The future of deburring

An industrial robot is used to guide the components to the ultrasonic horns in a defined position.

An industrial robot is used to guide the components to the ultrasonic horns in a defined position.

Before and after: Point-specific deburring for optimal results without material removal.

With the ultrasonic deburring system A25 S from ultraTEC innovation, interfering burrs and fibers can be removed from machined parts.

Every machining process produces annoying burrs and protruding fibers in and on components. To remove these automatically and without contact, the Swabian technology company ultraTEC innovation GmbH has developed a novel process: its systems deburr components using the power of ultrasound. To do this, components are guided through a process water basin at the tip of an ultrasonic sonotrode, whose vibrations automatically and energy-efficiently remove burrs and fibers.

It all started five years ago as a start-up in Laupheim, Swabia. Dieter Münz, founder and managing director of ultraTEC innovation GmbH, is shaking up the deburring market with his new ultrasonic deburring technology. A successful youth research project combined with technical finesse and a lot of determination serve as the basis for the young company. Today, ultraTEC has many different ultrasonic deburring systems in its range and can respond flexibly to customer requirements. In addition, ultraTEC has been part of the internationally active Vollmer Group from Biberach an der Riß since July 2022 and will also be able to serve international markets in the future.

Non-contact ultrasonic deburring with the patented sonotrode is the foundation of ultraTEC. Whether drilling, milling, turning, or grinding, as soon as machining takes place, unwanted burrs and fibers form on edges, cross holes, or surfaces. In addition to common metals, ultraTEC systems can also be used to deburr components made of various titanium and nickel alloys, as well as fiber-reinforced plastics.

Ultrasonic deburring with high-frequency sonotrodes

In the process developed by ultraTEC, components are guided to the high-frequency ultrasonic sonotrode in a process water basin. Excited by a generator, it oscillates back and forth 20,000 times per second over 0.1 millimeters. These vibrations move burrs and fibers back and forth until they break off with sharp edges in a process-reliable manner. Users can dispose of the process water easily and without further treatment.

Generation change in the A series

Everything started with the A series at ultraTEC. Back then, the A15 was launched as the first ultrasonic deburring system on the market. It was later replaced by the more flexible A25, which has been continuously optimized in recent years. The new A25 S already looks significantly different from the previous A25. This is because ultraTEC has moved away from an aluminum profile machine housing to a solid steel frame for the new “Generation S.” This results in significantly greater stability and an even more precise deburring process. But there are also some new features in the system. In addition to optimized part drying, the process water basin has been completely redesigned. This enables even more flexible processing of a wide variety of components with the sonotrodes.