Supersheen Services
Barrel Polishing
Barrel polishing is one of the many metal finishing services we offer at Supersheen.
Barrel Polishing
We’ve been a leading metal finishing company for over fifty years. So, with the extensive knowledge we have, we ensure to give you the best advice. Therefore, enabling you to invest in a metal finishing service that’s right for you, whether it’s barrel polishing or other vibratory finishings.
Supersheen offers a fast and efficient turnaround on both small and large batch quantities. We also offer FREE process testing to any company submitting components for trial and a full cost analysis is given upon completion. We strive for perfection with out work and ethics and our customers goal is our absolute priority.
Some of the industries we work with include:
- Automotive
- Architectural
- Aerospace
- Motorsport
- Manufacturing
Barrel Polishing Services At Supersheen
Barrel polishing is a type of metal surface improvement process. Sometimes known as barrel tumbling, it involves rotating a mixture of parts, media, and compounds to improve a surface finish. Surface finishing is an important part of industrial and mechanical component manufacturing.
Barrel polishing is used to achieve a shiny and smooth surface finish on specific products. This can improve the overall look and feel of a part but also improve the component’s internal properties.
Barrel Polishing
The Benefits Of Barrel Polishing
Alongside creating a smooth and finished look to a part, barrel polishing services can also provide a series of other benefits such as:
- Improving overall resilience – barrel polishing can help to improve the resilience, corrosion resistance and tensile strength of a component.
- Remove defects – naturally during the manufacturing process defects can occur on a part. Barrel polishing can help to remove any burrs and other surface flaws on a part.
- Consistent surface finishing – when it comes to mass finishing, it’s important that all of the components have a uniform finish. Barrel polishing is one of the best finishing processes to achieve consistent results.
- Surface finishing at a scale – barrel tumbling is one of the most successful ways of finishing a large quantity of parts in a short time frame. Little handling is required and multiple batches can be processed without having to compromise on the uniformity and quality of the finish.
What is barrel polishing?
Often known as barrel tumbling, barrel polishing is a metal finishing process used to create a smooth and polished finish on small parts. It involves placing the parts into a barrel along with media, chemicals, and other compounds and rotating the barrel around at a speed. Rotating the barrel will cause friction by the parts being abraided by the media in process. As a result will improve the surface on each component.
Does tumbling remove material?
Put simply, the barrel polishing processes smoothes and polishes the surface of manufactured parts. To do this, it will rely on the friction to remove unwanted defects and excess material causing the uneven surface.
What is the best media to use in a tumbler?
The best media to use in a tumbler will entirely depend on the material of the partas and the volume of the parts being tumbled. However, when it comes to deburring hard metals such as steel, ceramic media is often used.
We Guarantee Quality With A Fast Efficient Turnaround
At Supersheen, alongside delivering high quality barrel finishing services, we strive to meet fast turnaround requirements too. As experienced metal finishers, our advice and knowledge is invaluable when it comes to supporting our customers. We take pride in being able to offer expert advice to our customers and as a result can always ensure they are investing in the right service to meet their requirements.
Is It Right For You?
Is Barrel Polishing Right for You?
Barrel polishing is ideal for mass finishing small components. Many businesses will rely on the surface improvement process to create a smooth finish on their components both quickly and efficiently.
Barrel polishing is extensively used on:
- Presswork
- Fasteners
- Machined aluminium
- Diecast aluminium
- Zinc parts
- Stainless steel components
- Brass stampings
- Other types of hardware
- Mined materials
- Precious stones and gemstones
About this Process
While a method that has gone back many years the core principles of Barrel polishing remain the same. The barrel is usually a round, hexagonal, or octagonal container which contains stainless steel balls.
Components are then introduced into the barrel alongside the polishing chemicals and water before a lid is placed onto the machine. The barrel and all of its contents are rotated at around 20 rotations per minute. A sliding layer is created inside the barrel which imparts a rubbing feature between the stainless steel balls and the components.
As a result of the rotation and this rubbing feature, a bright finish is created on the products over a period of time, thus leaving the components polished.
