How to Polish Internal Tube Welds

    Internal tube finishing kitsIn this article we detail the process so you will know how to polish internal tube welds using the Cibo ceramic abrasive wheels and stars. Including removing the internal welds on tubes and pipes.  Welcome to the new Internal Tube Finishing Kits from AFS.

    Internal Weld Removal With Ceramic Flap Wheels

    Step 1:Remove the initial weld with the 60 grit ceramic flap wheel
    Machine:Straight Grinder/Flexible Drive
    Speed:Diameter dependent
    Product:LS 60 Grit Ceramic Flap Wheel

    Background Info

    Removing internal welds on pipes and tubes is essential for a lot of industries, particularly for pharmaceutical applications where the risk of entrapment and contamination is a process critical issue.

    Following an extensive testing program we have created four processes that work quickly and effectively to produce consistent finish results every time.  All the kits contain the right abrasive & finishing products plus the process information for finishing internal orbital welds.

    Ceramic abrasive flap wheels for removing the weld, a range of high strength stars for refining sanding lines plus unitised and felt stars for enhancing the finish further. Three kits, available in 3 different diameter ranges:

    1. Grinding & removing internal welds to a P240 finish (KIT/TUBE/SAT/)
    2. Grinding & removing internal welds to a P340 finish (KIT/TUBE/PHA/)
    3. Grinding & removing internal welds to a mirror polished finish to the pipe (KIT/TUBE/MIR/)

    n.b.  Do not confuse the new ceramic flap wheels with the traditional abrasive flap wheels.  The new Cibo Ceramics will remove the weld consistently and quickly.

    Internal Tube Grinding ProcessInternal Tube Kit Weld Removal And Finish

    Removing an internal weld on stainless steel has been made so much easier with our Internal Tube and Pipe Kits.

    It is important to provide enough aggression to remove the weld quickly but also in a way that leaves a consistent tube finish for the next stage.

    Stage 1 – Weld Grinding & Blending

    Use the 60 grit ceramic flap wheel to remove the initial weld.  Working at the correct speed will give fast weld removal and ensure wheel lifetime and finish are at optimised.  Check the finish inside the tube is consistent to make the following steps easier.

    Tip:  If you have a particularly good orbital weld you can remove the weld with the Cibo Ceramics P80 wheel.

    Tip:  This is the critical step to ensuring a consistent finish.  The 60 grit flap wheel will leave deeper sanding lines in the stainless steel tube.  Refine and remove the 60 sanding lines with the 80 or 120 grit ceramic flap wheel.  It is worth spending the time to ensure all the P60 sanding marks have been removed before moving on to the finishing process.

    The next step depends on the specification of the finish required.

    Stage 2 – 240/320 Grit Finish

    Use the High Strength Medium Stars to blend the surface to a 240 grit finish.  For a 320 grit satin finish repeat the process with High Strength Very Fine Stars.

    The Internal Weld Removal Kit – 240/320 Grit Finish

    Internal Weld Removal On Stainless Steel With Satin Finish

    Stage 3 – 0.3 Ra Finish – Pharmaceutical Standard

    Finish as above to a P320 grit finish then use the Untised SAS/5 Stars to create your pre-polished finish.  In our testing we consistently achieved a finish in the range ).25 – 0.28 Ra.

    The Internal Weld Removal Kit – 0.3 Ra Finish

    Stage 4 – Mirror Polish – Premium Finish

    For a bright polished finish it is important that the surface finish is clean and consistent, then use the green polishing compound and Felt Stars to create a mirror polished finish on the stainless steel.  In the kit we include 4 felt stars.  When the finish has been created use a clean felt star on the mandrel to remove any polishing residue.

    The Internal Weld Removal Kit – Mirror Finish

    Benefits of the New Process

    1. Faster Finishing – Striking a balance between aggression and finish was a key focus in the development of the kits.  The 60 grit ceramic flap wheels provide enough aggression to initially remove the weld.  The 80 and 120 grit wheels further refine and remove the deeper sanding lines so you can quickly move on to the next stage.
    2. Reduced Process Times – End user testing tells us that process times are significantly reduced no matter which process you need for your application.
    3. Higher Finish Standards –  We understand the need for a high specification finish for internal fluid flow and the need for good weld removal to ensure a clean entrapment free environment.  All the products in the kits have been extensively tested to ensure these finish standards are met and even exceeded.
    4. Cost Effective – By supplying a range of products ideal for the job you can be confident that you can get started with the correct abrasives and replace any extras you need later down the line.

    Hints & Tips

    Speed – Ensure that to run the machine at the recommended speed for the abrasives, see help sheet in the box for further information.  Running your machine too slowly will make the abrasives ineffective and lack cutting capabilities, running too fast increases the heat going into the metal and wearing the abrasive down too quickly.

    Patience – Check finish before moving on to the next stage.  Doing this ensures the final finish will be of the highest quality and will limit the amount of mistakes which are highlighted when finishing to a high standard.

    Cost Saving – If you find yourself running low on one of the products from the kit check out the web page where all the products in the kit are available to buy individually.

    Internal Tube With A Mirror Polished Finish Using The Internal Tube Kit For Mirror Polishing

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