The Complete Guide to Shot Blasting
Understanding and removing imperfections in your metalworking processes is a challenge. Shot blasters are able to help you achieve that by producing a fine-grit blast media. The media consists of abrasive particles suspended in a liquid medium (water or oil).
These media are used for grinding, polishing, and shot blasting. In this article, we will talk about the why’s and how’s of using shot blasters for different processes in metalworking. Let’s get into it!
What is Shot Blasting?
Shot blasting is basically a method of applying a fine coating of abrasive particles to a workpiece via jetting, spraying, or other means. The coating is created by introducing a slurry of powdered abrasive materials into a liquid carrier, which then is sprayed on the workpiece.
The abrasive coating created by shot blasting is typically between 0.5 and 3 microns in size. The abrasive particles used in shot blasting vary based on the intended use for the final product, with the most common materials being tungsten, molybdenum, cobalt, nickel, and iron oxides.
Uses of Shot Blasting
Buffing
Shot blasting is commonly used as a polishing operation, where the media is used to reduce the friction of a surface (e.g. a workpiece). The particles generate a high-pressure airflow that breaks down the natural oils of the workpiece.
This process is commonly used in the aerospace, automotive, and machine tool industries to reduce the friction between the parts and their surrounding environments.
Grinding
Shot blasting is also commonly used as a grinding process. In this case, the abrasive coating of the media is designed to generate a specific pressure flow across the workpiece that reduces its material thickness.
This process is commonly used in the automotive, aerospace, and machine tool industries to reduce the amount of material on a workpiece, thus increasing the efficiency of the final product.
Polishing
Finally, shot blasting is commonly used as a polishing process. In this case, the abrasive coating of the media generates a high shear flow that polishes a workpiece.
This process is commonly used in the pharmaceutical, food processing, and decorative industries to polish metals, plastic, and other materials.
Why Use Shot Blasting?
Better Surface Finish – Shot blasting produces a finer coating of abrasive particles than powder coating does. The difference is that shot blasting uses a liquid medium, so the particles don’t become restricted in the container.
As a result, shot blasting is able to generate a finer coating of abrasive particles than powder coating is; Better Wear Resistance
The abrasive particles used in shot blasting create a more aggressive environment than the ones used in powder coating. This means the coating becomes rougher and more wear-resistant than powder coating does.
Less Heat Transfer
The abrasive particles used in shot blasting cause increased friction between the workpiece and the blasting media, which means there is less heat transfer between the workpiece and the blasting media than between the workpiece and the powder coating.
Excess Metal Removal
A common use of shot blasting is to remove excess metal from a workpiece. This is commonly used in the removal of machining residues, cuttings, or welds from a workpiece, or from a surface of a machine.
The shot blasting process used is designed to generate a high shearing force that reduces the existing metal thickness. The media used is typically a tungsten carbide or cerium-based material.
Finishing Operations
A shot blasting operation can be used as a finishing process in metalworking. This is because the abrasive coating generated by the blasting media is designed to polish the surface of the workpiece. The final result is a shiny finish, which makes the product look better and more attractive than it did before the blasting. The media used in this process is typically a tungsten carbide or cerium-based material.
Final Words
As you can see, shot blasting is a versatile method for producing fine media for metalworking applications. You can use it for polishing, grinding, and finishing metals or other materials.
Additionally, the abrasive coating generated by the blasting media can be used for removing residues from a workpiece, or for polishing the surface of a machine.
Shot blasting is a great way to get a fine abrasive coating on a wide range of materials. Additionally, the process can be used as a finishing process, and it can be used to grind metal.
Read our post about Shot Blasting Old Machinery and What Is Powder Coating
