Vibratory tumbling can be a successful method for deburring, polishing and surface
finishing. When a vibe process is operating correctly, the load (blend of tumbling
media and parts) will not only vibrate against each other but the entire load will
tumble or cascade from the outer wall to the inner wall in a bowl and from one side
wall to the other in a tub. This circulation provides maximum energy transfer to the
load. If the vibe is not filled properly, the load will typically tumble from the middle
toward the sides forming a high point in the middle of the load and lead to poor and
inconsistent results.
The tumbling media transmits the vibration energy to parts. The interaction of the
media and the parts achieves the desired finish. Typical media to part ratios (by
volume) of 3 to 1 or higher will keep the parts separated in the load and minimize
part-to-part interaction or impingement. Low media levels or a low ratio will not
allow the media to properly ‘carry’ the parts in the process.
