Electrolytic deburring apparatus and method

An apparatus for toolless electrolytic deburring a metal workpiece, the apparatus comprising:

• a) an electrical power supply having an anode and a cathode, the electrical power supply being adapted to selectively supply a DC current;
• b) a reservoir for containing a quantity of an electrolyte;
• c) a flexible hose having a nozzle, the nozzle being selectively movable with respect to the workpiece during the electrolytic deburring of the workpiece;
• d) a pump in fluid communication with the hose, the pump adapted to move the electrolyte from the reservoir through the nozzle;
• e) a first electrical lead having a first end electrically connected to the cathode and a second end for electrically connecting the cathode to the electrolyte;
• and
• f) a second electrical lead having a first end electrically connected to the anode and a second end for electrically connecting the anode to the workpiece;
• wherein during the electrolytic deburring of the workpiece, the pump moves a portion of the quantity of the electrolyte from the reservoir through the hose and nozzle to form a stream, the first electrical lead second end electrically connects the stream to the cathode, the nozzle selectively directs the stream at the workpiece, the stream impinges the workpiece, the second electrical lead second end electrically connects the workpiece to the anode, and the DC current flows between the anode and the cathode through the workpiece.