Design guidelines for deburring sheet metal parts.
Here you'll find important information on the available deburring types and the right choice for your sheet metal parts.
1. Select the deburring type
In the sheet metal portal, you can select one of the available deburring types for your part: one-sided, double-sided, vibratory-finished or not deburred. You select the desired processing directly in the item.
2. One-sided deburring (underside)
Deburring the underside is the default setting at Blexon. Since the burr only forms on the underside, this type is most suitable for most applications. The sheet metal parts are machined by a deburring brush. All protruding burrs are thereby removed.
Sheet metal parts made of ground metal or with a protective film can also be deburred this way, since the grinding or film is always on the top side of the part.
The top side remains untreated with this process.
Deburring brush for sheet metal parts
3. Double-sided deburring
With double-sided deburring, the sheet metal parts pass under the deburring brush twice. The part is turned over between passes.
Double-sided deburring gives the top and bottom the same surface and appearance. Any spatter that cannot be completely avoided during laser cutting is removed. The contrast of engravings is reduced by deburring the top side.
On the top side of a sheet metal part, laser cutting does not create a burr, but the cut edge is relatively sharp. Double-sided deburring „takes the edge off“ these edges on the top. Please note, however, that the edges, as on the underside, are still square (90°) and are not rounded.
Sheet metal parts made of ground metal or with film cannot be deburred on both sides. The deburring brush would scratch the surface.
4. Vibratory finishing / tumbling
Vibratory finishing, also called tumbling, is a special deburring process for small sheet metal parts. The finished sheet metal constructions are placed in a drum together with grinding media (called chips). By rotating the drum, the parts are ground by the chips and the burr is removed.
Vibratory finishing changes the appearance of the metal surface. The surface appears more matte. All edges, top and bottom, are deburred and no longer feel sharp.
This deburring type is only possible for sheet metal parts with a minimum thickness of 1 mm. Thinner sheets could be deformed in the drum. In addition, only parts up to 200 mm long and 100 mm wide can be vibratory-finished.
Sheet metal parts in the drum for vibratory finishing
5. No deburring
In rather rare cases, sheet metal parts should not be deburred. Usually it is cost reasons that lead to this decision. Please note that non-deburred parts, due to the sharp burr, pose a considerable risk of injury.
For bent sheet metal parts (bending parts), this option is not available. Bent parts must always be burr-free, otherwise the workpiece rests on the bending tool with the burr. This would lead to considerable dimensional inaccuracies and could damage the tools.
6. Engraved sheet metal parts
Engraved sheet metal parts should not be vibratory-finished, as the process can damage fine engravings and reduce their visibility due to the matted surface effect.
7. Deburring is not rounding!
One final remark: we expressly point out that deburred edges are not rounded. Even after removing the burr, the edge is still square (90°). It is merely burr-free and no longer “razor-sharp”.
Rounded edges have a defined radius or a chamfer. We do not (yet) offer this service.
