clothing. Companies such as DuPont are manufacturing Intexar, an advanced material. By adding Intexar to clothing like shirts and sports bras, the technology can provide its users with a range of biometric data. Wearing a smart shirt with Intexar has the potential to offer a user or a designated medical provider with information such as heart and breathing rate, form awareness and muscle tension, according to DuPont.

With real-time monitoring and data collection, smart apparel has the potential to not only supply information but also adjust to a range of user needs, like the self-heating jacket created by Ralph Lauren for the Winter Olympics. Use of flexible technologies extends far beyond the world of athletics. Flexible technologies are finding application within the medical, military and first-responder markets. This includes the potential of contact lenses adept at monitoring the glucose levels of a diabetic patient, clothing that can keep first responders safer and jean jackets that offer internet connectivity.

Building Synergies

Akin to the ability to place more and more semiconductors on a chip, flexible technologies show a growing range of possibilities. Imagine a thin layer of film that can regulate the temperature on a home or building or a strip of plastic embedded in a bag that charges the devices inside. Such advances are not only real, they are happening on a small scale now. Research continues as more are discovering the abilities and inherent restrictions of this exciting technology.

This article is brought to you by The Cleveland Deburring Machine Company. CDMC can provide a deburring solution for gears, sprockets, aerospace and defense, automotive deburring, power transmission, powdered metals, fluid power and custom deburring applications. 

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