#1068 Brite Microfinishing/Brite Deburring
INDUSTRY:
Other - Manufacturers of molding components for plastics
MFG/METHOD:
Machining and heat-treating
ALLOY:
S-7 Tool Steel
PROBLEM:
The customer needed to improve the mold release characteristics of the tip of the core that comes in contact with product. Those mold release failures were traced to a combination of surface finish, burr and breaking edge conditions on the various surfaces on the tip of the part.
SOLUTION:
Electropolishing solved both problems in one process cycle. As electropolishing removes the outer layer at the tooth area, it smooths the edges by attacking the sharper points more aggressively. This enhances the mold release characteristics and deburrs the part at the same time. As a by product of the process, the heat treat discoloration was removed, leaving the final part clean and bright.
Note to Engineer: Electropolishing works equally well on a part from “dead soft” to fully hardened. As a result, the process can be plugged into the fabrication process wherever most advantageous. In this case and many others, electropolishing is often specified as a last step prior to assembly.
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