CNC plasma parts tumbler finish

[DynMetalworks]

Those of you who use a tumbler to clean you cnc plasma cut parts, can you post a picture of the finish after their tumbled? I assume CR and HR come out looking the same?

[AdrianH]

Ohh interested in this, I use a tumbler, well a small home made vibratory tub for some parts, and leave them in for a few hours, it rounds off the edges to stop them being sharp, but I will still knock off the dross before hand. The surface finish seems to be very good for powder coating to me, parts which have now been outside in all weathers has not started to peel yet.

I do use a mixture sometimes of acid bath soak and vib tub if I have hard to get to shapes such as tubes etc.
I have not got any pictures showing before and after, but I will have a look into old posts. If I have a picture not sure it would be of benefit as the plasma cutting side is shall I say very cost conscious at this end.

I would like to add a question to yours if I may and that is what type of media do people use, I a sort of the triangular ceramic media.

Adrian

Edit
Taken some out of an old video, but not really enough edge detail, or detail in general to help that much sorry for that.

pic1.jpg

pic2.jpg

Hope someone else come forward with better soon.

[DynMetalworks]

Thanks for the reply that helps. I have parts cut from 14g and 16g that need to be de-drossed but can't rough up the surface much. That last picture the surface looks pretty good.

[OTHill]

Used a tumbler for a while. No media. Drum was an atv tire but it turned parts black with rubber dust. I dont use it anymore. Just soak parts in acid rinse with cold water and instantly wire brush with stiff cup wheel till dry. Very happy with results. Tumbler did get dross off without media though.

[AdrianH]

A Lot of mine is 1.5mm or 2mm steel hot rolled. I have started recently to use a wire cup brush to remove dross, then will either acid bath to remove the small-scale which it can do in a short time, then a small tumbler session say an hour to remove the edges, or if I give a couple of hours in the tumbler will remove mill-scale and also de-burr.
A lot seems to be down to the media and wash if i can get it to work again. But the surface is a dull finish when done and seems to provide a good key for powder or paint.

The media can get pricey, hence the interest in what others use as stone/flint/pea-gravel would be cheaper, but I am unsure as to effectiveness.

Adrian

[OTHill]

Ok I remember now I used punchings from an iron worker as media.