November
Welcome to the first ever issue of Surface Finishing Solutions, the Newsletter of Surface Preparation. Our aim is to provide you with a monthly review of subjects that will be of interest to today's manufacturing and contractor industries, specific to the subjects of abrasive blasting, wheel blasting, and mass finishing. We'd like your input. Please contact us directly with suggestions for furture issues of Surface Finishing Solutions or call us at 1-888-873-1066.
Featured Article
When is a Blast Nozzle Worn?
Let's face it, abrasive blast equipment can be noisy, dirty, and frustrating to operate. These are all hallmarks of equipment that hasn't been properly maintained.
We can't address all blast equipment maintenance issues in today's article, but one of the most important and also most neglected areas is the need to change a nozzle that is worn. But how do you know when a nozzle is worn?
The very simple rule of thumb is when a nozzle has worn 50% greater than it's original bore size, "it's time for a change".
Why 50%? It is amazing, but when a nozzle has worn 50%, it will pass 2 1/2 times the amount of air and abrasive as the original nozzle size, provided that your compressor can continue to deliver the volume of air (CFM) to maintain blasting pressure.
If your compressor can't keep up, you will blast at a lower pressure, hurting productivity. "The blaster isn't working like it used to." If this sounds like something you've heard in your shop before, the very first thing to check is the nozzle.
So, how do you determine how much your nozzle is worn? This is the really easy part. Everyone has a set of drill bits, right? Take your original nozzle size, say 1/4". Half of that size (50%) is 1/8". 1/4" + 1/8" = 3/8". Take a 3/8" bit, and if it can pass through the narrowest part of your original 1/4" nozzle, the nozzle should be replaced.
Want an even easier way? Move up two nozzle sizes and you've reached the worn out point. So, when a number 4 (1/4") is the same diameter as a number 6 (3/8") it needs to be replaced.
We stocks all sizes and types of blast nozzles, along with many other blast replacement parts. Call us today at 1-888-873-1066 for help.
Product Solution
Schmidt Portable Blast Pots
Schmidt portable blast pots are suitable for use in any outdoor blasting application or within a blast room enclosure. The unique Combo Valve, Micro Valve controls release tank pressure every time the deadman control is released, assuring safe operation. Schmidt equipment is recognized for extremely low pressure loss through the valve system, typically 1 PSI or less.
To consider that in production terms, each 1 PSI drop in pressure reduces productivity 1.5%, so a comparable system that experiences a 10 PSI loss will be 15% less productive. Schmidt valves will meter a wide range of abrasives and are generally considered the most maintenance friendly in the industry. Click on the image above to learn more about Schmidt blast equipment.
Abrasive Solution
Brown Aluminum Oxide
Brown aluminum oxide is a fused electromineral, manufactured specifically for use as an abrasive grain. Brown AO is used in numerous industrial air blasting applications and is also used on sand paper and in grinding wheels. Aluminum oxide is an extremely hard, extremely durable abrasive, with a bulk density of approximately 120 lbs. per cubic foot.
Aluminum oxide is most commonly used in equipment that will allow the material to be reclaimed and reused so that it's entire useful life can be realized. Click on the image above to learn more about Brown Aluminum Oxide and other loose abrasives.
Application Solution
Deburring
Most people think of hand held deburring tools like grinding discs or mounted points when they think about deburring. For some applications, this is the only practical solution. If you have a lot of parts to deburr, however, their may be a mass finishing solution to your deburring problem.
Rather than deburring one part at a time by hand, mass finishing equipment puts a "mass" of parts into a machine like a vibratory bowl, along with preformed plastic or ceramic abrasive media. The media acts like hundreds of little grinding wheels, and the vibratory action of the parts and media rubbing together achieve your finishing aim, like deburring. Click on the image to learn more about surface finishing solutions for Deburring.
Product and brand availability varies by location. Please contact us for details.
