TABLE OF CONTENTS Vibratory finishing is now the most popular type of mass finishing and, next to hand deburring, the most common surface conditioning method used by industry. This versatile process is used for cleaning, deburring, deflashing, descaling, edge and corner radiusing, surface finishing, and stress relieving. Workpieces in a wide variety of sizes and shapes are processed, as are all metals and many nonmetallic materials. Large quantities of parts can be run in batch or continuous process setups without handling or fixturing, thus minimizing costs.
Vibratory equipment is made in two basic configurations: rectangular tub and round bowl types [1]. A third type, tubular, is made by at least one company, but is not widely used. The first tub-type vibratory finishing machine was introduced commercially in 1957, and the bowl-type about five years later. Both types use an open-top work chamber containing an aggregate of media, compound, water, and the workpieces. While the chamber is vibrated, work is performed by the media and compound's scrubbing or peening action on the workpieces. Table 10-1 provides an overview of the variety of these machines.
| Vibratory Equipment Style | Optional Configurations | Media Separation |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Tub, batch | Compartmentalized, fixtured cryogenic, modular, bench top portable | generally none |
| 2) Tub, continuous | with/without | |
| 3) Bowl, flat bottom | Compartmentalized, fixtured | with/without |
| 4) Bowl with elevation | with/without | |
| 5) Bowl big ratio [*] | with/without | |
| 6) Bowl continuous | with | |
| 7) Oval | with/without | |
| [*]Ratio is... |
