High-speed mass finishing device and method

Abstract

A vibratory mass finishing machine for faster finishing of parts along with better finishing of the parts (e.g., smoother finishing) compared to the prior art vibratory mass finishing machines. The vibratory mass finishing machine allows the use of a motor with increased horsepower, incorporates a top eccentric weight located at a position below a line defined by a center of mass of the media, and has the top eccentric weight positioned close to a bottom eccentric weight.

1 . A vibratory finishing machine for finishing parts comprising:
 a bowl having a generally circular receiving area for receiving the parts, the receiving area being substantially U-shaped and having an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface;   a base having a plurality of movable parts for movably supporting the bowl to allow the bowl to vibrate relative to the base;   media in the receiving area and forming a torus when the bowl is vibrated; and   an eccentric spinning assembly for causing the bowl to vibrate, the eccentric spinning assembly including a spinning vertical shaft, a top eccentric weight and a bottom eccentric weight, a top weight center of mass of the top eccentric weight and a bottom weight center of mass of the bottom eccentric weight both being located off of a vertical spinning axis of the spinning vertical shaft;   the vibratory finishing machine having a first distance between an outermost point of the torus of the media where the media no longer contacts the inner wall surface of the receiving area and a bottom point where a bottom horizontal line drawn from the bottom weight center of mass meets the vertical spinning axis of the spinning vertical shaft;   the vibratory finishing machine having a second distance between a top point where a top horizontal line drawn from the top weight center of mass meets the vertical spinning axis of the spinning vertical shaft and the bottom point; and   a ratio of the first distance to the second distance being greater or equal to 1.8:1.   
     
     
         2 . The vibratory finishing machine of  claim 1 , further including:
 a motor for rotating the spinning vertical shaft.   
     
     
         3 . The vibratory finishing machine of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the motor is fixed to the base.   
     
     
         4 . The vibratory finishing machine of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the motor includes an output shaft connected to the spinning vertical shaft for rotating the spinning vertical shaft.   
     
     
         5 . The vibratory finishing machine of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the movable parts comprise a plurality of springs.   
     
     
         6 . The vibratory finishing machine of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the spinning vertical shaft is configured to rotate at  2000  RPMs or greater while maintaining uniform roll of the media.   
     
     
         7 . A method of finishing parts comprising:
 providing a vibratory finishing machine including a bowl, a base and an eccentric spinning assembly;   providing the bowl with a generally circular receiving area for receiving the parts, the receiving area being substantially U-shaped and having an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface;   movably supporting the bowl on a plurality of movable parts of the base;   placing media and the parts in the receiving area;   providing the eccentric spinning assembly with a spinning vertical shaft, a top eccentric weight and a bottom eccentric weight, with a top weight center of mass of the top eccentric weight and a bottom weight center of mass of the bottom eccentric weight both being located off of a vertical spinning axis of the spinning vertical shaft; and   rotating the spinning vertical shaft and vibrating the bowl relative to the base to form a torus with the media;   the vibratory finishing machine having a first distance between an outermost point of the torus of the media where the media no longer contacts the inner wall surface of the receiving area and a bottom point where a bottom horizontal line drawn from the bottom weight center of mass meets the vertical spinning axis of the spinning vertical shaft;   the vibratory finishing machine having a second distance between a top point where a top horizontal line drawn from the top weight center of mass meets the vertical spinning axis of the spinning vertical shaft and the bottom point; and   a ratio of the first distance to the second distance being greater or equal to 1.8:1.   
     
     
         8 . The method of finishing parts of  claim 7 , further including:
 rotating the spinning vertical shaft with a motor.   
     
     
         9 . The method of finishing parts of  claim 8 , further including:
 fixing the motor to the base.   
     
     
         10 . The method of finishing parts of  claim 8 , further including:
 connecting an output shaft of the motor to the spinning vertical shaft for rotating the spinning vertical shaft.   
     
     
         11 . The method of finishing parts of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the movable parts comprise a plurality of springs.   
     
     
         12 . The method of finishing parts of  claim 7 , wherein:
 rotating the spinning vertical shaft includes rotating the spinning vertical shaft at 2000 RPMs or greater;   and further including maintaining uniform roll of the media.