Graphic illustrating the vibratory finishing process for perfect surfaces and clean edges

Deburring, cleaning, polishing

Vibratory finishing, also known as Trowalizing, is a mechanical processing method that offers the best options for deburring, grinding, rounding edges, cleaning and polishing different workpieces and materials to a high gloss thanks to the selection of suitable grinding and polishing granulate and a wide range of machine parameters.

Technical Details on Trowalizing

  • gentle process for filigree components
  • suitable for very thin workpieces (< 0.2 mm)
  • container with sliding gap system (zero gap system)
  • large variety of granules and compounds
  • process monitoring

Vibratory Finishing for Microcomponents & Thin Sheets 
(< 0.2 mm) at LCP

The smaller and thinner a component is, the more challenging the vibratory finishing process becomes: Delicate parts can become snagged, deformed, or jammed. LCP specializes in precisely these types of components. We perform vibratory finishing on micro-parts and thin sheets with a material thickness of less than 0.2 millimeters—gently and with reproducible results.

This is made possible by our vibratory finishing system with a zero-gap design: there is no gap where thin parts or delicate contours can become lodged. From a wide selection of grinding and polishing abrasives and compounds, we tailor material removal, edge rounding, and surface finish to the specific material and geometry—such as stainless steel (e.g., 1.4301), aluminum, or copper. Rigorous process monitoring ensures the quality of every batch.

Your advantage: Laser cutting and vibratory finishing from a single source. Laser-cut precision parts are deburred, cleaned, and polished directly at our facility. This eliminates the need for additional transport and waiting times. For thin foils and large-format parts, we also offer brush and belt grinding.

What happens during vibratory grinding?

Vibratory grinding or trowalizing is a separating manufacturing process for the mechanical surface treatment of metal. The corresponding workpieces are placed in a container as bulk material together with abrasive media. This is where trowalizing comes into play, whereby a rotating drum is used to bring the metal and abrasive media together. An aqueous solution, also known as a compound or compound-water mixture, is often used in addition - although pure dry granulate is also possible. It changes the effect of the material removal.

[Translate to English:] verschiedene Granulate für das Gleitschleifen

What types of abrasive media are used in trowalizing?

The abrasives used for vibratory grinding are made of different materials. Metallic abrasives are brass, copper, aluminum, bronze and stainless steel. They have the advantage that they can also work in the smallest bores and grooves. There are also vibratory grinding tools made of ceramic, plastic and porcelain. The choice of material depends on the specific requirements of the vibratory grinding process and the material to be machined.

What is vibratory grinding/trowalizing used for?

The purpose of vibratory grinding is to remove residues from metal surfaces. Various methods are available here. In addition to deburring - the removal of edges and splinters - there is also the option of degreasing and de-oiling. Vibratory grinding can also smooth and matt metal surfaces. This helps to give the component a uniform and homogeneous surface structure and therefore a clean appearance. Edge rounding is another option that serves to round off sharp edges and thus increase safety during handling.

An additional important aspect of vibratory grinding is polishing. This process gives the metal surfaces an attractive shine that enhances their aesthetic appeal. Finally, vibratory grinding ensures that the metal surfaces are free of grease and oil. This is particularly important in industries where cleanliness is of paramount importance.

Which materials can be processed using vibratory grinding?

Vibratory grinding, or trowalizing in technical jargon, is a surface finishing process that can be applied to a variety of materials. The trowalizing of aluminium and stainless steel in particular is widespread, as these metals are frequently used in industry and manufacturing. The vibratory grinding of aluminum improves the durability of the material by removing burrs.

It is similar with the trowalizing of stainless steel, which increases the surface hardness and makes the material more resistant to wear. The process can also be applied to non-metals such as plastic. The trowalizing of plastic parts can help to improve the surface quality and therefore the appearance of the end product. However, it is important to note that not all materials are suitable for vibratory grinding and the suitability of a material depends on its specific physical properties.

[Translate to English:] Lasergeschnittene Bauteile aus Eisenmetall geschliffen

Which vibratory grinding processes are generally available?

We offer drum vibratory grinding for the processing of surfaces in our company. This is not the only option for controlled material removal. There are also other methods of surface treatment that we do not offer ourselves.

  • Vibratory finishing: In this process, the abrasive media are set in motion by vibration. As with other processes, the interaction between the workpieces and the abrasive media removes material from the surface.
  • Plunge-cutting: In this process, a workpiece is fixed and surrounded by the compound-water mixture. Due to the limited number of possible workpieces, the process is generally considered less economical.
  • Drag finishing: In contrast to plunge-cutting, the workpiece is pulled through the compound during drag finishing. During this process, the compound is static.
  • Centrifugal finishing: Centrifugal force is used to set the abrasive media in motion. The workpiece is placed in a drum that rotates at high speed. The centrifugal force presses the abrasive media against the workpiece, removing material.
  • Pressure flow lapping: This method is a special form of mass finishing in which high pressure is applied to the workpiece. It is mainly used for processing high-strength materials. The material is plastically deformed by the high pressure and the surface is smoothed.

We also offer brush and belt grinding for thin foils and large-dimensioned parts as a further deburring and surface finishing process.

What are the costs of trowalizing?

In general, vibratory grinding is considered cheaper than other processes, as it is particularly suitable for higher quantities and a high throughput. When it comes to the cost of mass finishing and polishing, different factors such as the size and type of part to be machined need to be taken into account. Contact us and find out more about your individual costs.

Precision mechanical parts, stainless steel 1.4301
Precision mechanical parts, stainless steel 1.4301
Precision mechanical aluminum parts
Precision mechanical aluminum parts
Precision mechanical copper parts
Precision mechanical copper parts
Precision mechanical parts, stainless steel 1.4301
Precision mechanical parts, stainless steel 1.4301

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