What is chatter on a deburring tool?

29th February 2020


	What is chatter?


	Shop for Deburring Tools


			Chatter is when a cutting tool (e.g. deburring tool, drill bit, countersink) vibrates and leaves very small marks or ‘waves’ on the cut surface of the material, which can be seen once the workpiece has been machined. Chatter can be caused by several factors:

			Movement of the workpiece
			Any movement of the workpiece or tooling, due to poor clamping, results in vibration through the workpiece or tool bit, causing chatter.

			Over-sharp or dull cutting edges
			Dull or over-sharp cutting edges on the deburrer can cause chatter marks on the surface of the workpiece where the hole is being machined.

			Incorrect cutting speed
			Chatter can be the result of incorrect machine cutting speeds. For more information, see our section: What speed should a deburring tool be used at?

			Deburring tool run-out
			Run-out on a deburring tool is when the tool doesn’t spin true. This is seen by the user as a wobble in the bit when the machine chuck is spinning.



			Incorrect feed rate
			An incorrect machine feed rate may lead to chatter marks being left on the workpiece, because of the increase in vibration between the workpiece and tool.

			Lack of lubrication
			A lack of lubricant on the workpiece could result in the tool grabbing the material and leaving chatter marks. This is due to the increased friction and heat produced without any lubricant.

			How do you avoid chatter?
			Choose the correct cutting speed Chatter can be avoided by making sure the correct speed and feed rates are chosen. For more information, see our section: What speed should a deburring tool be used at?

			Select the right feed rate It is important that you select the correct feed rate for your deburring application. To find out the optimum feed rate, check the operating instructions for your machine, as they will vary for different makes and models.

			Use lubrication Which lubricant to use depends on the workpiece material. Machining lubricants are called cutting fluids and are made up of a mix of oil and water. The cutting fluid will have different blends for different materials.

			Ensure the workpiece is clamped correctly To avoid movement, check the workpiece is clamped securely before starting any machining.