entgratung

Entgratung, in English often referred to as deburring, is the process of removing burrs—sharp edges or protrusions that remain on a workpiece after machining or forming operations. Burrs can interfere with assembly, cause injuries, and serve as initiation points for fatigue cracks or corrosion. Entgratung aims to produce safe, consistent edges, improve dimensional accuracy, and enhance surface finish and durability.

Common deburring methods include mechanical deburring, such as manual filing, grinding, brushing, or using tumbling and vibratory finishing to remove all burrs and round edges; thermal deburring, which uses controlled heat to wipe away burrs through burnishing or flame-assisted processes; chemical or electrochemical deburring, where chemical or electrolytic action removes burr material; and ultrasonic or abrasive-flow deburring, which use high-frequency energy or a slurry to clean complex geometries. Different methods suit different burr types, materials, and part geometries.

Material and process selection depends on part design, material properties, required tolerances, and production volume. Deburring can affect dimensions, surface roughness, and edge radii, so parameters are chosen to meet specifications. Quality control typically includes visual inspection for residual burrs, surface roughness measurements, and dimensional checks with measuring equipment such as coordinate measuring machines.

In manufacturing practice, entgratung is integrated into workflows to balance throughput, cost, and component performance. Ongoing developments focus on automating deburring, improving inspection accuracy, and reducing environmental impact.