Shot Blasting Tour and Intro to Shot Blasting Machines

Our Shot Blasting Tour video is a quick & informative glimpse into the world of shot blasting machines and shot peening equipment at Blast-Abrade. Shot blasting machines are wonderful inventions for OEMs, maintenance and Remanufacturing and provide many years of cost-effective and profitable blast-cleaning for surfaces and parts for numerous industries.

Blast Wheel

The airless blast wheel is the “heart” of the shot blasting machine system. These centrifugal “airless” wheels have an internal impeller and blade design which “slings” the shot at the at the parts. The blast wheel acts much like a pump. The blast wheel impeller and blades are revolving at 3600 RPM’s and propel the steel shot from 250 to 300 ft. per second.

Blast Cabinet

The blast cabinet is the “body” of the shot blasting machine system. The blast cabinet performs two purposes; one is to support the wheels and second to contain the steel shot within a confined area and recover it back to the primary storage hopper. The cabinet is usually fabricated from manganese steel and AR plate. The blast cabinet must withstand years of heavy-duty wear in a three shift, 24 hours-a-day capacity.

Abrasive Recovering System

The abrasive recovering system is the “circulatory system” of all shot blasting machines. After the steel shot is thrown from the blast wheel and strikes the parts, it falls to the bottom of the machine and is recovered via a screw conveyor and bucket elevator system. The reclaimed shot-blast media is then transported over an “air-wash” separation system to remove any small broken down contaminants and excessive dust. The recovery system is engineered to handle the continuous recycling of 500 to 4,000 pounds of shot per minute (respectively).

Work Handling System

The work handling system is the “legs and arms” of the shot blasting machine. The work handling system is the part of the shot blasting machine that presents the work to be cleaned (tumble barrel, rotating table, spinner hanger fixture, etc.). Other work handling systems include: overhead monorail, roll conveyor, continuous mesh belt, etc.

Dust Collector & Airwash Separator

The dust collector & air-wash separator are the “lungs” of shot blasting machines. The dust collector provides the necessary ventilation to remove dust from the blast cabinet. It also provides an air stream across the “air-wash” separator to clean the small fines and foreign contaminants from the shot before it’s reused. All shot blast machines require good dust collection and air-wash separators for reliable & efficient long-term operation.

Electrical Controls

The electrical system (push button controls, PLC, etc.) are the “brains” of the shot blasting machine. The electrical system is usually wired for 230/460 power and controls the random start/stop operation of the shot blasting machine and its dust collector. Goff systems can also be designed and engineered with PLC automation & robotic interfacing. These automation systems usually require factory pre-programming and customer input.

Set-Up for Shot Blasting Machines

All shot blasting machines require proper set-up. The blast pattern is the most important aspect of the machine set-up. The pattern needs to be directed at the parts and not the cabinet. The blast pattern setting concentrates the blast directly at the parts and is called the “Hot Spot.” The position of the “Hot Spot” is critical for maximum coverage and minimal cleaning times.

Shot Blasting Machine Maintenance

The blast wheel is the most important facet to maintain on a shot blasting machine. It is the “heart” of the unit. The blast wheel parts are the “work horses” of the system and need to be replaced most often. The fluctuations in part life is directly related to the type of cleaning application (foundry castings, forgings, heat treated gears, etc.) and Rockwell hardness (Rc) of the shot/grit utilized.

P.M. Programs

The most important aspects of owning a shot blasting machine are constant inspections and P.M. programs. Regular P.M. programs will give you a schedule of repairs before the cleaning efficiency drops off, or the machine goes down.

Summary

All shot blasting machines, by their very nature, are self-destructive. However, they are also extremely efficient and economical to use compared with other pneumatic, mechanical or chemical means of cleaning parts. Shot blasting machines are wonderful inventions.