Posted By GavinR Hi again, Currently reviewing the process of deburring on cnc and conventional lathes and wondered if anyone had this problem and any advice for a solution or improvement in process? We currently have to bypass guards and run the machine at its slowest practical speed with will enable operators to debur effectively. This has resulted in a few minor cuts over the years to fingers but has also developed a perception amongst these operators that it is allowable to bypass the guards. Now we stress continually through training and toolbox talks to operators that guards must always be in place and in good condition before working but they always refer back to this practice as an excuse. Can anyone advice please on how they have dealt with deburring in similar machines? Thanks, Gav

Posted By holmezy Gavin, I agree with Tabs. There are umpteen other ways of deburring without resorting to having to by pass the guards. Your toolbox talks are stating that its not acceptable, yet its tolerated because "thats the way we always do it" type of scenario. Be consistent and look at the problem from a different angle. As Tabs said, design is a big factor, so are extra tools to chamfer or de burr, and I'll bet you its a lot quicker to get the machine to do it? I bumped into an old mate the other day. I knew him from my metal machinist apprentice days when it was established preactise to polish pieces of work with emery cloth whilst the machine is running at 5000 rpm. He's missing a finger now! Keep doing it and eventually the machine will bite back so keep it behind the guards1 And now I'm climbing down off my soap box. Holmezy