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1. Introduction of Jewelry Polishing with Mass Finishing
Mass finishing technology has been in use in various industries for a long time.
Finishing equipment is primarily used to carry out several finishing operations, including smoothing edges, deburring, descaling, grinding, and polishing of workpieces using surface abrasive media or polishing agent.
In the market today, where design dictates buyer’s choices, jewelry must be prepared with the most delicate finish and glitter to attract shoppers’ attention regardless of price.
This article recommends various ways manufacturers can attain that glitter and ensure that the sparkle of the surface finish of their products catches the buying public’s eye and the wallet.
Jewelry parts polishing info-graphics
We will be focusing on Mass Finishing, what it can do for you, including various methods and equipment to save you time and money.
2. The advantage of Jewelry Polishing with Mass Finishing
Before now, these machines have been generally found in metalworking industries and had found application only to a limited extent in the jewelry industry.
However, a search for a more efficient means of surface treatment using machines has led jewelry manufacturers worldwide to turn to this very efficient method.
Jewellery parts polishing before and after
Mass Finishing has become one of the most useful tools in jewelry manufacturing.
While this is true, it may also double as the least understood. In many cases, mass finishing appears to be covered by a shroud of mystery.
Jewelry manufacturers, who have taken the time to learn the fundamentals of Mass Finishing and put it to work in their daily operations, have achieved the following results:
- Significant reduction in labor costs
- Reduced precious alloy loss of fine gold
- Increased productivity with the existing workforce
- Dramatically increase in the consistent quality
Compare jewelry finishing by hand
- Labor intensive and
- Time-consuming
- Too expensive to use in a mass production
The many advantages accruing to this method of jewelry mass finishing and polishing instead of manual processes have birthed a new era of revitalization in the jewelry industry.
As precision is often a necessary requirement in the jewelry industry, machine polishing is increasingly taking manual polishing processes.
The increased competitive pressure and market globalization became a demand call for modern finishing technology.
One that can reduce operation time, increase value, and increase waste reduction leads to the achievement of high quality and well-finished surfaces.
3. The 3 most essential elements that contribute to a successful mass finishing process
Surface finishing in jewelry manufacture undoubtedly contributes to one of the highest and rather uncalculated costs.
As the demand for jewelry increases, jewelry manufacturing companies tend to look for means of reducing the cost of production to balance demand with supply and stay competitive.
Various requirements and materials are needed to set up a mass jewelry finishing system.
There are 3 items in setting up a mass jewelry finishing system:
- Barrel Tumbler, Vibratory Deburring Machine, Centrifugal disk finishing machine, and drag finishing machine
- Vibratory Finishing Media
- Polishing Compound
3.1 Equipment Needed for Jewelry Mass Finishing Polishing
Equipment that has traditionally been used for these processes include single barrel tumblers, hexagonal drums, vibrators, and disk-finishing machines.
As a result of the abrasive friction between the workpieces and the media, the workpieces’ surfaces and edges become processed.
3.1.1 Comparing different mass finishing machines for jewelry parts
The most common types of machines capable of handling various jewelry finishing needs are the barrel tumbling systems, vibratory barrel systems, and centrifugal disk finishing machines.
- Barrel Tumbling System:
In a Barrel Tumbling System, the jewelry pieces and media rotate inside a hexagonal barrel, causing the items to tumble repeatedly.
Combined with the proper media, this tumbling action will polish jewelry pieces into a striking, sparkly, and burnished piece of beauty.
- Vibratory Tumbling Equipment:
Vibratory Tumbling equipment is widely used because it is beneficial and cost-efficient.
Workpieces and tools to be finished are generally placed in a tub rather than spin much like the barrel tumbler; the tub vibrates rapidly.
Vibration causes the media to contact the surface to be finished, affecting the necessary action.
These systems can produce high-quality finishes, polishing virtually any item, and are suitable for mass Finishing.
In the Jewelry process, usually, people use a small size tumbler.
- Centrifugal Disc Finishing Machines
The centrifugal disc finishing process is more efficient than the vibratory finishing and barrel tumbling process.
They allow jewelry parts to achieve a brilliant finish in a short time.
Typically, this process is for Jewelry size below 30mm in length.
- Drag Finishing Machines
Drag Finishing machines are for bigger size parts that cannot hit and scratches.
During the process each part is held separately. This equipment is used for high value-added parts.
3.1.2 Variety of Jewelry parts and their finishing technique
| Jewelry Type | Mass Finishing Method |
| Bracelets and watches case | Drag finishing machine |
| Items of jewelry, less than 10g (Hollow chains, earrings, and pendants) | Barrel Tumbling Machine Disc furnishing machine Vibratory finishing machine |
| Working parts of mechanical watches | Disc furnishing machine |
| Gemstones | Barrel Tumbling Machine Vibratory Finishing Machine |
| Amber | Disc finishing machine Vibratory Finishing Machine |
| Clasps | Disc finishing machine Vibratory Finishing Machine |
3.2 Media for Jewelry surface finishing
The word ‘media’ in finishing systems refers to materials that do the actual work on the workpiece’s surface.
Media compounds used during finishing operations may be wet or dry, depending on the desired result.
Their function varies from rough cutting, which entails removing surface imperfections, polishing, deburring, and cleaning.
Types of Media:
A variety of media exist for different applications, and here are a few of them.
This consists of abrasive grains and their bonding agents or carrier.
Examples include Silicone carbide, Aluminum oxide, and Silica.
The first being most aggressive and the others decreasing in that order.
Its bonding materials include ceramic, plastic, and natural compounds.
Ceramic is stiff, plastic is soft, while natural ranges from soft to hard.
This is much like cutting media.
The size of the grain bound in the media is the only difference.
This media is use to perform cutting operations, however, with a much gentler touch.
- Burnishing media
This media does not have any abrasive features. It add shine to the finished materials.
- Nature Polishing media
Made mostly out of natural-based materials such as wood, shell, or corn cob, polishing media works much like a hand used polishing bars.
4. Conclusion:
There are so many different options to choose from when deciding on what Mass Finishing process to use. So the manufacturers must understand what they expect from each equipment and process.
They must also consider cost and decide which suppliers have the technology and equipment to meet their needs.
Part of the selection equation must include supplier expertise, backup service, and proven methods developed by knowledgeable people well versed in Mass Finishing.
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