DIY 18 lbs vibratory tumbler

[will gilmore]

I bought this vibratory parts loader at an auction a few years ago for cheap. It doesn't have a rotating motor. I ordered a replacement 18 lbs tumbler bowl and I'll stick the two together and see what happens. Sound reasonable? What kind of media should I get? Looking to finish machined aluminum parts, remove milling marks, light edge break etc.

If the parts loader doesn't work, I have a few motors laying around and I'll rig up the offset weight style ********.

 

[Strouty]

This is too funny, I just saw my parts loader yesterday and thought, "I wonder if this would work for a vibratory polisher?" Now we are going to find out and I don't have to spend any time or money!

 

[beautifulchaos]

Some general purpose synthetics I've used recently have been quite impressive. This is my current go-to for aluminum parts that require a uniform finish and basic edge break.

Otherwise, plastic is widely available and leaves a nice finish on aluminum. Size and shape is almost impossible to recommend without some idea of what kind of parts you're making.

 

[will gilmore]

Some general purpose synthetics I've used recently have been quite impressive. This is my current go-to for aluminum parts that require a uniform finish and basic edge break.

Otherwise, plastic is widely available and leaves a nice finish on aluminum. Size and shape is almost impossible to recommend without some idea of what kind of parts you're making.

Ideally, I can be set up for a variety of parts that will fit in the bowl. I have inside radii down to 1/8" sometimes and 1/4-20 or 10-24 tapped holes in a lot of things. Can you recommend a source?

 

[will gilmore]

This https://www.mcmaster.com/#47755A21 ? or this https://www.mcmaster.com/#47755A25 ?

 

[beautifulchaos]

The second option is probably the better choice, providing it won't lodge itself into holes or other nooks and crannies in your parts. Some angle cut triangles would be even better.
The larger wedges you posted could cause some surface hammering.

You could also look for vibratory finishing job shops in your area. We almost always have media laying around that we can spare for a hobbyist.

 

[pcmeiners]

"Now we are going to find out and I don't have to spend any time or money! "

See what great people we have on the forum, saving you money so you can spend it on cleaning products for your Lista cabinets.

Will, looks heavy duty, nice find!!!

 

[Strouty]

See what great people we have on the forum, saving you money so you can spend it on cleaning products for your Lista cabinets.

I hope it works well, then I can save a few buck by making mine out of spare parts rather than buying one. My cleaning supplies are really expensive!

 

[OccupantRJ]

With that type of vibratory, the gap adjustment of the magnetic armature in the base is critical for good vibratory movement, so be aware of that.

 

[will gilmore]

With that type of vibratory, the gap adjustment of the magnetic armature in the base is critical for good vibratory movement, so be aware of that.

This is my concern, that I won't get the proper type of motion. Could you say more about how this works? Is it like a tattoo gun?

 

[toplessHO]

made one about 25 yrs ago before they became readily available
with 5 gallon bucket,2 old steel wheels for a frame
and a small motor that I attached a small adjustable bob weigh to shaft.
worked great for many years until it just fell apart from the constant vibration
now I have a smaller commercial unit.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Here you go.

http://orientech.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Vibratory-Feeder_Troubleshooting_Guide_Rev-001.pdf

 

[will gilmore]

Here you go.

http://orientech.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Vibratory-Feeder_Troubleshooting_Guide_Rev-001.pdf

Thanks. I assume the striker mechanism works like a tattoo gun or door bell.

 

[will gilmore]

Should I get 5 lbs to start or will the bowl need to be more full to get the proper action? 10 lbs?

 

[txvwnut]

Should I get 5 lbs to start or will the bowl need to be more full to get the proper action? 10 lbs?

That's hard to say with your setup.

With a regular vibratory tumbler you want to run it close to or at capacity to get a proper tumbling action. I've got two tumblers a large floor model and 5lb benchtop. With the 5lb'er I run it with five pounds total in it, that being media and what's being tumbled equals 5lb's. With my floor model I can remove bounce springs and run it lighter but that's time consuming to do so I just try to run it at its max weight capacity.

The thing with tumblers is remember that if it's 5lb, 18lb, or larger that weight is the media and what's being tumbled together. If you get it too light or too heavy it just sits there and shakes.

 

[will gilmore]

That's hard to say with your setup.

With a regular vibratory tumbler you want to run it close to or at capacity to get a proper tumbling action. I've got two tumblers a large floor model and 5lb benchtop. With the 5lb'er I run it with five pounds total in it, that being media and what's being tumbled equals 5lb's. With my floor model I can remove bounce springs and run it lighter but that's time consuming to do so I just try to run it at its max weight capacity.

The thing with tumblers is remember that if it's 5lb, 18lb, or larger that weight is the media and what's being tumbled together. If you get it too light or too heavy it just sits there and shakes.

Thanks. The bowl came from a 18 lb machine so I'll get 10 lbs and see how that goes.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Thanks. I assume the striker mechanism works like a tattoo gun or door bell.

Pretty much so.

 

[larry_g]

I spent a few years dealing with rotary vibratory feeders. I do know that they are fit to a load or bowl size. They are then tuned to a resonant frequency so the thing will operate. Tuning was not complicated but it consisted of the power to the magnet, the separation distance of the magnet to the armature, the size and composition of the spring packs, and the bolt torque on the spring packs. Failures would mostly be broken springs.

I would suggest that you hunt down the specs on that driver to find out its designed load range and go from there. I'm curious if the plastic bowl will resonate as the only ones I ever worked with were all stainless bowls. Good Luck

lg
no neat sig line

 

[will gilmore]

Got some media:


edit: this is a video if you click on it.

Just tossed in a chunk of saw cut aluminum. We'll see what happens. On the plus side this thing is pretty quiet. It doesn't looking like it's really "churning" needs more weight? Less weight? Water? or maybe I need to go for the motor with the offset weight.

 

[Maui]

You need a slurry.

 

[will gilmore]

Add tap water?

 

[Fishy66]

Pea Gravel, a handful of sand, and a splash of simple green will make rusty bolts and tools a bright, satin finish in <hour.