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| | Abrasive Grit Abrasive options are, for the most part, limited to silicon carbide and aluminum oxide. Other, more exotic abrasives are available. Their expense, however, limits their use to very specific applications. Grit sizes range from 600 through 46 (mesh number used in abrasive separation). Filament diameters range from .018" - .060". As seen in Table 1, filament diameter increases as grit size increases. This relationship is necessary in order to effectively bind the abrasive. By weight, abrasive loading of the filament ranges from 20% to 40%. | |
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| | Table 1 Abrasive Nylon Filament Diameters and Grit Sizes | |
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| | In both ferrous and non-ferrous applications, silicon carbide is the most widely used fiber abrasive. For aluminum applications specifically, there is no threat of corrosion from iron contamination. The silicon carbide grit is produced under controlled conditions and contains no free iron [1]. The fiber abrasive is not considered a material removal tool. Despite the fact that a large grit size can be applied (up to 46 mesh), the flexibility of the filament limits its cutting action. The fiber abrasive will remove some material, but at a minimal rate. For this reason, burrs and sharp edges are preferentially abraded away. This enables the tool to deburr without affecting the dimensional tolerances of the part. Brushing Tool Formats Fiber abrasives are typically formatted into brushing tools using conventional brush making machinery. Abrasive brushing tool formats therefore include these familiar | |
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| | Brushes of these types are commonly applied with hand tools, manual stationary equipment (drill press, pedestal grinder), semi-automated (CNC, NC, robotics), and dedicated finishing systems. | |
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