Tracking
Sign in Get Instant Quote

Tumbling

At a glance

Applicable Materials

Aluminum, Steel, Stainless Steel

Colors

n/a

Texture

Slightly rounded edges, smooth, slightly matte finish, does not hide all machine marks

Can be applied with

Any finish

About the Process

Tumbling is a finishing process that is used to clean, deburr, and slightly smooth smaller parts. Tumbling uses a horizontal drum where parts are placed, along with a media, such as sand or ceramic chips. The drum rotates slowly, causing the media to slide repeatedly over the parts, breaking any sharp edges and lightly smoothing the surface. Tumbling is fairly inexpensive due to the small amount of manual labor involved to run the process.

Design considerations

  • Because parts cannot be masked prior to tumbling, consider adding features such as threads and engravings after this process.
  • Tumbling is a rough process, so parts with thin features are not ideal for this finishing option.

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN

Tariffs and Import Duties 101: A Guide to Managing Global Trade Costs

What Do Tariffs Mean for Global Manufacturing and Supply Chain? Tariffs are making headlines in the manufacturing world, and for good reason. In today’s global supply chains, a single tariff decision can impact a production line, affecting costs, lead times, and sourcing strategies. Few factors influence global supply chains as much as tariffs and import […]

Learn More

Metal Parts Manufacturing: A Comprehensive Guide to Processes, Applications, and Industry Uses

Metal parts manufacturing is the process of shaping, cutting, and assembling metal materials into components used in countless industries. Its importance lies in its ability to produce durable, precise, and high-performance parts that meet the demanding requirements of modern technology and infrastructure. This article reviews key metal parts manufacturing processes for everything from large-scale components […]

Learn More