Abrasive flow machining (AFM) is a finishing process used by several industries for a wide range of applications. It’s extremely effective for deburring and polishing the inner and outer surfaces of a part. AFM greatly enhances a part’s function, performance, and durability. These factors are critical to a number of production processes, including those that involve the use of industrial dies.
Automotive, aerospace, electronics, and packaging are just a few of the Pittsburgh area industries that use dies in the manufacturing of parts and components. Dies are used to form finished parts from raw materials such as sheet metal, plastic, wire, and fabric. Most dies consist of two parts: a male component called a punch and a female component called a die. The male component applies force to the workpiece material, thrusting it into a cavity or recess where it is shaped, cut, or formed into its desired shape and form.
Different Dies for Different Jobs
There are several different types of die. Which type of die is used depends on the application of the finished part and the specific manufacturing process. The most common types of industrial dies used by Pittsburgh manufacturers include:
- As the name suggests, cutting dies are used to cut or shear materials into a desired shape.
- Forming dies use processes like bending, folding, drawing, and stretching to shape materials.
- Piercing dies are used to create holes or openings.
- Extrusion dies work using an extrusion process, forcing material through a die opening to create a continuous profile with a specific cross-section. Extrusion dies are commonly used in plastic and rubber manufacturing.
- Stamps, coins, medals, and other objects with complex surface designs and engraved patterns are manufactured using coining dies.
- Progressive dies are dies that perform multiple operations (cutting, forming, etc.) in a single press
- Drawing dies form sheet metal and other materials into a desired shape using a process called drawing.
- Commonly used in the manufacturing of pipes, tubes, and cables, swaging dies reduce the diameter of tubes or rods by compressing or reshaping them.
Dies create parts and components in a precise and consistent manner. Usually made from hardened steel or other durable materials, dies are designed to withstand the high pressures, abrasion, and other types of wear brought about by repetitive use. They play a crucial role in high-volume production environments where a high degree of efficiency and accuracy are required.
The Benefits of Abrasive Flow Machining
The AFM process uses an abrasive flow media to smooth and polish a workpiece. As the abrasive flow media flows across the inner and outer surfaces of a workpiece, the abrasive materials in the abrasive flow media erode away burrs and other surface imperfections. The abrasive flow media is able to smooth and deburr parts with hard-to-reach inner surfaces and complex surface geometries in ways other finishing processes just can’t. It’s very useful for coins and other dies that are used to form parts and components with highly detailed surface features.
Some of the other factors that make AFM an excellent choice for finishing almost any type of industrial die include:
- Accurate and repeatable results
- Surface stress relief reduces wear and tear to the finished part
- Shorter cycle times.
- AFM can be used to finish a wide range of materials, including steel, titanium, and aluminum parts.
- AFM is often more cost-effective than other finishing methods
Abrasive Flow Machining in Pittsburgh, PA
If you are a Pittsburgh company that uses industrial dies as part of your production process, chances are you’ve already heard of Deburring & Finishing Technologies. Deburring & Finishing Technologies has been delivering state-of-the-art abrasive flow deburring services, equipment, and consumables to manufacturing companies throughout the Pittsburgh, PA area since 2009. We have the capability to tackle just about any Pittsburgh abrasive flow machining job, including the finishing of industrial dies.
You can get in touch with us through our website or call Deburring & Finishing Technologies at (412) 849-1522 to discuss the requirements of your Pittsburgh, PA abrasive flow machining job and get a free quote.