Boeing faces problems with deburring dust control

Boeing’s facility in Wichita, Kansas was facing problems dealing with dust control created during deburring and finishing of certain aluminum components. As a premier manufacturer of commercial and military aircraft, it was important to them to find a way to contain the aluminium dust.

The process of deburring aluminum removes sharp edges and excess material from the components being produced.

When we visited the facility, operators were deburring on tables with no ventilation and were forced to wear uncomfortable face masks to prevent dust inhalation.

After careful evaluation, we recommended a 2′ x 4′ downdraft table equipped with extended overhang, lexan side & back walls, and explosion proof motors. The extended overhang table was key to operator comfort, giving them the ability to sit comfortably with legs under the table for an entire shift. The lexan side & back walls were used to ensure good visibility through the facility, and the explosion proof motors were specified to reduce the hazard in the presence of aluminum dust.

After initially installing four of these 2’x4′ extended overhang tables, the staff at Boeing were so pleased with the improved air quality, dust control, and workstation comfort that they requested additional 3’x6′ and 3’x8′ custom downdraft tables for other deburring processes.