Tips and techniques for deburring cross holes

Deburring cross holes removes the burrs that occur when manufacturers and processors drill cross holes in metal parts. Removing these sharp edges, raised areas, particles, protrusions and chips improves the function and quality of the parts. Deburring cross bores supports the smooth operation of machines and mechanical systems, as metal burrs can cause misalignment of parts. It also contributes to plant safety and production efficiency. Improper handling of machined parts or blanks with burrs can lead to injuries, while poor surface quality of machine components can affect production. To effectively remove burrs from cross bores, it is crucial to select the right tool and use tried and tested methods.

The Flex-Hone® tool is a flexible and elastic honing tool that has been specially developed for deburring cross bores. It removes burrs efficiently and improves the surface finish at the same time. The Flex-Hone® tool consists of abrasive balls that are permanently laminated to flexible nylon threads. These grinding balls provide a gentle cutting action to remove burrs from the cylinder walls without damaging the base metal.

We supply Flex-Hone® tools in 8 different abrasive types and 11 different options in diameters from 4 mm to 36″ to meet the requirements of different base materials and surfaces. The selection of the correct deburring tool and the observance of the recommended operating parameters are described in the Flex-Hone® orientation guide. Although no special training is required for flexible honing, it is important to follow the instructions or best practices to achieve optimal results. Flexible honing tools can be used with almost any rotating spindle and can be used in various machine types. The tool is attached, for example, using a Jacobs collet chuck on CNC machines or by directly clamping the wire shank in lathes, milling machines, drilling machines and hand drills. 

A good practice when deburring cross bores with the Flex-Hone® is to first turn the tool clockwise, remove it from the bore, reverse the spindle and then turn it clockwise again. This creates a symmetrical deburring pattern and at the same time prevents the burr from being pushed back into the cross bore. Lubricant or high-quality honing oil should always be used to prevent overloading the tool and to ensure that fresh cutting particles are exposed.