Rebarbas

Rebarbas, the Spanish term for burrs, are rough projections or jagged edges that remain on a workpiece after cutting, punching, drilling, milling, or casting. They are common on metal and plastic parts and can appear along outer edges or at holes, slots, or internal corners.

Causes and types: Burrs form when material is displaced or sheared, leaving a thin edge that cannot be removed by the primary operation. External edge burrs protrude from the surface; internal burrs occur at openings; chip burrs are residual ridges along machined contours. Burr magnitudes vary with material, process conditions, and tool geometry.

Consequences: Burrs can interfere with fit, assembly, and sealing; they can introduce stress concentrations, promote corrosion, or trap debris. Sharp edges pose safety risks to workers and end users, so deburring is a standard post-processing step in many industries.

Removal methods: Removal methods include mechanical deburring with blades, files, grinders, or brushing; thermal deburring with controlled combustion; chemical deburring with solvents; electrochemical deburring; ultrasonic deburring; and mass-finishing processes such as tumbling or vibratory finishing.

Materials and applications: Burrs are encountered on steel, aluminum, castings, and plastics across automotive, aerospace, electronics, plumbing, and consumer goods manufacturing.

Quality and safety: Controlling burrs supports quality and worker safety; excessive deburring can alter tolerances, while insufficient deburring can compromise function; proper PPE is recommended when handling sharp parts.

See also: burr; deburring; swarf.