Highly flexible finishing

Brush Research Manufacturing’s Flex-Hone is a flexible, ball-style hone for surface finishing, deburring and edge blending of products including hydraulic cylinders, where tight tolerances and smooth surface finishes are essential for sealing purposes. The tool can be used in any rotating spindle, ranging from the machining centers of high-volume production environments to hand drill motors for secondary finishing, custom field finishing or even DIY applications. Immediately recognizable by the cluster of ball-shaped abrasive globules that are attached to flexible filaments extending from a central shaft, this versatile tool is sometimes referred to as a “ball hone.”

Available in sizes ranging from very small diameter hones (4mm) to those up to 36 inches or more in diameter, these tools can be custom designed by Brush Research to the size, shape and abrasive grit to fit an application’s needs.

The “grit” is the material composing the ball-shaped globules on the tool that do the surface finishing work. A wide variety of grit types is available, depending on the material and application of the item being surface finished.

While all of the flexible hones from Brush Research produce a soft-cutting abrading action, some applications require a non-directional micro finish while others, such as diesel engine cylinder walls, require a cross-hatched pattern (cross hatching the surface provides better lube oil distribution and retention).

In all cases the Flex-Hone Tool provides “plateau” finishing, the removal of burrs as well as torn and folded metal peaks that remain on metal surfaces after previous finishing operations. At the same time, plateau finishing retains the microscopic valleys in metal finishes in order to enhance lubrication properties.

The tool is self-aligning and is self-compensating for wear, which means that even after some abrasive globules are worn, the finishing action on metal surfaces will remain even. These features save the machining center or service shop on flexible hone replacement, eliminates the need for elaborate setups, and makes it an effective and highly versatile field for use in the field.

Established in 1958, Brush Research Manufacturing offers a full line of additional industrial brushes and abrasive products, a small sampling of which include power and miniature brushes, and twisted wire tools.

For more information, visit: www.brushresearch.com