Tumbling

Tumbling is the least costly process for eliminating rust and scale from metal parts. Parts configuration and size are the prime limitations of the procedure. In dry abrasives, tumbling is effective for eliminating rust and scale from small of parts of simple shape. Though, parts of complex shape, with deep recess and other irregularities, may not be descaled uniformly by tumbling. It might require several hours of tumbling, if the method is utilized. The addition of descaling compounds rather then deburring compounds shall often reduce the tumbling time by 75%.

The operation is accomplished by placing work piece in a drum or barrel, together with stars, slugs, jacks or abrasive materials. The abrasive materials might be sand, granite chips, slag or aluminium oxide pellets. The barrel is rotated in operation, and the movement of workpieces and the accompanying slugs or abrasive material against each other generated fine cutting action which eliminates the fins, flashes and scale from the products.