Inovatec MachineryYour Best Vibratory Tumbler Media Manufacturer in China

Vibratory Tumbler Media Information & Introduction

According to materials, vibratory media includes porcelain tumbling media, ceramic tumbling media, plastic tumbling media, steel tumbling media, and natural tumbling media.

To make perfect parts precision finishing, you need to select the right vibratory tumbling media.

• Porcelain media is ideal for polishing brass and other soft metal parts without metal removal.
• Ceramic media is well suited for heavy deburring, radiusing, edge breaking, and rust removal.
• Plastic media performs well for brass, aluminum light cutting, smoothing, and deburring. It also used zamak3 pre-plating finishing.
• Steel tumbling media is ideal for the ball burnishing process, especially for die casting parts.
• Natural tumbling media includes corn cob abrasive media, walnut shell tumbling media, wood finishing media as well as bamboo-based media.

The vibratory finishing media type in the finishing process is determined by the level of finish expected and the material of the parts.

Large media creates a rougher surface, while smaller media gives a beautiful finish on the surface.

If you are planning to polish big parts then you will have to invest in a large media tumbler.

Large parts demand large media size.

Also, Inovatec has almost all shapes of vibratory bowl media, such as balls, cylinders, pyramids, cones, triangles, etc.

The variety of shapes or their combinations provides access to all parts’ surfaces without lodging problems.

To make the best quality control, Inovatec inspects every batch of raw material before shipping them to the warehouse.

Vibratory tumbler media is carefully inspected, and size tolerance controlled within limitations.

Usually, the allowed measurement of ceramic media and plastic media is ±1mm. The undersize media and the oversized media are removed before packaging.

No matter steel media, ceramic media, or plastic media, we make self-tumbling before packaging.

So that vibratory tumbling medium has a good looking and ready to use when you receive it.

Inovatec has over 20 years’ experience in the manufacturing of vibratory tumbler media and industrial media tumblers.

We pride ourselves on top quality vibratory media.

Whether you are a finishing service provider, an end-user, or a distributor, our excellent tumbling media will help you build your name in your industry.

Send us an inquiry today and get the quotation shortly!

Vibratory Tumbler Media – The Definitive Guide

Vibratory tumbling media is popularly used nowadays. These different types of media are used to improve the surfaces of parts.

You may find it challenging to clearly understand what, how, when, and where to use this media, as many people have.

This article has been specially tuned to answer your questions on vibratory tumbler media.

Keep reading to find out more.

l. What Is “Vibratory Tumbler Media”?

Vibratory tumbler media is any material with an abrasive property that is used to finish parts in a vibratory tumbler machine.

They are used to give the final finish to parts mostly made of metals or plastics.

They are used in industrial vibratory tumbler machines. The aim of carrying out this process is primarily to improve the surfaces of metal parts.

If you use the same media in a rotary tumbler, then the same media is also called rotary tumbler media.

Media is usually hard and robust.

Parts’ surfaces are improved through deburring, polishing, descaling, or rounding corners.

Burrs, for instance, result from the modification of parts. They are unwanted, raised edges of pieces that have undergone a change.

Examples of such modifications include grinding, turning, engraving, drilling, or even milling.

The main disadvantage of burrs is that they increase the cost of finishing parts.

They are also dangerous because they bring about miscalculation of dimensions, which leads to further costs and may even endanger the lives of people.

Further, these burrs, yet again, bring about quicker wear and tear of parts.

They are removed by a process called vibratory deburring. Here, vibratory tumble deburring media is widely used along with deburring tumbler.

Also, for the processes of descaling (removing scales from parts), polishing, and rounding edges of pieces, vibratory tumbler media is used.

These vibratory tumbler media come in different shapes, sizes, and angles.

These dynamics are important as they make the vibratory tumbling process effective and efficient.

Different sizes in vibratory tumbler media are essential because not all parts that need improvement of surfaces are of a similar size.

Also, different shapes are essential because these parts need to be cleaned even on the most intricate parts.

The media has to go through cavities and clean pockets without lodging. Therefore, media that is too big will not clean the pockets and holes because it will not fit.

Also, the media that is too small will not clean these parts effectively. This means that the process will be uneconomical and inefficient.

There are different types of vibratory tumbling media. They are categorized by how aggressive they are at improving the surfaces of parts.

The tumbler media also depends on the type of material whose surface is to be improved.

For softer materials such as plastic and more delicate metal parts such as aluminum and brass, the ideal media for surface improvement is plastic (synthetic) vibratory media.

Synthetic media is used for softer parts because it does not cause damage to the thinner and delicate parts.

Using plastic vibratory media is advantageous as it comes in different shapes, sizes, and angles. This means that it is super useful in tumbling parts.

For harder and heavier metals, for example, steel and titanium, you can use an equally robust tumbling media.

Such tumbling media are ceramic media and stainless steel media. There are numerous advantages to using these types of robust media.

The first one is that these robust media have a high cutting rate of parts because of their hard nature.

Also, both stainless steel and ceramic media have a longer lifespan compared to synthetic tumbler media.

Robust vibratory tumbling media gives metal parts’ surfaces a sleek shiny look. It makes a surface appealing to the eye.

Apart from the earlier discussed media, that is, synthetic, ceramic, and stainless steel, there is also organic vibratory tumbling media.

This organic media is biodegradable. They are widely used for polishing surfaces of jewelry. They also polish metal surfaces remarkably well.

Examples include corn cob grit and walnut shell media.

2.  Is Vibratory Tumbler Media Costly to Acquire?

Here’s the truth:

Vibratory tumbler media are popularly used nowadays. This means that acquiring them is neither difficult nor costly.

You can find all the tumbling media you require from one place. Inovatec offers all these media for you.

Acquiring media ranging from synthetic to robust media and organic vibratory media is easy.

All you will be required to do is to fill out an online inquiry form.

Check this out:

The online form should entail your name, email address, phone number, country, and a brief but detailed description of what media you want to buy.

3.  What Is the Ideal Vibratory Tumbler Media for Aluminium Parts?

The ideal vibratory tumbler media for aluminum depends on the process you want to carry out.

When selecting vibratory tumbling media, there are some factors that you have to consider:

1. The type of material your parts are made of
2. The kind of tumbling process to carry out, that is, either wet or dry tumbling where you can deburr, polish, burnish, descale, or even round edges.
3. The size, shape, and angle of your parts should determine the type of tumbler media you select

Your material may be made of plastic or even metal, like in our case, aluminum.

Aluminum is a rather delicate metal that does not require massive tumbling action.

You can use the same media tumbler for brass parts also.

We don’t recommend using ceramic tumbling media for brass since ceramic media can damage brass parts.

You can decide to use either plastic (synthetic) tumbling media for aluminum parts or a more robust tumbler media like ceramic or stainless steel.

Watch the below video illustrating plastic tumbler media in action on aluminum parts.

When using a robust vibratory tumbler media such as ceramic or stainless steel, it is recommended for you to use wet or magnetic tumbling actions.

However, you are not limited to the wet tumbling method. Check out the below video to understand the dry tumbling process better.

This is because those two processes clean better, and the process takes a shorter duration to complete.

When carrying out dry tumbling on aluminum parts with plastic, you will not have that sleek and shiny look.

Plastic media does not polish to a shiny degree.

You can also use the wet process of tumbling, that is, using compounding agents together with tumbling media to improve the surfaces of your aluminum parts.

Mostly, ceramic tumbling media on aluminum parts will go well with the addition of a compounding agent.

Now, compounding agents are vital when tumbling metal parts like aluminum and brass parts.

These compounding agents prevent the excessive scratching of the surfaces of your aluminum parts.

They also reduce the impact at which the media would hit your aluminum parts. These robust media are highly inflictive on your metal parts.

High levels of infliction on metal parts may damage your metal parts.

You can use any of the industrial tumbler machines from Inovatec for cleaning and finishing your parts.

Check this out:

When using compounding agents, you need to ensure that you should use them in the recommended quantity.

Why?

The reason is when you decide to use a little amount of compounds on aluminum parts, your ceramic or stainless steel media will not be lubricated enough.

Insufficient lubrication leads to scratching of your aluminum parts. Scratched parts have an ugly look.

Contrary to that, you may think that using excessive compounding agents will help out in the tumbling machine process.

Here’s the truth:

Using excessive compounding agents per cycle is highly uneconomical for you. When you add the compounding agent in excess, it’ll overflow.

Apart from overflowing, it does not aid the process any further than using the recommended quantity.

In summary:

You can use both processes of tumbling, that is, wet and dry.

You can further use either synthetic or ceramic or stainless steel for tumbling aluminum parts.

Compounding agents should be used as per their recommended quantities.

4. What Is the Best Vibratory Tumbler Media for Rust Removal on Iron Parts?

Removing rust from iron parts varies. You can decide to go the straightforward way and brush off newly formed rust on the surface of your iron parts.

This will work only for fewer parts. What about when you need to remove rust from the deep cavities and pockets of these iron parts?

You have to understand that removing rust from iron parts is usually not that easy.

The amount of time taken to complete the process depends on the level of corrosion.

Now, you can decide to use chemicals to remove rust from iron. However, vibratory tumbling would be most efficient and economical for you.

Check this out:

There are factors that you need to consider for the process to be a success.

Firstly, you have to consider the level of corrosion in your iron parts.

It is essential because, if the level of corrosion is high, this will definitely mean that you may be forced to complete more than one tumbling cycle to get rid of rust.

One run may not be enough to get rid of the corrosion.

Also, take into account the type of media that would be most efficient and effective during the process. It will help you save time and running costs.

It is also essential to know what type of metal you are dealing with. Iron does rust, but aluminum corrodes.

If you, by-mistake, confuse aluminum for iron, you may end up destroying or shortening the lifespan of your aluminum parts.

Tumbling is a better option compared to using chemicals. Chemicals work by eating away the rust on your surface.

However, tumbling action utilizes friction to remove rust on your iron parts.

The popularly used media for rust removal on iron is plastic media. They are usually pyramid-shaped, so that they may get into contact with every inch of the iron surface.

The major downside of using synthetic media is that the process may become too stressful due to weight and friction.

The heavyweight and friction will crush and grind your synthetic media. It will be crushed to powder form.

You can also decide to use ceramic tumbler media for rust removal.

Due to the robust nature of ceramic media, the job is carried out in a faster way compared to synthetic media.

So, ceramic and plastic media are the two best tumbler media for rust removal from metal parts.

The angle and shape of ceramic media are a primary factor that also dictates the rate of success of your process.

They are also more durable – they can endure the pressure and friction of heavy metal parts.

However, you will not get a sleek and shiny surface once the process is complete. The iron parts will have a dull surface finish.

5. What Is the Best Vibratory Tumbler Media for Small Parts Like Bolts?

Now, to get the best vibratory media for your small parts like bolts and nuts, you first have to know which specific metal type they are made from.

Check this out:

Most bolts and nuts are made from select grades of steel, such as carbon steel and stainless steel.

The reason why they are made from select grades of steel is to prevent them from corroding. Corrosion ultimately leads to the weakening of these parts.

Bolts and nuts are mostly used in humid and wet environments. The reason why they are made of steel is that steel does not corrode like iron.

Now, tumbling bolts and nuts may include polishing them so that they have an appealing shiny look.

Apart from polishing, you may also want to deburr or to descale these parts to avoid miscalculation of dimensions.

Here’s the best part:

The best vibratory tumbler media for small parts, such as bolts and nuts, is ceramic media.

For the highest degree of issues with your small stainless steel or carbon steel parts, the coarsest stainless steel vibratory tumbler media is for you.

This type of media improves the surfaces of your bolts and nuts. It does this within a short period because of its robust nature.

They can deburr, descale and polish remarkably well the surfaces of your bolts and nuts.

For polishing, porcelain media is widely used. Porcelain media comes in different shapes and sizes.

They (porcelain media) are still part of the ceramic media family, but they are strictly used for polishing surfaces.

You can invest in the right type of part tumbler machine from Inovatec for an efficient finishing process.

Bottom line:

Ceramic media would be best for tumbling small parts like bolts and nuts, considering the nature of the material they are made from.

6.  What Is the Ideal Vibratory Tumbling Media for Stainless Steel Parts?

You can use ceramic tumbling media for tumbling stainless steel parts. The reason why ceramic media is used is that it is robust.

Ceramic media also comes in different shapes, sizes, and angles, depending on your needs.

The reason why such dynamics must exist is that they determine the success of your surface improving process.

That success is determined by efficiency and the degree of how effective the process was.

Vibratory tumbler media size matters a great deal because your stainless steel parts should be cleaned thoroughly.

The ceramic media has to go through cavities and clean pockets without lodging.

Therefore, media that is too big will not clean the pockets and cavities because it will not fit.

Also, ceramic media that is too small will not clean these parts effectively. This means that the process will be uneconomical and inefficient.

Apart from size, shape also matters. Different types of stainless steel parts come in different shapes and sizes.

For effective and efficient surface improvement of stainless steel parts, consider using the recommended vibratory tumbler media shape.

The shape matters because every inch of the stainless steel part has to be reached, including the most intricate parts.

You may have many parts that need tumbling, all with different shapes. Using media with different shapes increases the probability of reaching the most intricate parts.

By so doing, you’ll solve the angle problem.

Now, ceramic media is not a one-off material. It can be reused and recycled until it loses its abrasive quality.

Once it loses its abrasive quality, make sure that you dispose of the used useless media well.

These media may contain some harmful or toxic elements, such as Lead in paints.

Proper disposal is vital. Keep your health and your environment safe.

7. What Vibratory Tumbler Media Can Polish Plastic Parts Well?

Now, plastic parts can be tumbled with numerous media exceptionally well.

These tumbler media for plastic include ceramic media, plastic media, porcelain media, as well as organic polishing media.

The type of media you select depends on the plastic parts’ surfaces. Also, the requirement, for example, polishing, etc. is a crucial factor.

You can decide to use ceramic media for deburring your plastic parts. Also, descaling your plastic parts works well with ceramic media.

You need to ensure that the process does not take too long when tumbling with ceramic media.

The reason behind this is because ceramic media is a robust media that has an excellent cutting effect. Longer cycles may damage your parts.

You can also use plastic media for tumbling plastic parts. Synthetic media will work well on plastic pieces.

You can choose to use a compounding agent too.

However, you have to remember that using a compounding agent has to be done correctly.

The excessive use of compounding agents is not economical. It will overflow, and it will not aid the media tumble any better.

Also, using minimal compounding agents leads to scratching of parts. This scratching damages your plastic part surfaces.

Just the right quantity of compounding agents will work best for you.

When choosing media for your plastic parts, remember to use the correct vibratory tumbler media size and shape.

You also have the option to polish plastic parts with organic vibratory tumbling media such as walnut shell media and corn cob media.

You can reuse your organic tumbler media to polish your plastic parts up to 20 times.

Corn cob grit can polish to up to maximum reuse of 15 times, while walnut media for up to maximum reuse of 20 times.

Walnut shell media is more aggressive compared to corn cob grit.

You can use fine walnut shell media or coarse walnut shell grits.

The choice of coarse or fine walnut media is fully dependent on your polishing requirements.

8.  What Is the Process of Polishing Rocks Using Vibratory Tumbler Media?

Now, rocks are naturally hard. You can choose to polish your rocks using coarse media that will ensure effective polishing.

Silicon carbide grit is often used. Water is also used as a universal lubricant for the process.

All you need to do is to fill up your vibratory tumbler bowl to 75% of tumbling media and rocks.

You can also add plastic tumbling pellets in the process.

Add a lubricant that will be slightly above the rocks and media mix.

The process should not take long. Vibratory tumblers reduce the tumbling for rocks by half the time.

Once the process comes to an end, the rocks should have the expected shiny look on them.

If the rocks do not have that desired shiny look, you will be required to carry out a burnishing process.

During the burnishing process, the best results are observed when the rocks are tumbled using plastic pellets alone.

Also, an oil-free, non-abrasive, is used. It aids in the burnishing process by removing the undesired film layer on your rocks.

9.  What Factors Should Be Considered When Selecting Vibratory Tumbler Media for Vibratory Metal Finishing?

Now, when selecting vibratory media for vibratory tumbling, there are vital considerations you need to put into account.

First, you have to consider your metal parts type. There are different categories of metals.

You’ll need to see whether your metal parts are considered to be heavy metal or a light one.

Examples of heavy metals are titanium, iron, steel, etc. They are extremely rigid.

Improving their surfaces requires a lot of effort.

Your metal parts can also be lesser rigid or ‘soft.’ Examples of these lesser rigid metals are brass and aluminum.

These lighter metals cannot be tumbled with the same effort as the heavier ones. They’ll end up being damaged.

For heavier metals, consider using an equally rigid tumbler media. Examples of such media are ceramic and stainless steel.

For lighter metals, consider using relatively less rigid media. The ideal one would be synthetic media.

The second consideration you need to make is to clearly understand what process you want to be completed on the surfaces of your metal parts.

You may want to either polish, deburr, descale, or even round up edges of your metal parts.

For polishing, ceramic media would be best, regardless of the type of metal parts.

The only difference is the duration taken to complete these cycles.

Using synthetic media has numerous advantages over using ceramic or stainless steel media.

Firstly, synthetic media is 40% lighter than ceramic media. This means that using synthetic media will consume lesser power.

Also, synthetic media is widely used, and it is not costly. It comes in different shapes and sizes.

The most common shapes are the pyramid and tetrahedron.

Also, plastic media neither cracks nor chips.

Using robust tumbler media also has its advantages. The first advantage is that ceramic media is robust and cuts parts quickly.

It also has a longer lifespan. You can reuse it until it loses its abrasive quality. After losing its abrasive quality, you can get rid of it.

Ceramic media works well both in wet tumbling and dry tumbling.

Stainless steel media can be used to finish metal parts as they also come in different shapes and sizes.

Stainless media is known to be robust when tumbling metal parts.

You can use its smallest size of media, that is, stainless steel pins to clean the cavities of metal parts.

Brass cases are usually cleaned exceptionally well with stainless steel media.

Stainless steel media can be used to tumble both heavy and light metals.

Bottom line:

Media selection for your metal parts has a lot of factors that you need to consider for an economical yet efficient process.

10.  What Is the lifespan of a Vibratory Tumbler’s Media?

Different vibratory tumbler media have different lifespans. Their lifespan also depends on the type of material you often tumble.

For instance, ceramic media can be reused until it loses its abrasive quality.

This means that even if it is reused countless times and fails to lose its abrasive quality, also, if it wears out, it can be reused for smaller parts.

Stainless steel media also has a lengthy lifespan because of its robust nature.

Plastic media is also not a one-off material. You can reuse it until it loses its abrasive quality.

Organic vibratory tumbling media such as walnut shell grit and corn cob grit can be reused too.

Walnut shell grit has a lifespan of a maximum of 15 to 20 cycles of reuse.

On the other hand, corn cob grit has a lifespan of a maximum of 10 to 15 cycles of reuse.

Walnut media lasts longer than corn cob grit because it is more aggressive.

However, reusing vibratory tumbler media sometimes can be challenging.

The challenge arises on how to reuse media. All you have to do is clean your tumbler media thoroughly.

If your tumbler media has been exposed to a toxic or hazardous material such as paint containing lead, you’ll have to throw it away.

Now, media must be carefully disposed of for the sake of your health and the environment.

In summary:

Tumbler media is not a one-off material, and it can be reused several times until it loses its abrasive quality.

Tumbler media lifespan depends on the type of material you often tumble with.

Heavier parts wear out your media quickly.

Organic media can be reused, as well.

Getting rid of media requires caution, as these media may be contaminated with toxic or hazardous material.

These hazardous materials are still potentially harmful, even in their solid physical state of matter.