Tag Archives: Air Blasting

Shot Blasting 101

Shot blasting is a specialized surface finishing process where small metal (or mineral) pellets, called blast media, are thrown onto the surface of a work piece at incredibly high speeds. With rates of speed ranging from 200-800 feet per second, the impact on the work pieces from this process is what produces the desired surface finishing effect.

Shot blasting can help achieve surface cleaning, surface preparation, descaling, deburring, deflashing, and shot peening.

The process components of a shot blasting system include a shot blast machine, raw and finished work pieces, blast media, dust, and other byproducts. Rosler has more than 80 years of experience in developing comprehensive shot blasting systems.

The two most common types of shot blast machines are turbine blasting and air blasting.

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Air versus Turbine – Balancing Blasting Capabilities and Outcomes, Part 2

In addition to the pro and con evaluation of air blasting and turbine lasting found in our previous blog, these two methods can also be compared in terms of throwing velocity, applications, and industries.

In terms of throwing velocity. Media thrown by turbines immediately start losing speed the moment that the turbine blade releases it, producing higher intensity blast results closer to the turbine. Larger shot retains its speed better over a distance and is commonly used to maintain intensity while creating a larger blast pattern by positioning the turbine(s) farther away. In contrast, media thrown by air nozzles will continue to accelerate for the first 100-300 mm outside of the nozzle depending on blast pressure and media size and density until the compressed air fully dissipates to the ambient environment, meaning that your best blast results occur a distance away from the nozzle.

Continue reading Air versus Turbine – Balancing Blasting Capabilities and Outcomes, Part 2

Air Versus Turbine – Balancing Blasting Capabilities and Outcomes, Part 1

Blasting processes for surface finishing vary according to the size, quantity, composition, and desired finish of the work pieces in need of surface preparation. Air blasting and turbine blasting are two of the more common types of blasting. While there is some overlap between the two methods, each carries its own unique attributes and drawbacks.

When comparing these two blast methods, the number one thing to keep in mind is precision versus bulk. Air blasting provides precision surface preparation using a much smaller blast pattern compared to turbine blasting, which delivers large quantities of media over a wide blast pattern, thereby making it ideal for blasting large quantities of parts or larger individual parts.

Continue reading Air Versus Turbine – Balancing Blasting Capabilities and Outcomes, Part 1

Air Consumption Chart

air-consumption-chart

Please note these tables highlight the actual requirement and are only a guide.

It is always advisable that your supply exceeds this as there could be other uses and discrepancies, and therefore exceeding the required power, free air delivered (FAD) and volume of air is necessary.

 

Haydn Kitchen New APost written by
Haydn Kitchen
Shot Blasting Technical Manager

The 9 critical points to check you get the most out of your air blast machine and process

Here are 9 critical points to help you get the most out of air blasting:

1. Ensure You’re Working To The Correct Parameters.

2. Select The Correct Air Pressure To Deliver The Chosen Media And Optimize Both Work Speed And Costs.

3. Choose The Smallest Media That Will Do What Is Required.

4. Remember That A Small Heavy / Dense Media Particle Will Gain Much More Energy RSKI1000-SoThan A Large Light Particle.

5. Media Flow Regulation Requires To Be Optimised On A Pressure System.

6. On The Venturie / Suction Delivery System Alternative Regulation Requires Attention.

7. Surface Consistency And Repeatability.

8. Nozzle And Air Jet Size Compatibility On A Venturie Fed System.

9. Quality And Delivery Of Your Compressed Air.

 

Air Blasting Tip 9 – Quality And Delivery Of Your Compressed Air For Air Blast Systems

 

All dry blast systems require dry, oil free air delivered to the process. Small amounts of moisture and oil cause the media particulates to stick together and prevent the free flow of blast media.

Continue reading Air Blasting Tip 9 – Quality And Delivery Of Your Compressed Air For Air Blast Systems

Air Blasting Tip 8 – Nozzle And Air Jet Size Compatibility On A Venturie Fed Blast System

 

Check and make sure that the air jet and nozzle bore sizes are optimised.   It is a fact that when checked many venturie blast systems have air jets and nozzles that are entirely miss-matched.

Continue reading Air Blasting Tip 8 – Nozzle And Air Jet Size Compatibility On A Venturie Fed Blast System

Air Blasting Tip 6 – On The Venturie / Suction Delivery System Alternative Regulation Requires Attention

 

RSKI_1000Under the blast media hopper, placed under the base of the cabinet floor or under the cyclone unit, you will find the blast media pick up device, referred to in our introduction Part 1.  There are several designs on the market each purporting their advantages, however, in principle they almost always work the same, some designs better than others.   It is important to understand how this simple but effective pick up method works as this is critical to the process.

To draw both blast media and air in through this pick up device, it requires to be set up by adjusting the air to media ratio. Once fixed, this is set and need not be changed until another blast media or size is required.

Continue reading Air Blasting Tip 6 – On The Venturie / Suction Delivery System Alternative Regulation Requires Attention