Deburring describes the breaking of unwanted sharp edges, or burrs, which develop during the plating process. Deburring is also sometimes necessary to tidy and smooth components before they enter the plating baths. Hand filing was once the only means of deburring plated materials, and it is still used in some circumstances today. Hand filing, however, requires a significant time investment, which greatly affects the timely delivery of finished products. Mechanical deburring techniques provide high-quality finishes at a fraction of the time.