Further Description on Cryogenic Deflashing and Deburring Technology

Futher Introduction of Cryogenic Deflashing and Deburring

Flash & Deflashing

“FLASH” is a surplus rubber that oozes out between the two halves of mold during the molding of rubber parts. Various techniques have been employed by rubber manufacturers but flashes cannot be avoided. Even the modern technology such as ‘flash less’ molding technique results in the formation of micro line called flash line. This flash occurs in the regions where different sections of mold brought together (and apart) is known as ‘parting line flash’. The remaining mold flash typically traces around where the different mold section ‘mate’ and is created when the liquid mold material escapes out of the mold cavity into the tight area where the mold sections press one another.

Mould flash can be caused due to the old and worn out mould cavities due to continuous usage which leads to mould mismatch and thereby increasing flash in the component. Most of the time, type of the material being molded and its attendant viscosity in the liquid form is the primary factor that leads for the formation of unwanted mold flash.

Deflashing is the process of removal of these excess flash.

Cryogenic Deflashing

Cryogenic deflashing is a deflashing process that uses cryogenic temperatures to aid in the removal of flash on cast or molded workpieces. These temperatures cause the flash to become stiff or brittle and to break away cleanly. Cryogenic deflashing is the preferred process when removing excess material from oddly shaped, custom molded products.

Cryogenic deflashing provides various advantages over manual deflashing and other traditional deflashing methods:

o   The process maintains part integrity and critical tolerances.

o   Since it is a batch process, the price per piece is far less as many more parts can be processed in a given amount of time.

o  Cryogenic deflashing extends mold life. Rather than replace or repair a mold (which typically involves downtime and high cost), the parts can be deflashed. This is typical of parts molded at the end of their product lifetime.

o  The process is computer controlled, therefore removing the human operator variable from the process.

o  The process offers consistent results from lot to lot.       

o  Cryogenic deflashing is non-abrasive. 

o  The cost per part is generally well below any alternative technique.

Manufacturing high performance materials for growing markets such as automotive and electronic components certainly has its challenges. Molded or machined parts must meet strict tolerances and intricate finishes. When elastomer parts are manufactured by way of injection, transfer or compression molding, a thin membrane of material, called flash, remains along the mold-parting line. Flash is excess, unwanted material that must be removed from finished parts, cryogenic deburring or deflashing is an ideal way to remove the excess flashes with quick  and cheap way.