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Deburring Services for CNC Machined Parts

Deburring services on every part DEK machines in-house, from 0.1 mm edge breaks to thermal deburring of cross-holes. Edge breaking adds no lead time; tumbling or thermal adds a day.

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Technician deburring sharp edge of CNC machined aluminum block
  • 0.1 mm Edge Breaks From
  • +1 day Tumbling or Thermal
  • 10× Inspection Magnifier

Our Deburring Services Process

Deburring CNC parts removes burrs and breaks sharp edges to a defined size. It is planned in the machining program and inspected in the same order; no deburring-only orders.

  • 01

    CNC Machining

    Your part is machined in-house at DEK, with edge breaks planned in the process plan rather than left to a final hand operation.

  • 02

    In-Program Chamfer

    A chamfer or radius tool cuts reachable edges to 0.1–0.5 mm × 45° or R, ±0.05 mm, in the CNC cycle: the most repeatable method.

  • 03

    Manual Deburring

    Remaining edges are finished with hand tools, scrapers and abrasive pads under 10× magnification, typically a 0.1–0.5 mm break.

  • 04

    Batch or Internal

    Tumbling, thermal, electrochemical or abrasive flow deburring is added when quantity or geometry such as internal cross-holes justifies it.

  • 05

    Inspection

    IPQC and OQC check edges: 10× visual, swab test, optical comparator on specified breaks and borescope inspection of cross-holes.

What Deburring Delivers & Where to Be Mindful

Clean, defined edges protect assembly, seals and fatigue life, but each method has limits on geometry, material and dimensions.

  • Key Benefits

    • Clean assembly: no burrs on bore edges or thread starts to stop pins seating or scratch mating faces
    • Seal protection: burr-free O-ring grooves so the seal is not cut at installation
    • Better fatigue life: a defined edge radius removes stress concentrations on shafts and brackets
    • No loose contamination: burrs inside manifolds and valves cannot break off and jam spools
    • No added lead time: standard edge breaking is built into every machined part
    • Ready for the next finish: edges are finished before any bead blasting or anodizing step

  • Limitations & Alternatives

    1. Tumbling rounds every edge: it removes 2–10 µm; avoid it on ±0.01 mm fits or plug those features
    2. Thermal leaves an oxide film: the film must be cleaned off, and the method is not for plastics
    3. ECD and AFM need tooling: one tool per part; ECD is economic above about 50 pieces
    4. Medical stainless and titanium: follow manual deburring with electropolishing to remove fine burrs
    5. Bright surface, not just edges: choose polishing for a smooth, bright finish
    6. Uniform matte texture: add bead blasting after deburring, then anodizing
Finished edge and surface results on deburred CNC machined parts

Edge and Surface Results

Each deburring method leaves a different edge condition, from a defined chamfer to a lightly rounded, burr-free cross-hole.

  • Defined Chamfers

    In-program chamfering gives 0.1–0.5 mm × 45° or R edges held to ±0.05 mm, inspected as a dimension on every accessible edge.

  • Tumbled Edges

    Vibratory tumbling rounds all edges to a 0.05–0.3 mm radius and leaves a light satin on small parts processed in batches.

  • Brushed Edges

    Abrasive nylon or wire brushes give a 0.05–0.2 mm edge on flat faces, cross-hole edges and gear teeth, automated in-machine.

  • Burr-Free Cross-Holes

    Thermal deburring burns off burrs in milliseconds, including internal cross-holes, with the edge lightly rounded and no dimensional change.

  • Targeted Radius

    Electrochemical deburring dissolves metal at one targeted edge for a precise 0.1–0.5 mm radius, ideal for a specific manifold cross-hole.

  • Smooth Passages

    Abrasive flow machining radiuses intersecting internal edges and brings internal Ra to 0.2 µm in injectors and medical lumens.

Deburring Methods Compared

Method How it works Edge result Best for Limits
In-program chamfering Chamfer or radius tool in the CNC cycle Defined 0.1–0.5 mm × 45° or R, ±0.05 mm Every accessible edge; the most repeatable method Needs tool access; adds cycle time
Manual deburring Hand tools, scrapers, abrasive pads under magnification 0.1–0.5 mm break, operator dependent Prototypes, complex parts, cosmetic edges Cost per part; relies on skilled staff
Vibratory tumbling Parts and ceramic or plastic media vibrate in a bowl for 1–8 hours 0.05–0.3 mm radius on all edges Small parts in batches: pins, spacers, fittings Rounds every edge; not for thin walls or fine threads unless plugged
Brush deburring Abrasive nylon or wire brushes on the machine or a bench 0.05–0.2 mm Flat faces, cross-hole edges, gear teeth; automated in-machine Limited reach into bores
Thermal deburring (TEM) Gas mixture ignites in a sealed chamber, burns off burrs in milliseconds Burr removed, edge lightly rounded; no dimensional change Internal cross-holes in steel, aluminum and zinc housings Leaves an oxide film to clean; not for plastics
Electrochemical deburring (ECD) Electrolyte and a shaped cathode dissolve metal at a targeted edge Precise 0.1–0.5 mm radius at one location Hydraulic manifold cross-holes, gear teeth, medical parts Tool per part; economic above about 50 pieces
Abrasive flow machining (AFM) Abrasive-loaded polymer is extruded through passages Internal edges radiused; internal Ra to 0.2 µm Intersecting internal channels, injectors, medical lumens Tool per part; removes material from passage walls

Materials We Deburr After Machining

DEK deburrs every metal it machines, including aluminum, steel, stainless steel and titanium.

Thermal deburring suits steel, aluminum and zinc housings but not plastics; medical stainless and titanium parts are deburred by hand under magnification, then electropolished.

Choosing the Right Deburring Approach

The right route depends on the part: cosmetic housings, small turned parts in volume, hydraulic manifolds or medical instruments each call for a different method.

  • Cosmetic Housings
  • Small Turned Parts
  • Manifolds
  • Medical

Edge Break Machined Parts: Drawing Notes

Edge break on machined parts is often left to interpretation. These notes help you call out a defined edge condition and know how each method affects dimensions.

  • Use a General Note

    "Break all sharp edges 0.1–0.3 mm" or "Remove all burrs and sharp edges" per ASME Y14.5 is the minimum and lets DEK use the most economical method.

  • ISO 13715 on Critical Edges

    The symbol with a value states the allowed condition, e.g. "−0.1 to −0.3" for edge break and "+0.05" as maximum burr. See our engineering drawing symbol guide.

  • Dimension Mating Edges

    Call "C0.2", "0.3 × 45°" or "R0.2" on edges that meet seals, bearings or fixtures, so the edge is cut in the program and inspected as a dimension.

  • Mark Sharp Edges

    Note "no edge break, sharp edge" on cutting edges, sealing knife edges and cosmetic corners that must stay crisp.

  • Specify Internal Passages

    Write "Cross-holes burr-free, borescope inspected" plus a cleanliness requirement such as ISO 16232 or ISO 4406 for hydraulic and fuel parts.

  • Allow for Material Removal

    Chamfer, manual, thermal and ECD leave sizes, threads and Ra unchanged; tumbling removes 2–10 µm and abrasive flow 5–50 µm from passage walls.

Deburring Specifications

  • Chamfer edge 0.1–0.5 mm × 45° or R, ±0.05 mm
  • Manual break 0.1–0.5 mm
  • Tumbling radius 0.05–0.3 mm
  • Tumbling removal 2–10 µm, all surfaces
  • Tumbling cycle 1–8 hours
  • Brush edge 0.05–0.2 mm
  • ECD radius 0.1–0.5 mm
  • AFM removal 5–50 µm from passage walls
  • AFM internal Ra To 0.2 µm
  • Drawing standards ASME Y14.5, ISO 13715
  • Cleanliness ISO 16232, ISO 4406
  • Inspection 10× visual, comparator, borescope
  • Added lead time Tumbling or thermal: a day
  • Certifications ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485, AS9100D

Thermal and Electrochemical Deburring

For internal cross-holes and passages, DEK quotes these methods when quantity or geometry justifies them.

  • Thermal
  • Electrochemical
  • Abrasive Flow

  • Thermal Deburring (TEM)

    The part is sealed in a chamber with a combustible gas mixture that is ignited, burning off burrs everywhere, including cross-holes, in milliseconds.

    • No dimensional change; edge lightly rounded
    • Aluminum and steel manifolds and housings, also zinc
    • Leaves an oxide film to clean; not for plastics
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    Parameter Specification
    Cycle Milliseconds
    Dimensional change None
    Lead time Adds a day

  • Electrochemical Deburring (ECD)

    Electrolyte and a shaped cathode dissolve metal at one targeted edge, giving a precise radius at a specific location.

    • Hydraulic manifold cross-holes, gear teeth, medical parts
    • One tool per part
    • Followed by a cleanliness test on manifolds
    Get a Quote
    Parameter Specification
    Edge radius 0.1–0.5 mm
    Economic from About 50 pieces
    Sizes, threads, Ra Unchanged

  • Abrasive Flow Machining (AFM)

    An abrasive-loaded polymer is extruded through passages, radiusing intersecting internal edges and smoothing the walls.

    • Intersecting internal channels, injectors, medical lumens
    • Bores inside the passage must allow for removal
    Read the Guide
    Parameter Specification
    Internal Ra To 0.2 µm
    Wall removal 5–50 µm
    Tooling Tool per part

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers on edge breaks, deburring methods and how DEK handles deburring in your machining order.

Are DEK machined parts deburred by default?
Yes. Every part is deburred and has sharp edges broken before inspection unless the drawing says "sharp edge required". Specifying the edge size and critical internal passages lets us choose the method and inspect to it.
How do I specify an edge break on a drawing?
Use a general note such as "Break all sharp edges 0.1–0.3 mm", ISO 13715 edge symbols on critical edges, or explicit chamfers such as "0.2 × 45°" where the edge mates with a seal or bearing. Mark edges that must stay sharp.
What is vibratory tumbling and when is it used?
Parts are vibrated with ceramic or plastic media for one to several hours, rounding every edge to 0.05–0.3 mm and leaving a light satin. It is the most economical method for small parts in batches, but it rounds all edges and removes a few microns from every surface.
What is thermal deburring?
Thermal energy method (TEM) deburring seals the part in a chamber with a combustible gas mixture and ignites it, burning off burrs everywhere, including cross-holes, in milliseconds with no dimensional change. It is used on aluminum and steel manifolds and housings.
Do you deburr parts I machined elsewhere?
No. DEK deburrs only parts it machines in-house, as part of the same order. Edge breaks are planned in the machining program and inspected against the same drawing.

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